Certain elements worked hard and long to persuade UNESCO and the Flinders University to withdraw from participation in an Education Conference to be held in Prashanti Nilayam, September 2001. One of those elements describes a narrative of the work undertaken on this website. We quote from material hosted on this website. Begin quote:
As one of a group involved in getting UNESCO (Paris) to investigate various allegations against Sathya Sai Baba, I know that UNESCO, in a timely way, notified his apex leadership of its Media Advisory and cancellation, along with the University of Flinders, Adelaide, Australia, of its participation in the September 2001 education conference at Puttaparthi. Yet the organisers did nothing to inform the conference of this momentous fact. Moreover, UNESCO also had to threaten the Times of India with an official complaint to the Press Trust of India, because that newspaper first published the UNESCO Media Advisory in a highly censored version. A very senior Times of India staff member told me privately that Sathya Sai Baba and his people hold such sway in India that it is very difficult to come out against him. I may mention in passing that P.N. Bhagawati, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India, a key figure on the Sathya Sai Central Trust (India) is also on the Board of Directors of The Times of India. In a joint public letter, it is he along with the Prime Minister of India, A.B. Vajpayee, and another former Chief Justice of India, Ranganath Mishra, who has said that our contentions represent "wild, reckless and concocted allegations made by certain vested interests and people against Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba." See: http://www.saiguru.net/english/news/020927openletter.htm. More Sai Slurs upon former devotee dissenters by whited sepulchres who are in fact shameless men!
Our submissions involved several months of intense activity, until UNESCO and the Vice-Chancellor of Flinders University heeded our many and rigorously detailed submissions, including sworn affidavits. UNESCO also checked with the French Government and the French National Police (the Surete). Yet, at the Seventh World Conference, November 2000, Indulal Shah said in his inaugural address, "let me share with you that US magazine Week has chosen to give respect to the UNESCO conference held in Prashanthi Nilayam highlighting the message of Bhagawan on 'Values for All.'" (See official 'Materials of the 7th World Conference of the Sai Organization').
Clearly, Puttaparthi is a medieval fiefdom, ruled over by its despotic feudal Lord Sai Baba, and his shameless barons such as Indulal Shah, impervious to the forces of the law.
UNESCO published a note of withdrawal:
UNESCO-ACEID Withdraws from Co-sponsorship of Puttaparthi Conference on Values Education
To All Intended Participants
This message supersedes my previous note of withdrawal dated 25 August 2000:
After careful consideration and consultation, UNESCO-ACEID and the Flinders University Institute of International Education have decided to withdraw as co-sponsors of the Conference on Strengthening Values Education: Innovative Approaches to Teacher Education for Peace and International Understanding to be held in Puttaparthi, India, 25-29 September 2000.
UNESCO therefore has no further association whatsoever with this Conference.
Zhou Nanzhou, UNESCO-ACEID
UNESCO published a further, detailed note of withdrawal:
UNESCO WITHDRAWS FROM CONFERENCE 15 September 2000
Paris, September 15 - UNESCO has decided it will no longer sponsor nor take part in a conference it had been due to co-organize with the Institute of Sathya Sai Education (ISSE, Thailand) and The Flinders University Institute of International Education (Australia), in Puttaparthi, India, from September 25 to 29. The decision means UNESCO is no longer associated in any way - through sponsorship, organization or participation of any kind - with the conference on Strengthening Values Education: Innovative Approaches to Teacher Education for Peace and International Understanding.
UNESCO's withdrawal was prompted by several factors. Certain decisions were taken by the ISSE without consultation, such as plans to hold some of the sessions at the Ashram of the Sathya Sai movement in Puttaparthi, and the inclusion of some speakers in the conference programme without their previous consent. Furthermore, the Organization is deeply concerned about widely-reported allegations of sexual abuse involving youths and children that have been levelled at the leader of the movement in question, Sathya Sai Baba. Whilst it is not for UNESCO to pronounce itself in this regard, the Organization restates its firm moral and practical commitment to combating the sexual exploitation of children, in application of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which requires States to protect children from all forms of sexual exploitation and violence.
As amplified earlier on this page, an extensive campaign of communication was undertaken by certain elements to authorities in many nations, which included both UNESCO and Flinders University.
Some time later, the Indian Representative to the UNESCO wrote [in part]:
The media Advisory dated September 15th 2000 and viewable at the address: www.unesco.org/education/highlights/media_advisory is posted to explain UNESCO’'s inability to participate in a Conference organised by the Institute of Sathya Sai Education [Thailand]. In doing so, it attempts to gravely tarnish the reputation Sathya Sai movement by casting aspersion on the personal integrity and character of its leader, based on hearsay, and unconfirmed press reports.
Shri Sathya Sai Baba is a highly respected spiritual leader and publics figure in India and abroad. It is well known that the life and message of Shri Sathya Sai Baba has been devoted to promoting peace, non-violence social harmony and is a moving force behind numerous philanthropic social projects. In this context, it is pertinent to mention that the UN Human Settlements Project [UN-HABITAT] launched a major education initiative three years ago, using human values approach propounded by Shri Sathya Sai Baba, to introduce a value-based water education programme through the national curriculum in Africa. The initiative has been widely accepted at high political levels and among educationists in Africa and is now being replicated by the UN-HABITAT and the Asian Development Bank in Asia and the Pacific. You will agree that issuance of a casual and negligent press release by UNESCO cannot but do disservice to such valuable projects.
Government of India considers Shri Sathya Sai Baba and his movement a national asset and takes strong exception to UNESCO press release, which spreads wholly unfounded and unsubstantiated allegation against Shri Sathya Sai Baba.
I would therefore request you to take immediate steps to remove the objectionable press advisory from the UNESCO website. I would also appreciate an expression of regret for the damage caused to one of India's revered public figures, without first verifying the facts and any consultation with Indian authorities.
That is the letter from India's permanent representative to the UNESCO. Strong letter, is it not? Naturally, the UNESCO hurried to give a reply. Here it is, in part. The letter is from Assistant Director General of UNESCO.
I do appreciate this concern and wish to inform you that following your personal intervention, the media advisory in question was immediately withdrawn from the archives of the UNESCO's web site for education.
I should also like to take this opportunity to say how much the Organisation regrets this unfortunate incident and to reiterate to you, on behalf of the Director General, that the Organisation attaches the greatest importance to the varied forms of fruitful collaboration that we have enjoyed with your country for many years.
I hope this letter will set your mind at rest and dispel any misunderstanding.
On 25th May, 1947, Baba wrote a reply. Though Baba's letter was intended for Seshama Raju, it was in fact addressed to 'all who are devoted to Me'. That letter is a powerful declaration of the purpose of the Sai Avatar. In that letter, Baba wrote:
My dear One!
I received all the communication that you sent. I found in it the surging floods of your devotion and affection, with the undercurrents of doubts and anxiety. Let Me tell you that it is impossible to plumb the hearts and discover the nature of Jnanis [Wise men], Yogis, ascetics, saints, sages, and the like. People are endowed with a variety of characteristics and mental attitudes; so, each one judges according to his own angle, talks and argues in the light of his own nature. But we have to stick to our own path, our own wisdom, and our own resolution, without getting affected by popular appraisal. As the proverb says, it is only the fruit-laden tree that receives the shower of stone from the passers by. The good always provoke the bad into calumny; the bad always provoke the good into doing more good; this is the nature of the world. One must be surprised if such things do not happen.
People too have to be pitied rather than condemned. They do not know. They have no patience to judge right. They are too full of lust, anger, and conceit to see clearly and know fully. So, they write all sorts of things. If only they know, they would refrain from writing or talking like that. We should not attach any value to such comments and take them to heart, as you seem to do. Truth will certainly triumph some day. Untruth can never win. Untruth might appear to over-power Truth, but its victory would fade away and Truth would establish itself.
It is not the way of the great to swell when people offer worship and shrink when people cool off. As a matter of fact, no sacred text lays down rules to regulate the lives of the great, prescribing habits and attitudes they must adopt. They themselves know the path they must take. Their wisdom regulates and makes their acts holy. Self-reliance and beneficial activity - these two are their special marks. They may also be engaged in the promotion of the welfare of devotees and in giving them the fruits of their actions. Why should you be affected by doubt and worry, so long as I am adhering to these two? After all, praise and blame do not touch the Atma; they can touch only the outer frame.
I have a Task: To foster all mankind, and ensure for all people lives full of Ananda (Bliss).
I have a Vow: To lead all who stray away from the straight path, again into goodness and save them.
I am attached to a 'Work' that I love: To remove the suffering of the poor and grant them what they lack.
I have a 'reason to be proud': for, I rescue all who worship and adore Me.
I have a definition of 'devotion': I expect that those devoted to Me treat joy and grief, gain and loss, with equal fortitude.
I will never give up those who attach themselves to Me. When I am thus engaged in My beneficial task, how can My Name be ever tarnished, as you apprehend? I would advise you not to heed to such absurd talk. Mahatmas do not acquire greatness through someone calling them so; they do not become small just because some calls them small. Only those low ones who revel in opium but claim to be unexcelled Yogis, only those who quote scriptural texts to justify their gourmandary and pride, only those who are dry-as-dust scholars exulting in their argumentative skill, are moved by praise and blame.
You must have read the life-stories of Saints and Divine personages. In those books, you must have read also of horrible falsehood and heinous imputations cast against them. This is the lot of Mahatmas, everywhere, and at all times. Why then do you take these things so much to heart? Have you not heard of dogs that howl at the stars? How long can they go on? Authenticity will soon win.
I will not give up My Mission nor My determination. I SHALL carry them out. I treat with equanimity, the honour or dishonour that may result. Internally, I am totally unconcerned. I act, but solely in the outer world. If I talk and move about, it is entirely for the sake of the outer world, and for making the people realise the advent of Divinity. Other than this, I have no concern with anything.
I do not belong to any place. I am not attached to any name. I have no 'Mine' or 'Thine'. I respond to whatever name you might use. I go wherever I am needed or called.
For Me, the world is something afar and apart. I act and move only for the sake of Mankind.
No one can comprehend My Glory, whosoever it may be, whatever be the method of enquiry, and no matter how long the attempt.
You will yourself see the full Glory unfolding in the coming years. Devotees must have patience and forbearance.
I am not concerned, nor am I anxious that these facts should be made known. I have no need to write these words. I wrote them because I felt that you would be pained if I do not reply.
Sai Baba uses a telling metaphor in his letter to his brother: Does anyone heed dogs barking at the moon? Of what signficance is it? None, for it has no signficance. It is the idle activity of animals with no capacity of discrimination. Sai Baba highlighted two things: The good will carry on with their work regardless of obstacles, and AUTHENTICITY WILL WIN. As Sathya Sai Baba wrote, in 1947, authenticity will always win. I do hope you will share this expression of regret by an important UN body with others whom you know and that slowly the word would spread so that negative propaganda would be laid to rest once and for all, as it indeed must be.