New Zealand could become the hub of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Temples and devotees in the Southern Hemisphere, the leader of the Shirdi Sai Baba Movement has said.
Dr Chandra Bhanu Sathpathy, Founder-President of Shirdi Sai Global Foundation and former Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police, told Indian Newslink that the devotion and selfless service of devotees and volunteers of the Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan New Zealand Inc based in Auckland were a source of endearment and inspiration.
Global Summit
He was in Auckland to lead a two-day global summit organised by the Sansthan at its Complex located at 12 Princes Street in Onehunga on February 27 and 28, 2016.
Hosted in association with the Shirdi Sai Global Foundation, Gurgaon, India, the Summit was attended by 29 delegates from Australia, Germany, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States of America. They were joined by a large number of devotees from various parts of New Zealand.
Following is a report by Sansthan President Bhaskar Reddy Duvvuru:
Dr Sathpathy emphasised the importance of community service and reminded the audience of the teachings of Sai Baba in this connection.
Citing various instances drawn from the Holy Book ‘Sai Satcharita,’ he said that all Sai Temples should become effective community service centres.
“Humankind throughout the world is facing various types of problems and hence there is ample scope for community service. The best way of doing this is to identify local needs and serve them rather than doing something elsewhere,” he said.
Community initiatives
The main purpose of the Summit was to focus on community service initiatives taken up by different Trusts and Temples in their respective countries.
The basic belief is that knowledge-sharing gives an enriching experience to explore better ways of rendering effective community service.
The deliberations also covered the Global Sai Movement, Philosophy and Teachings of Masters, the Role of Social Media and Literature, Concept of Mobile Temple, Management of Temples and Issues and challenges associated with running non-profit organisations.
Among the Guests of Honour at the Summit were Sadashiv Lokhande, Member of Indian Parliament (from Shirdi Constituency), New Zealand Parliamentarians Phil Goff (Labour) Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Dr Parmjeet Parmar (National), Mahesh Bindra (New Zealand First), Former Minister and Member of Parliament Dr Richard Worth, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupathi Management Professor P Raghunatha Reddy, India Trade Alliance Chairman Giri Gupta, Radio Tarana Managing Director Robert Khan and the Editor of this newspaper.
Sathpathy honoured
Mr Goff honoured Dr Sathpathy with the ‘Outstanding Global Humanitarian Award’ at the Valedictory function held on February 28 and recognised his services to the Shirdi Sai Baba Movement worldwide.
“It is commendable that the Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan in New Zealand has been involved in a number of community welfare project and has decided to adopt Starship Foundation as its annual beneficiary. The work of Sansthan and the services being rendered by its devotees and volunteers is praiseworthy,” he said.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Mr Bakshi, Dr Parmjeet and Mr Bindra.
Dr Sathpathy presented a cheque for $12,000 on behalf of the Sansthan to Starship Foundation Chief Executive Brad Clark as this year’s contribution.
Aid to Fiji
He also presented a cheque for $5000 to Mr Khan towards the cost of 250 food packets and essential commodities to be shipped to Fiji for distribution to the victims of Tropical Cyclone Winston a week earlier.
The two-day event included performances by a Maori group and Indian artistes.
- Phil Goff felicitating Dr Satpathy with the ‘Outstanding Global Humanitarian’ Award
- Dr Satpathy presenting a cheque to Mr Khan as aid to Cyclone Winston victims in Fiji
- Dr Sathpathy with (from left) Mr Lokhande, Mr Bakshi, and Mr Bindra
- Dr Satpathy displaying the Holy Book ‘Shri Guru Bhagawat Volume 4 in Telugu along with (from left) Professor Reddy, Mr Clark, Lokhande, Mr Duvvuru and Sansthan Vice-President Venkateshwarlu Kodali
