SRI SATHYA SAI SEVA ORGANISATIONS WEST BENGAL DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT DARJEELING (SOUTH) 2018 - 19 ANNUAL REPORT 2018 - 19 This report is dedicated at the Lotus Feet of our Lord and Master Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba SRI SATHYA SAI SEVA ORGANISATIONS, DARJEELING (SOUTH) ANNUAL REPORT 2018 - 19 Foreword I offer my most reverential salutations to my words regarding our District. Out of the 21 beloved Lord Sai for giving me this opportunity; districts in the state of West Bengal. Darjeeling for I am an ordinary man entrusted to perform an (South) is assuredly the most blessed District extraordinary job which I think is totally impossible because a high majority of the people in this area without your Divine Grace and Guidance. I extend know about Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. my gratitude to our respected AIP Shri Nimish There are 23 Samithis, 10 Bhajan Mandalis and Pandya for providing us this golden opportunity 131 Centres (Study Circle Group), 3 Sri Sathya Sai which will be my life-breath to stand still in the Village Integrated Programme (SSSVIP) Villages years to come. I also extend my sincere greetings and 3 Sri Sathya Sai Vidhya Jyoti (SSSVJ) Schools to all. operational in our District, working tirelessly to Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba came as an become an asset to the society. Bhagawan is the avatar in this era to show us the path we all must only source of our inspiration and guide, walk in life. His life is an ideal example on how one constantly enabling us to perform this work. It is must devote oneself to the welfare of humankind. THIS Guidance that energizes and empowers the Like Swami himself used to say “My Life is My Sevadal to spread the love of Bhagawan far and Message” and here we are, now carrying forward wide. His legacy by inculcating His teachings and This Annual Report provides glimpses of the transforming ourselves towards the goal set by loving, heart-warming, selfless service being our master which is “Your life is My message” and rendered by members with fervour and utmost attaining the objective of SSSSO - “Self- devotion. I urge everyone to make the best use of transformation to World transformation”. this opportunity to actively participate in the We are indeed blessed and fortunate to be Divine Mission as instruments of love to sanctify contemporaries of the Avatar, whose life, our lives and realise our innate divinity. message, ideals and humanitarian works can all be Once again, I dedicate this report at the Lotus enshrined in one word, Love. He gave the universal feet of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on the and eternal message, “Love is the Source, Love is auspicious occasion of his 94th Birthday and offer the Path, Love is the Goal” for our redemption, so my deepest gratitude for the blessed opportunity that we realise our true nature, Love. In His infinite to be part of this Divine Mission love for humanity, Bhagawan has shown the path of WWW: Work (karma yoga), Worship (bhakti Jai Sai Ram. yoga) and Wisdom (jnana yoga) to attain freedom, Ever in Sai Service joy and peace. Anup Pradhan This is the 1st Annual Report of our District and I want to take this opportunity to jot down a few District President SRI SATHYA SAI SEVA ORGANISATIONS, DARJEELING (SOUTH) ANNUAL REPORT 2018 - 19 CONTENTS Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations...................... 2 Glimpses of Few Activities ............................... 13 Wings of The Organisation ........................................ 3 Office Bearers .................................................... 25 Administration of The Organisation ....................... 3 Current Office Bearers of the District .................. 25 The 9 Point Code of Conduct and 10 Principles. 4 Past District Presidents .............................................. 26 Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, Darjeeling (South) .................................................................. 5 Brief History ..................................................................... 5 Overview ............................................................................ 8 Sri Sathya Sai Seva Kendra ......................................... 8 Activities ......................................................................... 10 SRI SATHYA SAI SEVA ORGANISATIONS, DARJEELING (SOUTH) 1 ANNUAL REPORT 2018 - 19 Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations The Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, founded by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba in the year 1965, is a service organisation with a spiritual core and base to benefit all mankind irrespective of religion, caste, creed or sect. The Organisation serves as a platform for its members to undertake service and other activities motivated by an urge for one's own transformation with the aim of realising one's inherent divinity. Without any distinction of religion, nationality, race, socio- economic status, either for those who work in the Organisation or for those who are served by it, the Organisation transcends all barriers leading humanity towards the ideal of 'Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of Man'. The concept of fees or membership subscription is alien to the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, for there cannot be any fee or subscription for one's journey towards his own self. The organisation functions through its primary units called as Samithis and Bhajan Mandalis of which individuals - from different strata of society, different ethnic groups pursuing different religions and faiths -are members bound by the dictum of “Love all, Serve All” and pursue their own sadhana towards self- transformation following the path of selfless service to humanity. At no point is an individual asked to follow a certain religion or rituals. On the contrary each is inspired to follow his own faith so as to ensure that a Hindu becomes a better Hindu, a Muslim becomes a better Muslim, a Christian becomes a better Christian and so on. In fact, this spiritual basis inspires everyone to pursue his own religion better by putting into practice Love and Selflessness. That is why the Organisation features in its emblem the symbols of the major religions of the world. The Organisations named after Me are not to be used for publicising My Name, or creating a new cult around My worship ….They must render seva (service) to the helpless, the sick, the distressed, the illiterate and the needy. Their seva (selfless service) should not be exhibitionistic; it must seek no reward, not even gratitude or thanks from the recipients. Seva is sadhana (spiritual exercise), not a pastime of the rich and well placed. You must have the firm belief that the aim of this Organisation is to remove the obstacles that keep man away from God, that separate maanavathwa (Humanity) from Maadhavathwa (Divinity).. This Organisation must elevate the human into the Divine.” Sri Sathya Sai SRI SATHYA SAI SEVA ORGANISATIONS, DARJEELING (SOUTH) 2 ANNUAL REPORT 2018 - 19 WINGS OF THE ORGANISATION Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations functions Spirituality and Service are complementary to under three wings viz. (i) Spiritual, (ii) Education, and each other. Spirituality is the motivational force (iii) Service. Each activity in a wing is directed to behind service and service is the fulfillment of facilitate and help the members in their own spirituality. Therefore, spiritual concepts learnt spiritual advancement. Although, the nature of through education must be put into practice in form activities undertaken under different wings appear of service to humanity. Thus, in order to successfully to be distinct and dissimilar, but there is an inherent realise the objective of joining the Sai Organisation, interrelationship amongst all the three wings. The one must participate in activities of all the three three wings stand for Worship, Wisdom and Work. wings. Activities under different wings of the Organisation Spiritual Wing Educational Wing Service Wing •Bhajan •Non-formal education of •Gram Seva •Nagarsankeertan children in the age group of •Service in Slums •Study Circle 5-14 years through values- •Medical Camps and Health based educational training •Sadhana Camps Care •Bal-Vikas •Study of Sai Literature •Sanitation activities •Educare •Meditation, and •Visit to orphanges, old age •Parenting Programmes •Others homes etc. •Disaster relief •Poor feeding •Free Coaching Classes, and •Others ADMINISTRATION OF THE ORGANISATION Headed by an All India President who is at Prashanthi Nilayam, at medical camps, doing supported by the National Vice Presidents and State Narayan seva or the Bal-Vikas gurus who work with Presidents, the Organisation functions like a well- young children to imbibe in them a desire to follow oiled machine, focused on its purpose, clear in its the five human values of Truth, Righteousness, Love, vision and dedicated in its efforts to live up to Peace and Non-violence, or the teachers who Swami's message “Love All, Serve All”. having undergone the training in EHV help in guiding the young minds towards the higher goals The Samithis and the Bhajan Mandalis constitute of life or the Sai Youth who work tirelessly in the Sri a genuine spiritual movement where the members Sathya Sai Village Integrated Programme bound by are united by a common bond Love for God and one goal of practicing the ancient dictum of “Service Service to fellow human beings. to Man is Service to God”. The members of the organisation work as one cohesive unit whether as sevadals providing service SRI SATHYA SAI SEVA ORGANISATIONS, DARJEELING (SOUTH) 3 ANNUAL REPORT 2018 - 19 THE 9 POINT CODE OF CONDUCT AND 10 PRINCIPLES Every member