Desithai

DesiThai is proud to introduce Multitasker: Mrs. Deepa Singh who is a social Worker of Sathya Sai Foundation and Bal Vikas teacher, their mission is "Love all- serve all”, “Help ever- hurt never”

We are glad to have Mrs. Deepa with us on DesiThai

What does Sathya Sai foundation and Bal Vikas exactly do?

Sathya Sai Foundation is a Spiritual Organization with service as its core. It asks people to follow “Love all- serve all”, “Help ever- hurt never” principle. It encourages people to grow spiritually through their own religion and realize their own divinity. Service offered by organization has to be given free out of love. It is done with aim to soften members  hearts and thanks the recipient for giving the opportunity to serve him.

Sathya Sai Organization has five wings:

Spiritual Wings- which organizes Bhajan and study circles.

Ladies Wing: Organizes ladies Bhajan, ladies study circle, helps organization in their various activities by cooking food , arranging blood donations etc.

Youth Wing: Youth aged 18 - 35 have their own meetings and project for social welfare, giving free tuitions, organizing  awareness against drugs, visiting orphanages, blind homes etc. They host cultural events of Drama, debate and join organizations activities.

Service Wing: Sathya Sai foundation runs a Sathya Sai School at Lopburi, where around 400 children are given free education. Its a boarding school and due to its innovative ideas it has become a model school of Thailand. It also organize monthly service activities to  needy homes in Thailand .

Education Wing: It holds regular weekly SSE  (Sai Spiritual Education- for Sai devotes –) formerly named Bal Vikas and SSEHV (Sathya Sai Education in Human Values- for non Sai Devotees) classes at various locations in Thailand.

Bal vikas empowers children to develop human qualities which is inherent in them. Today's education system stresses mostly on academic excellence. We focus on their mental and emotional growth. Children are taught and asked to do daily meditation. They are made aware of main teachings of all religions. Through various value based lesson they learn to respect their parents, teachers, culture and country. This widens their vision. By imposing ceiling on desires they curb their needs and are encouraged to join regular service activities of service wing. They are taught to take win and loss with similar attitude which makes them calm, self-reliant and confident.

At such a young age what made you choose social work path?

When I was 5 years old my parent became Sai Baba devotees. Regular Bhajans, feeding the poor( Narayan Seva) and  reading Baba's books was a regular event of my house. I grew up in such environment, which drove me towards social service at young age. Now when I see my children - Neha and Rahul and I believe that if spirituality is introduced at young age it helps  child to become more calm and focused.

Tell us something about yourself.

I was born and brought up in Kolkata though my parents hailed from Bihar state in India. My father was a chartered accountant and I wanted to pursue same profession. But soon after getting my bachelor’s degree in commerce I got married . I joined my husband on ships and sailed across the world for 6 years. It was the most exciting years of my life. Visiting cities like London, Paris, San-Francisco, Melbourne one after another which was marred  by sailing through rough seas without seeing land for months.  I was called inclinometer of the ship where a little roll will keep me on bed for days, But the moment dolphins and land was sighted excitement to see the new land and shopping brought new energy. After my daughter started going to school within one year my husband got shore job with Shipping company and we moved to Bangkok in 1993.

When did u choose to work for bal Vikas/Sathya Sai foundation and what was the motivation behind joining?

Initially after moving to Bangkok I came to know about it  in 1995 and started to join  bhajans , service activities and youth meeting occasionally. Gradually joined the Bal Vikas Classes and became a Bal vikas teacher. I taught computer at future kids school on  Soi  Ruam Rudi  also. But  I left the job and became more active in Sathya Sai Foundation,  because they opened the Institute also. So I have joined Sathya Sai Institute also in 1998 .

What are your thoughts on women’s social contributions?

Swami says Women are the energy. Women are the one who can lead the husband and children to the right path. Mother is the first teacher of the child. Some women have to take up jobs to run their families. But they must realize that whatever position they hold, whatever job they do, at the core they have to furnish the role of a mother so that there is a strong foundation for the next generation. So, if all women work together in the positive way, we can change the world. Most of the houses husband comes on the spiritual path because of their wives.

Elaborate on your journey in Sathya Sai foundation.

After becoming Bal vikas teacher I started to hold Bhajans for children and annual cultural program. Of course  it was possible , beacuse of all other very active Bal Vikas Teachers. They are Kamlesh Jagota, Jyoti Dawar, Sridevi Kavi, Anupa Narula, Gayatri Kumar and Renu dayal. To spread Baba’s message we started having   Bhajans in different houses. When Sathya Sai institute opened at Lopburi to train foreign teachers I started to work in Institute office  . Now I look after institutes office work and overseas correspondences and at times go to lecture at Institute. I am actively involved in all activities of the organization which keeps me busy full day.

Were there any stumbling blocks? How did you overcome them?

My husband   Manoj and In laws were not a Sai Baba devotee. Many women face this challenge if they are wed in a house  of different faith. But my firm faith in Swami's ( Sathya Sai Baba)) gave me strength and my husband being a very nice person never became an obstacle, in fact he always supported me.  . Swami's broad teaching and social service attracted my husband . and now he is Deputy Central Regional Co ordinator, looking after Sai organisation in 5 countries, Thailand, Laos, Burma, Vietnam and Cambodia. Once a devotee visited our house and asked us to start regular monthly service (seva ) in small way with our own money. . He said a day will come and give money to you . And my husband liked the idea and started the seva with the help of few more members of the organisation. Its a miracle that it has never stopped and we are able to generate fund to sustain it till today. I feel its Swami's work, he inspires,  we are just the instrument.

Some memorable incidences at Sathya Sai foundation

I have gone to Sai Baba Ashram at Puttaparthy along with my 5 year old son in year 1997.  Millions of devotees have poured in Puttaparthy for birthday celebrations .Local volunteers ( seva Dal) did not allow my son to sit with me to watch the program as men and women are not allowed to sit together. I left my son to care of a New Zealand devotee to watch the program. During the program my son left the devotees hand and sat near the big TV screen. As the program got over people started to rush and my son was lost. The devotee came rushing to me in panic to inform that my son is lost. I felt pity at the devotee’s condition and I told him - Please do not worry, It is Baba's ashram no harm can come to my child. With Baba's blessings I got this son, if he takes it back it is his wish. After an hour I found my son walking towards me, when asked where was he, he replied he was sleeping in front of the TV screen. When I narrated this incident to my husband after my return to Bangkok he was shocked. Since then he started to develop faith in Baba. As Baba says- with faith comes understanding and with understanding comes peace. When we board a plane we have full faith in the pilot that he will take us to our destination, this understanding gives us peace and we enjoy the journey. But suppose if we are informed that the pilot is drunk or on his first test flight with any dip in height we get scared.

Has the bal Vikas/Sathya Sai Journey changed you in any way?

Bal Vikas and Sathya Sai Organisation making me a better person each day. I am not the perfect person, but at least I try not to repeat the mistakes which I made yesterday. It has made me more humble and I am able to face the unwanted situations more boldly.

How can today’s sai youth contribute to Sathya Sai foundation?

Sai youth take all challenges positively and realize that real happiness is not in clubs, parties and drinks, it is within themselves . They spend their time and money for good cause. Keep their family happy. They think of  the welfare of the society.

What are upcoming events?

2nd week of February we are going for seva, . On 2nd March   Shivaratri will be celebrated by holding night long 12 hours bhajans . on 12th march there will be a Blood Donation Camp. Easwaramma Day (sai Baba's mother's day) celebration by SSE children on 7th May.  Puttaparthy yatra  tentative dates are 13th - 21st May., where anyone can join us during Buddha Purnima , June 30th July 2nd Youth Meeting at Bali(Indonesia).

Anything else you want to share with us?

Swai,s saying "Love for God, Fear of Sin."

Any message to your peers?

Lack of faith is the root cause of all worries in our life today. We need to go beyond rituals and grow spiritually by regularly practicing what we learn from scriptures and improve our behavior. Have faith in god, pray to him. He will take care of us.

What advice would you give to the women who are reading this?

Its a busy world, but try find some time for our personal growth.We are the first teachers of our child.We need to be the change which we want in them. So lead  a virtuous life so that they become noble citizens.



You can visit our website at www.sathyasaithailand.com



Some additional information about Bal Vikas Classes



Apart from me few more very active SSE Teachers are : Kamlesh Jagota, Jyoti Dawar, Sridevi Kavi, Anupa Narula, Gayatri Kumar, Renu Dayal.

We have one SSEHV Teacher too, Teacher Pinya,  Of course we have many more SSEHV Teachers in Sathya Sai School, Lopburi.

Different Venue for SSE are:

On Friday: Sai Prashanti Centre, Soi 49/12, from 6.30 - 7.30 pm, Teacher Deepa and Sridevi

On Friday: Peter Mansion, Soi 63, subsoi 2, from 5 - 6 pm, Teacher Kamlesh Jagota, Renu Dayal

On Saturday: Prestige Towers, Soi 23, Sukumvit, from 9.30 - 10.30 am, Teachers: Deepa and Sridevi

On Sunday: Rama Mansion, Soi 12 from 8.30 - 9.30, Teachers :  Deepa Singh, Jyoti Dawar, Sridevi Kavi and Anupa Narula

On Sunday: Ruamjai Heights, Soi 15 Sukumvit, Teachers: Kamlesh jagota nd Gayatri Kumar.

SSEHV in Thai on Saturdays by Teacher Pinya at Sathya Sai Foundation, 148 soi Damnern Klang Tai, Bangkok 10200

SSE is 9 Years course from 5 - 14 years , then they join youth group as Pre Youth and then at the age of 18 become Sai Youth.


Thank you
With Best Wishes
Deepa