Barely an hour after the news of Sathya Sai Baba's demise flashed on TV channels, Sachin Tendulkar hung a Do-Not-Disturb tag on his door knob at a star hotel. Tendulkar, who wasin city for the IPL match with Deccan Chargers, is a staunch devotee of Sai Baba and was deeply disturbed over the demise and locked himself up for a few hours.
Tendulkar is not alone in expressing grief. Businessmen, industrialists, singers, film stars, politicians, doctors and scientists were in mourning.
Secular views
Dr Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Managing Director of Biocon, said, “Sai Baba's greatness was his secular views. He was a true global spiritual leader whose devotees were from all over the world, all religions and all sections of society.”
Mr N. Satish Kumar, Managing Director of Southern Online Bio Technologies Ltd , said, “He was an extraordinary man. He had done good things for the poor.”
Mr K.K. Natarajan, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of MindTree, felt that Baba was a role model for corporate world with regard to social service.
“Baba was a great religious leader and well-wisher of the people. The void created by his passing away will be very difficult to fill,” Mr V.K. Rekhi, Board member of UB group, said.
Mr Harish Bhat, Chief Operating Officer of Titan Industries, felt Sai Baba was a respectable spiritual leader. “He had done a lot of noble deeds to society - be it in education, medical facilities or water availability,” he said.
“Personally, my father was associated with the Sai Baba movement in Bangalore through the seva samiti which has done a lot of good work. Sai Baba's teachings brought a lot of peace to my father in his life,” he said.
Source of solace
“I do not subscribe to the use of magic by Sai Baba who pulled material things from nowhere but maybe this was a way of attracting people. Having said this, Sai Baba brought a lot of solace to many troubled people,” Mr Vinod Hayagriv, Managing Director, C Krishniah Chetty & Sons, said.
“There are factions in Sai Baba's trust, but the movement will continue even after his demise on the strength of Sai Baba's power and following among people,” he commented.
Dr Koneti Nageswara Rao, a senior paediatric cardiac consultant at CARE Hospitals, said that it was Sai Baba who first addressed paediatric congenital heart problems in the State. “He did service to society by bringing awareness on the issue,” he said. Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, said contributions of Baba were unparalleled and were beyond description.
Inspiring millions
Offering his condolence, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, said, “I learnt of the passing away of Sri Sathya Sai Baba with deep and profound sadness. Sri Sathya Sai Baba was a spiritual leader who inspired millions to lead a moral and meaningful life even as they followed the religion of their choice. His teachings were rooted in the universal ideals of truth, right conduct, peace, love and non-violence…The passing away of Sri Sathya Sai Baba is an irreparable loss to all and the nation deeply mourns his passing away. I express my sincere condolences to the millions of his followers, disciples and well wishers.”
Guiding light
The Vice-President, Mr M. Hamid Ansari, stated, “I am deeply grieved to learn about the passing away of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Baba's message of love should be our guiding light in this trying hour. His message of service to humanity as service to God…is of eternal relevance.”
The Union Tourism Minister, Mr Subodh Kant Sahai, expressed deep shock and sorrow over the demise of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Mr Sahai said that Sai Baba was one of the great saints of India who dedicated his entire life to philanthropy. He termed Baba's passing away as an irreparable loss to the country.