Conversations with Sri Sathya Sai on Hostel Food Menu

December 20, 1999

After interview…

Swami: What sports do you have?

Student:  March past, Swami.

Swami:  It is not a sport.  What sport do you have?

Student:  Cricket Swami.

Swami: Cricket!  Do you know, how it got its name?  (The boy did not answer.  Then to a teacher) Do you know?

Teacher: No, Swami.

Sri Sathya Sai on Hostel Food Menu Guide

Swami: The pads, which the cricketers put one, make ‘kir-kir’ sound.  Therefore, they called it cricket.  (Everyone laughed along with Swami.) Idli is the ball. It will fall in chutney and it will come into your mouth! (Swami called the hostel kitchen in charge.)  

What Venkatachalam?  What is the food?

Teacher: Swami, Idli, Vada and Sambar.

Swami: Idli!  Idli is small or big?  Big dosa is called dosa and even small dosa is called dosa?  How many idlis?  Two, is it not?

Teacher: Swami, Three.

Swami: Vada, only one.

Teacher: Swami, two.

Swami: (To students) Who ate more Idlis?  (One boy lifted his hand)  How many?

Student:  Three, Swami.

Swami: Three or four?  (To Institute Warden) You buy bread from outside. It gives liquor smell because they add it for fermentation.

Warden: Swami, we have told them not to do so.

Swami: They will not tell you.  But they will mix (casually). Brindavan boys have to go to canteen when they come here. You do not accommodate them! Nevertheless, it is the Wardens’ job; they should settle it with the canteen. Brindavan boys eat more and so, therefore a little more expenditure!  Boys should not eat more. It will lead to Tamas. Eating less will help in doing more work.  

(To the kitchen in-charge)  What was there for lunch?

K Inch.: Swami, Cabbage Pulav.

Swami: Cabbage Pulav!  I do not know how they make it.

K Inch.: Swami, rice, and cabbage are mixed.

Swami: But pulav with cabbage, how can it be made! What else did you have for lunch?

K.Inch: Cucumber, Pacchi Dosakai…

Swami: Cucumber! Pacchi dosakai. How was it given?  With salt or with lemon?

K.Inch: We made them round and gave it.

Swami: Round!  Like chips.  Chips are made very thin.  Boys can eat ten cucumber pieces in one stroke. How many kilograms of rice are needed per day?

K.Inch: Swami, fifty kgs of rice.

Swami: How many boys can eat one kg of rice?

K.Inch: Ten boys, Swami.

Swami: One boy should eat quarter kg.  So four boys should eat a kg.  Is rice of good or second quality?

K.Inch: Swami, good one.  (Swami asked boys for approval)

Students: Yes Swami.

Swami: What is for dinner?  

(A teacher told something to Swami in a low voice)  I saw Venkatachalam 25 years back in Delhi. That time I stayed in Mr. Krishna Menon’s house (then Defence Minister of India) (Then Swami asked the boys if anyone had seen Delhi. Swami picked up a boy and asked where he was from.)

Student: Delhi, Swami.

Swami: Then you have seen Delhi, is it not?  Which part of town do you live in?

Student: Old town.

Swami: Old town.  (To a teacher)  Nowadays, every place has old town and new town.

Teacher: Yes, Swami.

Swami: Even in Anantapur, old and new towns are there.  Now they are building a ‘Modern Sathya Sai town’.  I had given the government, 100 acres and asked them to build houses, and distribute them to poor people.  Now 500 houses are there. They are insisting that I should come for opening that.  Also, they told that they would not open them if Swami was not going to come. Collector is insisting. I told that I would give them water and even arrange for drainage system.

Teacher: Swami, You have provided everything. Then what is it that they do?

Swami: No, no. They are happy, and so am I. It costed 80 lakhs in those days, now it will cost 8 crores. 

Then Swami told about the newly built Junior College in Anantapur. He told that it was as beautiful as the Administrative Block of the University. When a teacher asked what was the strength, Swami replied 700-800. Swami also told they would be coming for the Sports Meet.  After this, Swami went on to tell how the Anantapur Campus Warden had dealt with a group of striking students (students of the neighbouring colleges). He told that a group of students went to the Anantapur Hostel and asked the students to join them.  They even asked who their leader was.  Then the Warden came out and explained the correct position to those students. She added that strikes would result in waste of time, energy, exam-postponement and other related problems, and so it was not good for the students. Swami reiterated the fact that strikes were never good for students.

Swami: (Swami called the Warden) Are you paying for the boys who went to Bangalore?

Warden: Yes Swami.

Swami: Yes, that is Nyayam (Justice).  None of those boys wrote a letter to Me.  (Warden tried to explain that they were busy with the coaching but Swami did  not agree to it).  Manchidi, Manchidi.  Are you giving Ghee to boys?

Warden: Sometimes, Swami.

Swami: Ah! One teaspoon of Ghee contains 100 calories. In Primary School, they give Ghee.  

Swami: But do you give curds?

Warden: Swami!  No buttermilk…

Swami: Ah! Water curds you give.  Water curd. In my opinion, lot of wastage is there. Do not waste.

-Devotional India