A TEACHER’S AWAKENING TO TRUE WISDOM
Excerpts of a conversation with Prof. J. Hemalatha, Part-2
An esteemed administrator, Prof. J. Hemalatha is the former Principal of the Anantapur Campus of Sri Sathya Sai University. She was virtually hand-picked by Bhagavan to be His instrument for the blossoming of this campus where she served with utmost dedication for 31 years. She is also a litterateur and orator who has translated and compiled several precious volumes on Bhagavan’s teachings, the latest one being“Women’s Role in Rejuvenating the Culture of Bharat”.
This is the second part of her conversation with Dr. Rajeshwari Patel, Department of English, Anantapur Campus of the Sathya Sai University who had interviewed her in the Radio Sai studio in 2006.
Letters from God: Divine Teacher Guides His Chosen Instrument
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Interviewer: You were the Principal of the College for 25 years. In fact, you were the longest serving Principal of Swami’s College and must have had rich experiences during that quarter century. I am sure our listeners would be delighted to hear about some of the lessons you learnt from Bhagavan during that long tenure.
Prof. Hemalatha: Yes, the lessons I learnt are umpteen in number. At every step, I have been learning some lesson or the other from Him. Throughout my entire career of 31 years in His Institution, as a Teacher, and as an Administrator, Bhagavan guided me through and through. In the earlier days, He gave me a direct helping hand in my endeavors, like a Mother makes the child walk. Later, He was constantly watching, protecting and prompting at all times of need.
Once, here in 1969, I had to face some critical comments and criticism from a few staff members. Unable to take those baseless allegations at that inexperienced young age, I poured out my heart to Swami. The consoling word that Swami told me at that time gave me the strength to face any situation in the later period.
He said: “If someone refers to Me as ‘Buttathala Baba’, ‘Baba with Bushy Hair’, I take those words as they belong to me. But if anyone refers to Me as ‘Battathala Baba’, that is, ‘Bald Headed Baba’, why should I care for it?
“Once I know that I am not ‘Battathala Baba’, I ignore and their words rebound on them.
“In the same way, if you feel that someone’s comments are truly applicable to you, think about it and consider them. If you feel those words are not true, you ignore.”
A great lesson, till today I remember His golden words! Such advices from Divinity helped me immensely in discharging my duties sincerely, without any bias or hatred. That is very important.
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Though I used to get emotionally upset sometimes, it was a temporary thing. He taught me to be balanced, which is an essential feature for an administrator and a teacher. When things were very hurting, beyond a limit, like a child, I used to inform Swami for my own consolation. The letters that Swami used to write to me in such situations giving Divine Assurance laid a very strong foundation for carrying out my duties boldly.
Interviewer: Could you share any one of your letters where He has given you such advice?
Prof. Hemalatha: Sure, I will be happy to. Once, some public or parents, who were not in agreement with the strict discipline of the college, complained to Swami about certain things. Swami knows the truth. He wrote to me like this; I will read out in Telugu.
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Interviewer: Wonderful words!
Prof. Hemalatha: On some other occasions I felt hurt by some undesirable comments by a few people. Remembering Swami’s message I was patient and did not react. I received a wonderful letter from Swami which I kept as a guidepost throughout.
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These letters gave me a lot of strength. This is not personal to me. It is not only this. When I went wrong, Swami used to correct me too. Once, a VIP recommended an unworthy case for admission. As per Swami’s command, I was always going according to rules laid down and therefore refused to oblige him. Then He went on pressurizing. I too had to be a little curt. This matter was reported to Swami by that VIP. Swami called me and told me to stick to my decision but at the same time, advised me to speak obligingly, even if you cannot oblige. “Speak obligingly even if you cannot oblige.”
This taught me to be more patient and speak softly even in critical and crucial situations.
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Once I happened to witness one devotee telling Swami about his achievements. He said, Swami, I am proud of this. Swami patted him and said,
“Bangaru (Golden one), it is good. Let me tell you one thing. ‘Be happy for your achievements. But never be proud of it. After all, you should know that it is God who is making you do good things. Pride brings downfall.”
Once, I had one more lesson from Swami. I was saying something in reply to His question. My voice was a little louder than it needed to be. Swami said, “Softly, Softly. When we talk, it should be audible only to the person or persons that it is intended for”.
Such lessons are umpteen in number. I will tell you more. Swami gives a lot of importance for doing our duty first. Swami places a lot of emphasis on Duty, Devotion and Discipline. We had a picture in the College, which said: “Duty is the medium of instruction in this College”. What a great statement!
Let me tell you an example in this regard. Once, in the initial years, we invited Swami to inaugurate the Telugu Literary Association. Swami very kindly accepted our invitation and fixed a date for that. Suddenly, I got a letter from the Sri Venkateswara University saying that my presence is required in the University at Tirupati for some official work. I didn’t know what to do. Swami was to come, the date was fixed and I wrote to Swami this is how things are, what do I do?
Whether to do that duty or to stay back? I was in a dilemma. Swami replied saying, “You go, I will come soon after you come. You inform me when you return.”
Neevu thirupathi velli ravochhu. Neevu ochina tadhupare nenu anantapuram otthunu. Neevu e tedi vattuvo telipina aa rendova dinamu nenu ottunu. Saaraswata sanghamu prarambhintunu.
So very kind of Him! I was really taken aback. This is how He taught us how to be duty minded. We should never fail to do our duties. And there are a few more lessons I learnt from Him and remember now. These were really simple, but very significant!
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In July 1971, the new buildings of the College were inaugurated. Naturally after a massive program of construction of all these buildings, large quantities of stocks were left unused. Swami personally saw to it that most of the material was shifted to two big rooms in the building and got them locked. Then He sent for me. He handed over to me the keys of those rooms along with the key of His room saying I was to be the in-charge of the stores.
As I said, I did not have much experience at that time! I said, “Swami there is no stock register.” Swami looked at me smilingly and said, “Oh, stock register? Andari Stock Registers anninti stock registers, naa daggare unnayile.” That means, “The Stock register of everything and everyone is with Me. It is with God.” I just accepted the keys.
And then hardly one month after that Swami came to college. He called me to the auditorium where He was standing and said there are two paintings one of Ramayana and another of Mahabharatha in the store room. He asked me to send those so that they would be fixed in the college auditorium.
Till that time, I did not make any attempt to check what was there in those two rooms, because they were fully packed. Now, at Swami’s command, I went but could not locate any picture there. I went back and told Swami that they were not there. Swami was in the auditorium, personally looking into the arrangements of which picture was to go where. In those days, He was taking complete interest at every step.
As I told you, mother looks after the child when it doesn’t know anything. At Swami’s instruction, I searched again. But it was of no use. Then Swami Himself came up and showed two huge boards turned towards the wall and kept. I had thought those boards were some construction material!
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I was really sad for my lapse. I learnt a lesson that once we are in-charge of a task, we should be aware of it fully and should not be negligent even to the slightest extent.
I recall another small incident. Swami had left the duplicate keys to His room on the campus with me saying that I can open it once a week so that it can be cleaned. I, along with a few other teachers, used to carry out that work regularly.
One week, due to some other pressure of work, we happened to ignore it, thinking that we can do it the following week. That was Sunday afternoon at about 2 p.m. Suddenly Swami’s car came to my house. I was staying in the town.
Swami’s car appeared there! The driver said Swami is waiting in the College and He sent the car to bring you. It was like a shock! I immediately went. Swami was sitting in an ordinary chair in the College office. We can’t even think of such things nowadays. He said, “I forgot to bring the keys of My room I had with Me.” I opened His room and requested Swami to give me two minutes time.
Swami came in. He smiled at me and said, “Why, is the room not cleaned?” I apologized profusely. What else could I do? It was a message, that one should be meticulous and punctual and always prepared, ever ready for God.
God Seeks Purity and Innocence
I would like to tell you one incident regarding Swami’s affection and kind treatment towards us when we are innocent. It was July 1969. The admissions were over. I was made the Principal in-charge. Swami was to visit the college the next day. I didn’t even know what to offer Him at that time. I didn’t know how to receive Him. Some people said He would take only milk and others said He takes only coffee but not milk.
I didn’t even have one silver tumbler with me at Anantapur as I went there with only minimum essentials. Therefore, I took two new stainless steel tumblers. I am giving the details for you to know that it was the simplest possible reception one can give to Him. We just had hot milk in a thermos flask, and a packet of Nescafe, in case Swami likes to take coffee. And I kept this in a basket in the Principal’s room.
Swami arrived, spoke to staff and students, later He spoke to me for quite some time in the Principal’s room itself. He was sitting in the Principal’s chair as we didn’t have any special chair for Swami then.
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This is the mother who forgives the innocent child and reminds her of her duties with love and affection.
Divine Mother Waits Patiently for Her Daughter(s) to Grow Up
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But as a child progresses in maturity, mother expects her to become more and more perfect. I experienced this too.
During 1985-86, we celebrated a sports meet in our campus. The students and staff worked day and night and made beautiful arrangements. The entire campus was cleaned and decorated. An enchanting stage was also set up in the sports ground and we ourselves patted our back for our work. Swami arrived. He was also very happy seeing the camp.
He told the then Vice-Chancellor that the students worked with a lot of dedication and devotion and made the campus shine like a mirror. Swami was taken to the stage in the grounds and while getting onto the stage, He bent and picked up a tiny paper pin from the carpet spread on the stage. He showed it to me and said, “Nothing happens to Me. If the pin hurts the Vice-Chancellor, it won’t be good, isn’t it?" It was a good lesson for me. I did not supervise that part of the place. The people who worked there, by mistake, left the pin. It skipped everyone’s attention, but the Omnipresent One has thousand or more eyes. He wants to bring down our ego.
Godsight is Perfect Foresight
In November 1969, the foundation stone was laid for the new buildings of the college. And the plans were prepared. During February 1970, the markings were being made on the ground, before the actual construction. Swami arrived at the site. Suddenly He called my husband who was there in that gathering and asked him to pick a small stone, a pebble. We were wondering what was going on. Incidentally, my husband happened to be the tallest and heaviest person in the whole group there. So He called him and then asked him to go to the road and throw that stone with all his strength. He threw it. Swami then asked the people who were there to mark 50 feet from the spot where the stone fell. We were amazed at Swami’s planning and meticulous attention to such detail.
He thought even if some miscreants or demonstrators were to throw stones during times of agitation or disturbance, the building and the students inside the building should be safe and should not be harmed. This simple exercise factored in such a possibility. What forethought? It is so simple, but very wonderful foresight! How kind! Such instances are innumerable.
