Stories of Transformation
The demonetisation of currency notes in the year 2016 resulted in long queues outside all the banks where people thronged to deposit their wealth into the bank coffers. Even people who had never been to the banks were now left with no choice if they were to convert their demonetised notes. While everyone was found to be busy with his own struggle to get his/her cash into the bank in time, a section of society comprising of rural folks and especially the elderly was left in the state of utter despair as they didn’t even know how to fill up the pay-in-slip and deposit the money or get it exchanged. Every single rupee meant a lot to each of them.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba had always emphasised that service has to be need based and timely. Thoughtful observation of few youth in Jalpaiguri District of West Bengal sensed the opportunity and need of service and responded to alleviate the agony of such people spontaneously.
A makeshift camp was set up at the doors of the Jateshwar Central Bank and people from various walks of life – vendors, daily wage earners, aged dependents – were helped in filling out of deposit or withdrawal forms.
A simple act that poses a real problem for those unable, one can only guess the extent of the chagrin at being incapable and the happiness and relief when their hard earned money was salvaged with the help of the necessary piece of paper that served purpose.
Service to those needing help makes you the comrade of all, irrespective of other considerations. Be looking all around you, all the time, even beyond the horizon of your allotted tasks for any extra chance to serve. – Sri Sathya Sai Baba Divine Discourse – February 21, 1971
Although it might appear to be a very small act of service and may not have caught the attention of the media, however, the thoughtfulness, spontaneity in rising to the occasion to serve the needy, intention and the motive behind this service would have certainly pleased God, as it relieved the needy individuals of stress and agony on the one hand, and gave in insurmountable level of satisfaction and joy to those who were instrumental in this service.
