The Gift Of Sight

Sathya Sai Baba

oi-Staff

By Super

Friday, October 7, 2011, 14:04

This is the story of how Bhagawan restored the eyesight of Dr. Ravi Kumar, twice!

Dr. Ravi Kumar is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry in the Brindavan Campus of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. He came to Swami decades ago as a young boy and ever since then has been with Swami, first as a student and now as a teacher in Bhagawan's College. His entire family is greatly devoted to Bhagavan, and all of them have had many thrilling experiences.

In 1985, while engaged in some experiments in the chemistry laboratory, hot acid splashed into Ravi Kumar's eyes and he became blind. Here, in his own words, is the story of how Swami restored his eyesight:

'It was July 1985. I had enrolled for the Ph.D degree, and was busy with my research. One morning, I was working in the lab when the lunch bell was given. A fellow-student asked me, "Are you not coming for lunch?" "Not immediately, " I said adding, "I shall finish this experiment and then come. You go ahead." I was trying to detect steroids on a thin layer plate. For this, it was necessary to prepare a special reagent by mixing acetic anhydride and concentrated sulphuric acid. Even as I was busy doing this, there was a sudden explosion and the next thing I knew was that the chemical I was preparing had splashed into both my eyes. I shouted 'Sai Ram'.

Hearing my cry, a few students who were still in the neighbourhood, came running towards me. They anxiously asked, "What happened?" I just cried out, "Take me to the nearest tap please!" My eyes were just burning and the pain was terrible. There was no water in any of the taps in the lab. (Later I learnt that the water line had been closed for doing some plumbing work for the library building that was just then coming up) By the time my friends found a tap with water flowing, the acid mixture must have burnt my eyes for nearly two minutes. My eyes were washed continuously; meanwhile I discovered that I could not see anything.

"Let's go and see the doctor," said my colleague who was helping me. So saying, he took me to the General Hospital which, in those days, was adjacent to the Ashram. When we went there and explained the problem, the duty nurse said, "What a time to come! Our (only) eye-specialist, Dr. Wamsa, has gone away to get her visa extended." My heart sank as the nurse examined me, tut-tutted and said, "I suggest you go to Bangalore... "

I did not go to Bangalore but instead went for [afternoon] Darshan, of course assisted by my friend. I could not see anything. Everyone was waiting silently for Bhagawan to come out. There was no Darshan music those days, and I did not know whether Swami had come out or not. It was then my friend whispered, "Swami has just come out.... He has turned to the left .... He is now on the ladies side ...... Now He has come towards the gents side..... He is approaching us...." I could hear the rustle of silk as the Lord passed by me; I was utterly miserable even as I thought, "How unlucky I am not to be able to see the Beloved Face...."

And then suddenly I heard Swami's enchanting voice. He was saying, "Take this Vibhuti Prasadam for three days, and everything will be alright." With these words, He placed three packets of Vibhuti in my hand.

The world was absolutely dark. I was looking forward to the end of the third day. I had the last dose of Vibhuti even as the night prayer was being said in the Hostel. I still could not see.

Read how Dr.Ravi Kumar's sight was restored on the Next Page