Human Beings-- Saroja

Saroja

I was travelling in my car May 22, 1976 in Khammam Town of Andhra Pradesh. It was hottest day. I have seen a small child of four years sitting between parents mother & father both beggars and lepers begging. I stopped my car and found that child is the daughter of the leprosy affected beggars. I was worried that the healthy child due to constant, contact of parents may soon become a leper. I contacted my friend the Dist Collector and requested him to get the child adopted by me. He by his official’s help arranged the child to accompany me to Hyderabad with parents’ approval.

I brought her to home. My mother did not agree to adopt her. She do not want the child be in the home. I was worried. I did not take permission of my Mother before getting the child to my home. Now a new situation arises.

I contacted Smt Sangam Lakshmi Bai a Gandhian and Social Worker, who established Seva Sadan to adopt orphans deserted women to look after them educate them develop skills and rehabilitate them in their life. I approached her to help me with regards this girl. She accepted the child into her Seva Sadan Home. On her advice I changed her name from Yadamma to Saroja. (Named after a great freedom fighter Sarojini Naidu hails from Hyderabad, Bapuji contemporary and a poetess).

I started paying monthly Rs.100 to Rs.500 PM towards her expenses. Every Saturday I used to go to her hostel to meet her with fruits, biscuits, hair oil, talc powder dolls books dress etc. Child was admitted in the school. Periodically the leper parents appear in front of my house and ask the child be returned. (They want to train her as beggar) I motivate, argued, and threatened them to retain her in the hostel. Often paid some money to get them out. Smt Sangam Lakshmi Bai too felt irritated of their visit and their unruly behaviour. They demand money to go back I paid regularly. In summer I took child to parents for a week or two made her to stay with parents least she should not hate them in due course and bring her back to hostel.

Child Saroja became girl. She did her 10^th class. I got her trained as Nurse. By that time she became 21 years of age. From 4 years to 21 years I paid for her food clothes all that are needed to a growing girl. I regularly paid to parents to keep them away from taking her away and prevented to become a beggar. I got her employed in one of our AWARE Rural Hospitals in Khammam and asked her to look after her parents. She got married to a person with out my knowledge but with her parent’s consent. I have nothing against her. I felt happy that she got settled her life, parents are near by. She got two children. She took several photographs with me with her children.

After two years I receive a summons from a labour court. Complaintent is Saroja. She accused me that I did not pay her salary for two months. I am Hon. Chairman of some ten Rural Charity Hospitals. I am never in charge of day to day administration of these hospitals. Each Hospital is managed by a Medical Officer. She abstained herself for two months. Doctor terminated her. She returned and insisted for the job. As a regard for me they reinstated her on condition that her leave will be treated as loss of pay. She agreed. After four months she filed a case in the court against me and not against her medical officer claiming her salary.

This month on 16th when I received Court summons and found out details I was not shocked or pained. I sent my lawyer to the Court. With out any arguments, my lawyer paid Rs.8000 plus interest and silently came out. When my lawyer was reaching gates of the court, Saroja called him and gave a message “Ask Anna (She used to call me brother) not to feel any thing. This is the only way to take some money from him. Is he doing well? “Lawyer returned with tears abusing her. I consoled him with a smile.

Is it not matching a story of saving a scorpion from drowning?.

There was a flood. A kind man was floating on a log. A scorpion was drowned and struggling for life. With the help of a twig and a leaf he save it and brought it on the floating log, which reached the bank safely. While he was getting out of the log, the scorpion stings him. He became unconscious and people took him to near by doctor and saved him. Scorpion crawled up and ran away to near by bush.

This is one of the thousand experiences in my life.

Lord of Death is afraid of me !!!

In 1972 I hit my car to a running bus at Madras, broke both my hands hospitalized 6 months. In 1974, I met with Zeep accident. I hit to a running train last Guard compartment in a unmanned level cross, again hospitalized seven months with complicated surgeries twice , bone grafting, steel plate fixing.My left hand became nothing but ornamental. Though I promised to my Mother,that I will not drive, I continued driving with out her knowledge until 1983. Both fatal accidents did not kill me.

In 1977, way to Europe my plane got accident, belly landing and burning. One died ,twenty injured. I jumped out safe with my brief case. I did not die.

From 1977 to 1990 seven time there were attempts on my life, shooting with Gun, stabbing, attempt to burn my car with me in side, attack by mobs etc., organised by Liquor Contractor, Some Land Lords, politicians etc., Not one attempt was successful. I survived. Many of such people who wants to eliminate me became my admirers today.

2004 to 2008 four fatal car accidents never injured me even slightest though occupants of car including driver sustained injuries and serious injuries. I never had a scratch. My car had

head on collision with speeding bus, second time my car was run over by a truck . The car was under the truck whole of the to front side. Third time my car hit road divider in the night and went up 7 feet in the air before it turtled. All the time, it looks God protected me with hands. Not even a scratch. Others head injuries, fractures bleeding.

While people are afraid of Death,

Death is avoiding me

Lord Of Death do not want me with him. How long Sir ?

So my life goes on !!!

I wait for you Lord

I have no desires or expectations

When do this candle extinguish

I am a Sanyasi, living amidst of crowed. I have nobody; everybody claims that I belong them. I get up at 4-15 am. After Sandya Vandanam, I cook my food, not only for me but for four or five people, though I have five servants including two maids.Then I take again bath and do Dyanam (meditation) . Then breakfast. I used to wear saffron color dress, on Thursdays, but discontinued recently.

I live in a house which is called Camp Office. That means all my office work are also being done. Files, visitors, meetings etc., I have five cars, not even one belongs to me. I share the office car. I reach office by 9 am. Meetings, files, visitors with prior appointments. Outside meetings conferences, VIPs, problems, brainstorm sessions.

I reach so called home by 7-45 PM. cooking dinner. Eat at 9 PM. Look at files, read books, magazines, write notes. .....then go to bed 11-30 0r mid night. I do not have mobile phone . In office rarely I answer phones. I am not at all comfortable in phone so I shun. I never see television though TV is on always in the house where I live but watched by people in the house.

I collapse on bed, sleep hardly two or three hours.

My Life is so restricted, I do not have freedom and always controlled in the name of security. I can not walk alone. I can not go to films. I have seen last Cinema in 1989. I can not go to restaurant alone, not to speak of shopping at all. I do not have much knowledge of Computer. I depend up on others often. I do not have password. My mail is opened by my Secretaries . Some mails were never shown to me since they feel useless. I get around 80 mail a day. I answer 5 to 8 personally and 10 to 15 answered by staff ; remaining either not answered or deleted. I can not write ; since 40 years I was always dictating and dictating.

Then suddenly field visit, inspections, reviews, public meetings with huge crowds of tens thousands, interviews, with press, meeting leaders, officials, poor people specially tribals. I travel only by car and plane, never by train. In car per month I travel more than 6000 Km per month average. At a stretch some times I cover 1500 Km in car.

I do not earn any thing. I do not have salary nor allowance. At the age of 70s still I work like an horse and take load of work like bull.

I do not know why I am working like this. Some force drive me.

All that know is I helped 2.5 million poorest families to cross over poverty and live with dignity. This gives me sleep of a couple of hours.

Our family astrologer used to tell to my Mother your son do not have another life. He will exhaust all KARMA and say good buy to this world. Let him suffer suffer as much as he can that Liberates him once for all.

My thousands of books are my property

My work is ITHIHAS History

I do not know how long I lead this life

And when this Candle extinguish

I am waiting for final Cal from Him !!!!