Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s 100th birth anniversary was marked in Fiji with renewed calls to live by his message of unity, selfless service, and spiritual growth, values that are vital for healing and progress.
Speaking at the celebration at Tilak High School in Lautoka, the Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran says that Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s message continues to inspire the world through the principle: “Love All, Serve All. Help Ever, Hurt Never.”
She says the celebration was not merely about marking a birth, but about honouring a life devoted to lighting lamps of love in the hearts of people across the world.
The Minister highlighted Sai Baba’s humanitarian legacy in education, health, and spirituality, including his establishment of hospitals and clinics offering free services, educational institutions grounded in human values, and other charitable initiatives.
She commended the Sathya Sai Organisation for carrying forward this legacy for over five decades through education, healthcare, disaster relief, blood drives, mobility aid, food packs, and plans for a palliative care facility.
Kiran says the Viseisei Sai Health Clinic and the Education in Human Values programme have greatly benefited thousands of vulnerable Fijians.
She says Sai Baba’s teachings on the unity of all faiths were especially relevant today, at a time when social media negativity and ethnic and religious tensions are on the rise.
She explained that Baba did not speak of mere tolerance but of love, peace, and nonviolence, urging Fijians to rise above division.
Kiran also says that spiritual upliftment begins with looking inward, following one’s conscience, and walking with love.
She stressed the need to rebuild values within homes, families, and communities, especially as issues such as elder neglect, family breakdown, and the loss of moral grounding become more common.
She further emphasised Sai Baba’s belief that the end of education is character, urging families to focus not only on children’s future careers but also on kindness, righteousness, truth, and nonviolence.
The Minister says that Fiji’s multicultural and multifaith society makes Sai Baba’s message particularly meaningful, as the nation works to heal past wounds, empower vulnerable groups, safeguard children, uphold the dignity of senior citizens, and support families facing hardship.
She is urging Fijians to honour Sai Baba by recommitting to serving communities selflessly, supporting families to thrive, upholding dignity for the disadvantaged, promoting peace and nonviolence, and building compassionate communities.
She says each act of love becomes a spark that lights another lamp.
