Baba recall: From Puttaparthi to M'lore

After this experience, not only did the family become the followers of Baba but they have been spreading the glory of Baba in the city through various activities in his name. Today, the M S Pai family undoubtedly stand first whenever one speaks about devotees of Sathya Sai.

It was in 1950s that M S Pai’s family was struck by a crisis where there was a need to ampute the leg of his ailing father. Pai, a staunch Shirdi Sai Baba devotee was looking for an answer about his father’s health and someone casually spoke about a godman who lives in Puttaparthi, who claims to be the incarnation of Shirdi Sai.
M S Pai without wasting any time left to an unknown place called Puttaparthi with a  couple of his friends. In 18 to 20 hours, Pai was in Puttaparthi, seated in the Verandah, where Baba used to give darshan to the devotees.

First experience

There were only few devotees and Baba had walked right up to M S Pai and taken him into a chamber to exchange words. “Your father will be all right. Have no confusion with regard to the amputation. Tell your brother (who was a doctor with KMC Manipal) to go ahead with amputation,” Baba had told Pai without even knowing who he was. Baba had even told that it was he who was guiding the white fiat in which they were travelling, all the way from Mangalore to Puttaparthi.

“Since then there has been no looking back. Baba had guided us in many situations like this which are just beyond explanation,” says 58-year old Padmanabha Pai, son of M S Pai. Padmanabha Pai, the most beloved of Baba in the family has had several experiences with Baba, may it be his education or his marriage, Baba was instrumental in making vital decisions in his life. “I did not have best of marks in PU but Baba told me I would be doing my Engineering in KREC (now NITK). He predicted that I will go to US for my MBA, which I did and I worked there for a while. One day, Baba casually told my father that he had chosen a girl for me. He asked my father to know my reaction. I said if Baba had decided something for me, then it would be the best for me. Baba arranged both the engagement and the wedding ceremony at Vrindavan, White Field, in Bangalore” recalls Padmanabha Pai.

Padmanabha Pai’s two daughters settled in the US are doctors but have been running Sathya Sai Seva centres there, serving the destitutes in the county. This service has bagged them huge recognition in the US where the local counties have felicitated them several times for their service. Here in Mangalore as the District President of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation Padmanabha Pai carries on various social service activities keeping the flag of Baba’s services flying high.

Does the family miss their guiding spirit? “No” says Pai. “Baba can never die. He will live with each of his devotees, guiding them on the right path and reprimanding them whenever they stray from the spiritual path,” says Pai.