A 1967 document, purportedly made and signed by Sri Satya Sai Baba of Puttaparthi, renouncing worldly pleasures, has created a flutter.
The document emerged in public recently when Satyajit, a close aide of Sai Baba, reportedly gave it to Sri Satya Sai Central Trust during a board meeting of the trustees. A letter to this effect was marked to office-bearers of Sri Satya Sai Institutions and Organi-sations and the Baba’s devotees, it is learnt.
The document, prepared on a Maharashtra stamp paper of Rs 3.50, dated March 23, 1967, and purportedly signed by Sai Baba, declares that he has dedicated his life for Sanathana Dharma, that has 'relinquished' all title and interest in family property, 'moveable and/or immovable', and that he has 'no intention to revert'.
A relative of Sai Baba said on condition of anonymity that he possesses a scanned copy of the document. “The document might be true but irrelevant now,” the relative said over phone from Puttaparti.
“I really don’t know the reason why it was leaked, it’s a mischief. Swami spoke about these things in one of his speeches, but certain facets of the document were suspicious. When every document was prepared on stamp paper bought in AP, why a Maharashtra stamp paper was used (for this document)?” he asked.
Though bought on July 8, 1965, the stamp paper was used two years later.
Satyajit could not be reached for his reaction. The document has now been brought to the notice of Indulal Shah, a trustee, with a request to attest it.