Sathya Sai Baba’s staggering wealth
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: June 20 2011 -

God man Sathya Sai Baba had been spending the nights of his earthly life cosying up to 98kg of gold and ' 12 crore in cash. That he slept well is an attribute to the man. If he had been based in Manipur he would long ago have become a nervous wreck beyond repair.

After all it is a difficult art to safeguard 98kgs gold and ' 12 crore in good cash and still act godly and generally silent. To most Indians this strange phenomenon would have come as no surprise, because it is assumed, may be with good reasons, that god men are usually very wealthy.

One is just not sure whether godliness leads to gold and cash, but zealots of the god man whose loyalty can only be described as 'fiercely canine', will brook no unpleasant questions. However to most Manipuris the idea of reposing with gold and cash can be a fascination, the very idea of which would make one ooze and blurp in licentious joy.

A sad variant of this particular episode is that some reports say that while the Baba was battling irksome pricks and pains of old age, cartloads of gold, silver and cash were being whisked away.

It seems people entrusted by the Baba to safeguard his wealth decided it was time to ease the load of prosperity as he lay in bed suffering the agony of the inevitable.

Sathya Sai Baba however had already made his mark as a philanthropist. He had established several social care centres to help the poor, and they included medical colleges and universities. Well done, mate.

That Sai Baba was financially savvy is borne out by the fact that he had long ago established a trust to look after his god sent wealth. One niggling doubt though, it seems he had a personal attendant named Satyajit who he wished to be made a member of the powerful trust.

One only hopes Sathya Baba's relatives do not praise the Baba while stomping on the fingers of Satyajit. If they are ignorant and brash enough to do so, Satyajit could always release a bombshell entitled 'My life and times with the Baba'. That will entrust him instant fame and fortune.

And now to a few easy questions. Why did Sai Baba, a renowned philanthropist feel snug sleeping with gold and money. Because it gave him bliss or he just wanted to count the beauties before he hit the sack each night ?

One never knows, this is an unforgiving world which yields little truth. Then, did he maintain a diary, did he ever talk on the debilitating effects of excess wealth to aged people?

Anyway these minor digressions should not sway us away from the fact that, in his demise, India has lost one of her richest sons.

Shielded by the bigotry of those who guarded him, the god man has finally made the trek to his Maker, dust to dust, and ashes to ashes, while the staggering wealth he left behind stupefies us all.