Sai Baba's death evokes large scale mourning in State
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 25 2011:
A large number of devotees of spiritual leader Satya Sai Baba in Manipur joined the global mourning over his demise at their respective places.
While eight disciples left Imphal on Monday to join the last rites of Baba, others continued to mourn at different places at the restive valley districts of Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur and Thoubal.
Minutes after the spiritual guru passed away at 7.40 am at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Puttaparthi, the devotees began mourning at their respective homes, localities and gathering places.
"When the sad news of Satya Sai Baba's demise was aired on television, my mother and younger brother broke down in tears and I too condoled and paid a tearful homage to the holy Guru," said a devotee .
Meanwhile eight disciples who are the key functionaries of the State unit Sri Satya Sai Organisation (SSSO) left for Bangalore to join his last rites.
"Eight members of SSSO, Manipur left Imphal to join the last rites of Baba slated on Wednesday," said K Nabachandra Sharma, one of the devotees and a visiting Professor of Sri Sri Sathya Sai University in Prashanthi Nilayam.
Sharma, a retired Principle of two best Government institutionsDM College of Science and the then Manipur College of Technologysaid he offered personal darshan to the holy saint in 1995 about three decades after he was won over by the Baba's doctrines and godly vision towards mankind.
Sharma, who teaches Nano Science and Technology to MSc students in the university, said they prayed and sang bhajans for three days in a row before the demise of the saint and held mourning sessions after his passing away.
Commenting on the activities carried out by the state unit SSSO, Sharma said following the advice of the central unit, "We have adopted and taken up humanitarian service to the poor villagers of Kadangband area
in Imphal West" .
"We have also been providing basic needs to some poor families of the village on monthly basis.
Following our insistence, the state authorities have now set up public health care units and water schemes to the village," he said.
Construction of a Satya Sai Mandir at Changangei near Imphal airport with contributions from devotees and well wishers is underway in fast pace, Sharma said.