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Posted on : Feb 03, 2012

ORCHESTRATING A FASCINATING PLAY OF DIVINE COMPASSION

How Bhagawan mysteriously motivated the Sai Youth of Ambodola to reach out to the most neglected little ones of rural Odisha (in East India) and create an oasis of divine compassion

Part - 5

The Mega Idea Ready to Take Off

And thus Ambodola Becomes Babadola, a Land Blessed by Bhagawan Himself!

Once the youth returned to Ambodola, every time they thought about their trip it just filled them with renewed vigour to work for their beloved Sai. The sterling assurance of Swami - “I will do everything,” kept reverberating in their hearts. They began the work in right earnest.

Instead of hiring labourers, the youth themselves toiled to level those nearly five acres of land. The entire area had to first have a sound fencing so that it is secure. They erected poles and tied iron wires to safeguard the area. Once this was complete they built a small store room and also in parallel started cultivation in that land.

“We are now growing various fruit trees like mango, banana, papaya, jack fruit and so on. In fact, this area is called Ambodola because of its profuse production of mangoes (‘ambo’ in Odiya means mango). We also have flower plants, and did rice cultivation too. Some of the produce is used for the children and the rest is being sold in the market.

"We took this activity up because it will take us a while to organise ourselves completely with enough financial and other resources to start the construction of the entire complex. While this is happening in the background, we wanted to provide employment opportunities to some of the local youth as well as use the land remaining idle,” said Mr. Raja, the Zonal Youth Coordinator, and added, “This has really helped. We have had satisfying harvests of chillies, bananas, ladies’ fingers, beans, etc. and so many youth are involved in this service activity.

Even as plans are being readied to start the construction of the new Sai Karunalayam complex , the Sai Youth meanwhile are using the land to grow useful fruits and vegetables so that the area is not left idle; their labour of love produces rich harvests.

“Simultaneously, the concrete plans for the complex are also now ready. If you look at the design there is a long 'spine road' from the public road connecting to a heart-shaped area. That huge heart represents our goal to be embodiments of compassion just like our Swami, and the straight spine road is our determination to make this happen, no matter what the odds are.

“According to our plan the school building would pan across an area of over 500 square metres and would have 10 classrooms. While this would be constructed next to the spine road, towards the end of this road, inside the heart-shaped area would come up a huge playground and park spanning over 1050 square metres and next to it would be the temple and a prayer hall in a total area of 160 square metres.

The nearly five acres of land where the multi-purpose Sai Karunalayam complex is planned; most of the buildings would come along the 'spine road' which includes separate hostels for boys and girls, a school building, a vocational training centre, an old age home, dispensary as well as staff quarters. Inside the heart-shaped area will be built a temple and a huge playground.

“We also want to construct two hostels, one each for boys and girls, which can house more than 200 students. They would have separate mess facilities and all possible amenities inside the campus.

“Besides these, we definitely want to have an old age home complex where 38 individual units will have all facilities like an alarm system, emergency medical attention, wheel chairs and other necessities. These would be spacious and comfortable houses close to the temple and the prayer hall area. Close by, there would also be a dispensary to provide primary health care.

The design view of the proposed old age home with all necessary conveniences for the aged.

“Apart from this, 540 square metres would be earmarked for plantation and horticulture, while dairy farming would be done in another 870 square metres. In fact there is already a cow shed now and many local youth are involved in milk production and distribution.

Besides school, hostel and old age home there is also area earmarked for dairy farm, plantation and horticulture as well as future expansion of the school.

“To help make these youth independent, on the cards is also a vocational training centre in another 620 square metres of area. So as you can see by His grace we are definitely thinking big and surely want to do it. And we know it will happen someday as He has promised us that He is with us on this completely. We are now busy garnering whatever resources we can as this elaborate plan does call for huge financial support. But I guess it will happen whenever He deems it fit. Even now to support these children a good amount is needed every year which we have been able to get, thanks to His grace. So we are constantly praying and doing our best.”

The youth have now built an office cum store room in the planned Sai Karunalayam plot even as they are getting themselves organised to begin the construction of the entire structure.

Ask Raja what he thinks is the mission of this entire project and without batting an eyelid he says, “We want to be useful to Swami. Baba has always been so fond of providing value education to all, especially the downtrodden. This is precisely the mission of our lives. We want to create enlightened citizens out of these neglected orphans. That would be our humble contribution to His grand Education Mission and will thereby sanctify our lives.”

 
One is left only in awe and admiration when in the presence of these youth for whom carrying forward His mission is a passion which shines as brightly as an effulgent Sun. With their rock-like faith and devotion, the day is not far when the entire area of Ambodola would stand revolutionalised, every speck of it radiating the matchless love of their Lord, Bhagawan Baba. Ambodola, ‘the land of mangoes’ would then become ‘Babadola’, the land of Baba!

- Bishu Prusty
Radio Sai Team