Sai Baba's health dips further; succession talk hots up

Hyderabad, Apr 22: Even after fervent prayers and earnest hopes by thousands of devotees across the world, Sai Baba continues to remain in critical condition. His health is still raising serious concerns that was revealed in the medical bulletin issued by the Sai Baba super specialty hospital on Thursday evening.

But, while Sai Baba is battling for his life, there are other issues that is stealing the limelight. There are already succession issues being discussed. While there are two groups who want to take on the vast empire worth millions, the people who are in the race are Baba's nephew R J Ratnakar and his trusted caregiver Satyajit who are likely to take on the reins of the Satya Sai Baba Central Trust.

While support seems to be split on the likely candidate, both parties come from really diverse backgrounds. While Ratnakar, the son of Sai Baba's younger brother - Janakiramaiah; controls the cable tv transmission in the whole of Puttaparthi and owns a petrol station; Satyajit has had humble existence and has been with Sai Baba from the age of 5 and completed his whole education in schools there. Satyajit is a close confidante of Baba and has exclusive access to his inner space.

A source has been quoted as saying, "Both the trust members and Baba's close family members agreed that Ratnakar and Satyajit could have a greater say in running the trust post-Sai Baba."

Even as succession talks are on, the large number of devotees still believe that Baba will live up to 96 and he is undergoing such hard times to understand the suffering of the human body. They are also of the belief that Baba has the powers to heal himself but was not doing it purposefully.

Puttaparthi, now remains a hotbed of activity with devotees congregating there and are praying for the speedy recovery of their spiritual guru. Prohibitory orders have been issued outside the hospital where the Baba is being treated.

OneIndia News