Mental disability is worse than Physical disability
There was an exemplary devotee of Baba named Kaka Saheb Dixit. He was an eminent lawyer. He traveled to London to represent the case of Lokmanya Shri Bal Gangadhar Tilak. In 1904, he was the chairperson of Indian National Congress. Needless to say, he was a very affluent man.
In 1907 during one of his trips to London, Kaka Saheb Dixit fractured his leg in an accident and he became lame. All effort to cure his leg turned futile. In spite of repeated efforts, the injury could not be cured. Shri Nanasaheb Chandorkar advised him to meet Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi. He met Baba in 1909 but didn’t request him to cure his leg. Instead he requested Baba to cure the lameness of his mind, instead of his leg. Kaka Saheb was so pleased with the darshan of Sai Baba that he decided to reside in Shirdi and built a wada for himself and for the benefit of other devotees.
Whosoever considers and sees these children as disable, there is definitely some disability in his mind and need to change their Thinking. We get hurt when our own children undergo slight pain. what should be our attitude towards these children who were born incomplete? If you think them as your own then you can realize how they feel. Never take mercy on these children. Treat them with respect.
Never help anyone with a merciful heart. The power of mercy is only with the almighty. Only he is capable of taking mercy on anyone. If you see anyone in pain, Just be Compassionate and try to help. Any help provided with a merciful heart builds ego. And one who is taking pity today may himself be in a pitiful situation tomorrow.
Today I decided to postpone my visit to the Sai temple. This place is more important for me than the temple. The able-bodied devotees can visit the temple. However, these children can’t go to the temple. So, god has to come here to meet them, through some means. And I say god is present in this place, here and now.
We should make all effort and make it our top priority to empower these children through Education, Sports, Art and Dance !
(Translated portion of the speech by Dr. C B Satpathy in Oriya language at Sai International School, Bhubaneswar in February 2010. During Dr. Satpathy’s visit, children with physical disability presented an attractive cultural programme organised by “SWABHIMAN”, a local charitable organization )