Why service is so much sweeter than satsang

The NRI was on a visit here. He had done well, like most people do abroad, but was still yearning for an offspring. And was like most peop...

The NRI was on a visit here. He had done well, like most people do abroad, but was still yearning for an offspring. And was like most people who are thus deprived — when in this land of holy people — on the lookout for some saint’s blessings. Somebody had mentioned to him his name and he was in Swami Hirda Ram’s kutia, seated on the old durrie along with other visitors. Swamiji came, in his usual dishevelled lungi and two-decades-old, tattered bandi, and seated himself with folded hands.

"I am so and so," the NRI introduced himself when his turn came. "I am settled in England, I have come for your darshan." A few incidental queries about his work followed. Usually the Swami does not relish the darshan hunger and cuts it short with an "OK, you have had it, now you may go." But he was more patient with him. After a few minutes the visitor submitted: "Swamiji, I have no child. I need your blessings."

"A child," the Swamiji’s tone was sharp. "If you want children, go and serve children. I don’t have any in stock with me to gift to you. Service is the path. Serve them."

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Rather taken aback, the NRI bowed and left. Lost in his thoughts as he passed by a primary school, the voices of children at play disturbed his reverie. He walked in and looked up the headmaster and asked him if the children had any problem. He was told they had difficulty in getting drinking water after noon. Before he left, he made a donation of Rs 2 lakh to the school.

The matter had almost been forgotten at Swamiji’s when the gentleman arrived at the kutia again after two years. He had brought a basket of fruits and sweets because he had been blessed with a son. Swamiji took a couple of fruits for the company present and asked him to distribute the rest among children of the same school.

It is not always that such poetic fruition is apparent. But Sant Hirda Ram’s mission is not affected. He pursues it in a manner entirely his own, unlike the generality of gurus and godmen this country abounds in. He has little patience with satsang crazy devotees, as one such group learnt to their discomfiture. They had selected the kutia as the site for a"bhajan programme". After they had had their couple of hours long session, Swamiji came and asked them if they participated in any seva-karya (community service). They were honest enough to say `no’. He advised them todevote some time to the several welfare activities going on in the neighbourhood. The second time again he put to them the same question. And when he got the same answer, he shooed them away unceremoniously.

In contrast this saint of Bhopal had all praise for another group of youngsters belonging to Bairagarh, who realising the importance of education took an initiative. Mustering the cooperation of 20 understanding citizens, they began a `child adoption programme’ in which each shouldered the educational expenses of one poor child. In 1983 Sant Hirda Ram identified himself with the endeavour which took the name Navyuvak Parishad. By 1999 the number of adopted children rose to 651, whose needs — covering school fees, books, stationery, uniforms, even calculators and alarm clocks — were provided for. In addition were organised free coaching classes for which 65 tutors — mostly old beneficiaries — render service. The culmination has come in the form of Rotary Clubs of Bhopal and Singapore coming forward with a project of adopting 200 children for two years! These children do much better than those from well-off families with a pass percentage of 93 (in 1997-98) — nearly one-fourth securing a firstdivision.

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Over time the Parishad’s activities have branched off in various directions: health, family welfare, employment.