Saroj Sejpal is a most unassuming, down- to- earth, humble person. From a Bala Vihar Volunteer to devotee, her journey was propelled by one incident.

1991, Gurudev went to Cochin for a Geeta Gnana Yagna. Many of the Gujaratis settled in Mattanchery had been inspired by various visiting acharyas and had found a very pleasing anchor in the Chinmaya Mission and naturally Pujya Gurudev. Saroj Ben was a simple housewife then, who had been busy with only tending to her children and her husband and in-laws. Prior to her marriage she was part of Pandurang Shastri’s Swadhyay Parivar in Mumbai. But after her marriage she was counselled by her parents to devote time to family, ‘spirituality etc will happen on its own later…!’ Simple as she was even then, Saroj ben fell in step with the new rules.

By the late 80s her children had grown up and Ravibhai Joshi, a neighbour who was also an active Chinmaya Mission member told her, ‘Now enough, you come to our Bal Vihar and teach the children.’

Saroj ben was alarmed. She knew nothing of the Mission, how would she teach? But her friend told her since you have been with Swadhyay Parivar, you atleast have a spiritual orientation, so come along.

So Saroj ben began assisting at Bal Vihar in Mattanchery, teaching the children to sing basic shlokas and bhajans.

When Gurudev came to Cochin, Saroj ben was excited. She loved meeting saints and mahatmas, it was a penchant she had. “Whenever any sant-mahapurush came to our town, my friend and I would run to meet him,” she said mirthfully. “But CM, I had just joined and did not know anything about the rules or the graces.”

The first day, the Bal Vihar teachers (and Saroj ben too, therefore) had organised a children’s program to welcome Gurudev. Gurudev’s love for children was widely known. The Mattanchery balvihar children danced to ‘Tora mann darpan kehlaaye…’. Gurudev liked it and called for an encore!

Saroj ben was filled with happiness. “I had that wish in my mind that when a great person comes, I should take his autograph. Seeing a happy Gurudev, I felt I must take his autograph. I didn’t have anything immediately. There he was, nearby, I wanted to take the autograph soon. I had a small writing pad, and going up to Swamiji, I asked him – ‘Please give me your autograph.’

Saroj ben was even then a very simple lady with the sweetest demeanour. Even today she is so. She reminds you she had no graces and should not have asked ‘just like that..!’ She says, “Swamiji got very angry. He said ‘This is so small (the writing pad) you must have a big book. Get a big pad! Is this any way to take an autograph?’

“I said sorry, I don’t know all this. And ran to get something bigger and better. He wrote Om on the pad and gave it to me. I was thrilled.

“But as I left I said to myself, ‘arae I must learn a few little things,.. a little courage, a little grace…. I don’t know anything!’ I used to be very very inhibited.

And now Saroj ben says something heart warming. “I am glad I got that one solid scolding from him and that has sustained me all these years. Today I do devi group, balvihar, serve at the Mission and whatnot!”

That was at least 24 years ago. That someone should remember it with such clarity and even appear to know the reason why that incident took place… is amazing. Saroj ben feels that one scolding set her for life. “How to talk to great people, etc I didn’t know. My husband used to scold me is this anyway to deal with saints?!”

“But this saint only reined me in!” she says happily.

Saroj ben does not look for drama, but she feels comforted and happy with all that has happened with her!

Daat khayi! ” she says laughing gleefully, “but achha hua !”

–Excerpt of an article from Celebrating Gurudev