Postal Department Staff honored and a great Story

Smt.Meera Datta, Post Master General of Karnataka State presents
the extract of the account book of Metagalli post office which
mentions the salary payment to Sri Swamiji - in 1965

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The name of Sri Swamiji mentioned at the boot of the document as

"G.SATYANARAYANA MURTHY"

and the payment of monthly salary of Rupees30 and
cycle allowance of Rupees 8

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Swami Manasa Datta (Formerly Radhanna) gives a speech
in the function. he returned to his duties in Mysore Ashrama

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On 16th December, several staff of the Indian Postal department were honored in Datta Peetham. Over 200 had come to participate in the event in which Datta Peetham honored Mrs.Meera Datta, post master general of the state of Karnataka. It is interesting to note that she was a humble volunteer in Mysore Ashrama in early seventies. She now heads the postal department in the state. She attributes her success to the lessons she learnt from Swamiji in those days of volunteer service. The poignant function struck chords of sweet memories to Swamiji who remembered His days in the department while working as EDDA (Extra Department Delivery Assistant) in Metagalli Post Office.

Swamiji fondly remembered Narasimha Iyengar, the post master of the office who had special affection for the young lad Satyanarayana. Recognizing the latent spiritual talents, he would exhort Satyanarayana to pursue the path of spirituality and give up the postal job. Narasimha Iyengar is no more today. Sri Swamiji in his speech which was full of wit, humor and emotion took the audience through an roller coaster ride of these feelings. Sri Swamiji disagreed with those who blame the postal department for postal delays saying people don't write addresses legibly and that sender's address should be written. Earlier, Mrs. Meera Datta was honored with Peetham honors. She presented to Sri Swamiji the state's first ever personalized postal stationary. The postal envelopes have a pre printed stamp of Dharma Dhwajam (Dharma stoopa in Mysore Ashrama) along with the Ashrama address. Saying that this was the first in the state, she then gave an amazing gift to Sri Swamiji. Hearts of devotees around jumped with joy as Sri Swamiji displayed it. It was a copy of the 1965 accounts book of Metagalli Post Office in which the salary payment to Sri Swamiji is recorded. The name is mentioned as "G.Satyanarayana Murthy" and the salary is ... imagine how much ??? Just Rupees.30/- and Rupees eight as cycle allowance. Sri Swamiji's duty was carrying around the mail from different post offices and as this required the maintenance of a cycle by the employee, the department gave a cycle allowance.

Sri Swamiji mentioned that while carrying the monthly salary back home to the house of Chikkamma (Swamiji's aunt who now lives in Ashrama), Sri Swamiji found a girl weeping and her father consoling her. Concerned, Sri Swamiji inquired the cause of the girl's grief as the father explained that because of his poverty, he had to deny the little girl's schooling as he did not have money for the school fees, books and the school uniform. This incident moved Sri Swamiji very much and Swamiji immediately removed the salary packet from the bag and gave it to the father urging him to send the little girl to school with that money. Swamiji came home and did not say a word about the incident. Chikkamma wanted to buy the monthly groceries and asked for the salary money. Swamiji absent mindedly mentioned that the salary packet was in the hand bag. Chikkamma proceeded to the bag and removed the salary packet and proudly praised the boy Swamiji for being so responsible in taking care of the family at such young age. Seeing her hold the salary packet, Swamiji remembered that he had already given it away to the little girl's education while coming home. It then dawned on Swamiji the the inner forces were indicating of the next steps to take. The very next year, Sri Swamiji established the Ashrama in its present place in Mysore.

Chikkamma who was seated in the audience was all smiles as Sri Swamiji recounted the story. Sri Raghu Rama Rao who worked in the same post office with Sri Swamiji was also honored. Sri Krishnappa, Swamiji's uncle and then a post master himself was the person responsible for urging Satyanarayana to join postal department. He too was honored and he gave a spirited speech. Swami Manasa Datta proposed vote of thanks. The three hour function had the sense of a good reunion vibes.