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'She survives the terrible train accident' is the 54th story in this series.
'Sai Baba's Divine Leelas' is a new audio series compiled and recited by Dr Vinny Chitluri. Repeated hearing of these Leelas will deepen one's faith and love in Baba.
Transcript
‘Shraddha and Saburi’ was Pramodini Joshi’s Mantra and she lived by this. This Leela is ample proof of it. Pramodini was returning home from work along with her friends by the Virar Local train on 17th April 1978. They boarded the train which was packed to suffocation as two of the previous trains were cancelled. The train proceeded to the next station when it collided head on with the Ahmedabad Mail.
She states, “Somehow the Ahmedabad Mail was on top of our train, crushing it with its impact. Thus, all the fans and light bulbs smashed into the passengers, and many were electrocuted. I could hear everyone screaming for water and begging their favourite deity to save their lives. Till the very end, I was chanting Baba’s name and pleading for my life. The next morning, I was taken out of the wreckage and placed amongst all the dead females. I can’t remember how I was taken to K.E.M. Hospital but I was admitted there. I was taken care of by Dr. Dhir and many other doctors. I stayed in the hospital for eight agonising months as my body was crushed beyond recognition.
“It was decided that both my legs would have to be amputated from the hip, and my right hand amputated at the shoulder. Then they took me to the O.T., but Baba had other plans. I had to undergo ten major operations on my legs, and my skull was reconstructed with plastic surgery. They also asked me not to look in the mirror. During this time, my father passed away from grief as he could not tolerate this tragedy. The most disheartening event was that I lost three fingers of my right hand and was left with my thumb and little finger.
“For the next four years, my mother had to take care of me like a little child as I could neither feed myself nor take care of myself or walk. During this ordeal, my mother and I did not lose faith in Baba. We were constantly chanting His name. A lady doctor at K.E.M Hospital rehabilitated me. She fitted me with Caliper shoes so I could walk independently. She taught me to write with two fingers, and take care of myself. After eight months of intensive rehabilitation, I wrote the words ‘Sai Gajana Maharaj.’
“Then there was no looking back. The Bombay Telephone and Mahanagar Telephone gave me a public telephone booth in Borivali. Every day, I travel by the Virar Local to get to the booth as I am the only earning member in my family. I am sure that Baba and Gajanan Maharaj will take care of me no matter what.”
Reference: Pramodini D. Joshi, written in Sai Anubhav.
A special podcast series by Dr. Vinny Chitluri which is on Baba's leelas and life history.