Prasang 85
The Ideal of Selfless Sevā
On January 26, 2001, at 8:46 AM local time, a devastating earthquake struck Bhuj and the entire state of Gujarat, leaving the region in turmoil. At the time, Pramukh Swami Maharaj was in Bochāsan. Realizing the gravity of the disaster, he immediately instructed urgent relief efforts to reach the affected people.
Within just an hour and fifteen minutes of the earthquake, the BAPS Mandir in Bhuj set up its first relief kitchen, serving hot meals to 4,000 affected individuals. This marked the beginning of a well-organized, long-term humanitarian effort, setting an ideal example of selfless service.
One day, while overseeing the preparation of food packets for earthquake victims at Atlādarā Mandir, Pramukh Swami Maharaj personally visited the kitchen. He noticed that each food packet contained 150 grams of gāthiyā and 75 grams of boondi. Observing this, he thoughtfully suggested to the head cook, “Add two pickled chilies to each packet. It will enhance the taste.” He also emphasized the importance of cleanliness, instructing that grains should be thoroughly cleaned before use and that only filtered water should be used for cooking.
Despite overseeing large-scale relief operations, Swamishri paid great attention to even the most minor details. The extent of his thoughtfulness became evident when he ensured that the relief kits for earthquake victims included nail clippers, brooms for cleaning homes, clotheslines for drying clothes, and even chāndlā packets for women. For the first time in history, essential everyday items like these were included in relief supplies—something rarely seen in government or NGO-led efforts. The reason? Pramukh Swami Maharaj truly understood people’s needs at a personal level.
A world-renowned Reuters news agency senior officer visited the relief camps and praised Swamishri’s unique approach to disaster relief, saying: “I have participated in relief efforts in South Africa, Turkey, and many other natural disaster zones. But I have never seen a relief camp like this because you serve people’s needs and emotions.”
Under Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s guidance, 6,500 volunteers and 180 swamis tirelessly provided relief aid across 409 villages and 107 urban areas in Bhuj and Morbi. At 11 major sites, relief kitchens served 40,000 meals daily, ensuring that no one went hungry. Over the course of one and a half months, Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s humanitarian efforts fed 1.8 million people!
During one such relief effort, a truck carrying supplies met with a terrible accident near Anjar. Two swamis were severely injured, and one of them lost consciousness. Needing urgent medical attention, they rushed to a nearby temporary hospital run by an international relief organization. But to their shock, the staff there refused to provide treatment, coldly stating, “We only treat earthquake victims, not accident victims.”
Despite repeated pleas to save a dying swami, the hospital staff remained firm in their heartless decision. Due to the delay in medical care, the injured swami passed away. This outraged everyone, mainly because the same organization’s 450 employees were eating daily at the BAPS relief camp! The volunteers decided, “The next time they come to eat, we should tell them—our kitchen is only for earthquake victims, not others.” But when Pramukh Swami Maharaj learned about the incident, his response reflected his saintly nature and boundless compassion. He gently calmed everyone and said, “Even if they refused to help us, we must still serve them and offer our support.”
At a moment of deep sorrow, having lost a swami who was like his own child, Swamishri chose forgiveness and service over retaliation—a true testament to his spiritual greatness and universal love.
