Yet another memorable dinner session
Swami had just arrived after calling upon the former prime minister of India, Sri Atal Behari Vajpayee. It was quite late by daily standards. So, at 8:45 pm we were all told to go and sit for dinner. I went in and stood behind the second chair facing Swami. Swami told us to sit and then we chanted the food prayer, Brahmaarpanam. Satyajit was serving Swami and there was a lot of “Vadhoo” (‘Don’t want’) from Him today. Inspite of multiple such refusals, Satyajit went about serving food into His plate; Swami delivered a really loud “Vadhoo!” I could not help smiling and immediately, Swami too looked at all of us and smiled. Then all of us started eating.
The session started with Swami asking,
“A youngster keeps waiting outside to have Swami’s darshan. Who is he?”
Nobody seemed to know the answer and everyone kept silent. I thought that maybe he was referring to Vibhu but did not say anything. Swami called Ravi bhaiya and asked him,
“Why did you not sing Kausalyatmaja bhajan?”
Bhaiya gave his sweet smile and Swami too responded with the same. Yet another instance of God being reaction, reflection and resound! A pleasant conversation followed. Swami seemed to be in a very happy state of mind, having visited Vajpayee. Given below is the conversation, not necessarily in the order presented.
Swami asked GV sir as to when he had come to Simla. He, as always, gave a detailed and elaborate answer. Then Swami was speaking about His trip to Delhi when He inaugurated the international centre. Vajpayee had been present then. GV sir added that Vajpayee was present with Swami even during the inauguration of the Summer course in 1987 at Brindavan. He had addressed all the students then. He summed up that topic by adding - “We have that picture with us at Radiosai!”
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The reference to Vajpayee spurred Swami to narrate the conversation the two had during His visit today.
Vajpayee had told Swami,
“Your voice seems changed and is quite feeble and low in volume.”
Swami had answered,
“I was healthy in Parthi My voice too was in good condition. Now, here due to the ACs being everywhere, it has got spoilt!”
Vajpayee had agreed wholeheartedly adding,
“Even my voice has suffered due to the AC.When I go out, am active but the moment I come home, the body becomes weak!”
Then Swami added to all of us,
“I keep telling boys to switch off the AC but they don’t do it.”
Swami seemed to have got into a “pulling the leg” mode now as He saw the AIP.
“Srinivasan will not agree with me. He will find my view wrong!”
The AIP was just smiling and before he could say anything, Swami asked Prof. Anil Kumar,
“What do you think about air conditioners?”
Anil Kumar sir was strong in his criticism. He said,
“Swami, I don’t like ACs at all. People use it everywhere - in all places of work. That is why they die when the power cut comes into force! They are addicted to modern technology and not to the natural climate!”
Swami was laughing heartily at his ‘angry’ outburst. Sensing that Swami was enjoying it, the professor went on.
