Postal service during Baba's time

While reading “Sai Satcharitra,” one encounters references to the postal correspondence between devotees and Baba, as well as the money (dakshina) sent by devotees through money orders. In this article, we will explore a brief history of the postal system during Baba’s time (approximately 1838 to 1918) and highlight a few Sai leelas involving letter correspondence.

For non-local devotees, postal letters were an invaluable means of communication with Baba, allowing them to discuss both material and spiritual matters. During the period from 1910 to 1918, when Baba fully made himself available to devotees (poorna prakata), numerous letters and money order transactions took place daily. Most of the time, Shyama was responsible for handling all these communications for Baba. He would read the letters to Baba, convey the responses as directed by Baba, and collect the money orders sent by devotees, which he would then hand over to Baba. Baba did not dictate the letters directly but provided the responses, and Shyama would write the content of the letters. This ensured that each letter received a timely reply, offering immense support to the devotees.

The effectiveness of this postal correspondence can be illustrated by an incident in devotee Udhavesh Bua’s life. When Udhavesh Bua visited Shirdi, he expressed to Baba his regret about not being able to visit frequently. Baba responded, “Are we not speaking every 15 days?” Udhavesh Bua was initially puzzled by this remark, but after a moment of reflection, he realized it referred to his practice of writing letters to Baba every ekadashi.

When it comes to money orders, one might wonder if Baba kept track of every dakshina sent by devotees. Shyama, too, had the same question. Baba answered this beautifully through a leela, which we will explore at the end of this article.

As a side note, Shyama’s exemplary guru seva deserves recognition. He served as Baba’s personal assistant and devoted most of his time to Him. To earn a living, Shyama worked as a teacher and an ayurvedic practitioner in Shirdi and nearby villages, which provided him with very little financial support. As a result, Shyama faced significant financial difficulties. Unlike other devotees such as Bade Baba and Tatya, Baba did not offer him financial assistance. Furthermore, if other devotees attempted to donate to Shyama, Baba would firmly prevent it. Puzzled by this, Shyama once asked Baba about His reasoning. Baba explained that financial affluence would not be beneficial for him. Shyama’s family also did great Guru seva by supporting Shyama, which often goes unnoticed.

Guru seva is undoubtedly a challenging path, but for those who persevere, it is immensely rewarding.

History of postal services in India

The British East India Company established the first post offices in India in major cities like Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata between 1764 and 1766.

Warren Hastings (Governor General of British India from 1773-1784) opened the posts to the public in March 1774. Prior to this the main purpose of the postal system had been to serve the commercial interests of the East India Company. Serving economic and political needs of the ruling authority remained a driving force in the development of the postal service. The Post Office Act (1837) reserved the government the exclusive right to convey letters in the territories of the East India Company.

IN 1794 Bombay GPO was established. The general post office is modelled on the Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur, Karnataka

Postage stamps

India’s first stamp was released in 1852. They were embossed individually onto paper. The shape was circular, with ‘SCINDE DISTRICT DAWK’ around the rim and the British East India Company’s Merchant’s Mark as the central emblem.

The first stamps valid for postage throughout India were placed on sale in October 1854 with four values: 1/2 anna, 1 anna, 2 annas, and 4 annas. Featuring a youthful profile of Queen Victoria (15 years at that time), all four values were designed and printed in Calcutta, and issued without perforations or gum. All were lithographed except for the 2 annas green, which was produced by typography from copper clichés or from electrotyped plates. The 4 annas value (illustrated) was one of the world’s first bicolored stamps, preceded only by the Basel Dove, a beautiful local issue.

In 1902 a new series depicting King Edward VII generally reused the frames of the Victoria stamps, with some color changes, and included values up to 25 rupees. The higher values were often used for the payment of telegraph and parcel fees.

The 1911 stamps of King George V were more florid in their design. It is reported that George V, a philatelist, personally approved these designs. In 1919 a 1½ anna stamp was introduced, inscribed “ONE AND HALF ANNA”, but in 1921 this changed to “ONE AND A HALF ANNAS”. In 1926 the watermark changed to a pattern of multiple stars.

Letter Delivery

Long-distance posts were transported by trains, which were operational at the time. Upon reaching the nearest post office, the last-mile delivery was managed by postmen who used various modes of transportation, such as horses, bullock carts, and, in some cases, mail runners to deliver the posts to their final destinations.

Although roadways are the most common mode of transportation used by the postal system, air transport, rail transport, and waterways are utilized for longer distances.

The first line of postal communication was opened on Railway from 18th September 1854.

‘Mail Steamer Service’ was introduced in India between Calcutta and Port Blair on 28th May, 1859.

First Air Mail Service in the world was operated in India on 21st February 1911 and French Pilot named Henri Pequet flew with 6500 pieces of mail in a BIPLANE from Allahabad to Naini (A distance of Six miles). This flight was the first official airmail in the world.

Mail runners and post man

“Mail runners” were mail messengers who prevailed before faster modes of delivery like bullock carts and bicycles entered the postal service. They walked, sometimes ran, for kilometres at a stretch to deliver mail. Also, in a challenging terrains, they were the only option.

Post man delivered the posts to final destinations and acted as last mile connectivity.

Post Cards

Here shown are few images of post cards and money order form from British era:

Post Offices

Here shown are few photos of post offices from British era:

Letters from Baba's devotees

Few Sai Leelas Involving Letter Correspondence

1. Baba's visit to the ceremony at B. V. Dev's house

The incident of Sai Baba coming in the form of a Sanyasi along with two others happened in the year 1912. The story is as follows:- His mother had observed 25 or 30 different vows and a Udyapan (concluding) ceremony in connection therewith was to be performed. This ceremony included the feeding of 100 or 200 Brahmins. Mr.Deo fixed a date for the ceremony and wrote a letter to Bapusaheb Jog asking him to request Sai Baba on his behalf to attend the dinner of the ceremony, as without His attendance the ceremony would not be duly completed. Bapusaheb Jog read out the letter to Baba. Baba noted carefully the pure-hearted invitation and said – “I always think of him who remembers Me. I require no conveyance, carriage, tanga, nor train nor aeroplane. I run and manifest myself to him who lovingly calls me. Write to him a pleasing reply that three of us (the trio), Myself, yourself and a third will go and attend it.” Mr.Jog informed Mr.Deo of what Baba said. The latter was much pleased, but he knew that Baba never went to any place except Rahata, Rui and Nimgaon in person. He also thought that nothing was impossible to Baba as He was all pervading and that He might suddenly come, in any form He likes and fulfill His words.

A few days before this, a Sanyasi with Bengali dress and professing to work for the cause of the protection of the cows, came to the stationmaster at Dahanu to collect subscriptions. The latter told him to go into the town and see the Mamlatdar (Mr.Deo) and with his help collect funds. Just then the Mamlatdar happened to come there. The station-master then introduced the Sanyasi to him. Both sat talking on the platform. Mr.Deo told him that a subscription-list for some other charitable cause had already been opened by the leading citizen Rao Saheb Narottam Shetti and so it was not good to start another subscription-list and that it would be better if he would visit the place after 2 or 4 months. Hearing this, the Sanyasi left the place.

About a month afterwards, the Sanyasi came in a tanga and stopped in front of Mr.Deo’s house at about 10 a.m. Deo thought that he came for subscriptions. Seeing him busy with the preparations of the ceremony, the Sanyasi said that he had come not for money but for meals. Deo said -“Alright, very glad, you are welcome, the house is yours.” The Sanyasi – “Two lads are with me.” Deo – “Well, come with them.” As there was time (2 hours) for lunch, Deo enquired where he should send for them. He said that it was not necessary as he would come himself at the appointed time. Deo asked him to come at noon. Exactly at twelve noon, the Trio came and joined the lunch party and after feeding themselves went away.

After the ceremony was finished, Deo wrote a letter to Bapusaheb Jog complaining of Baba’s breach of promise. Jog went to Baba with the letter, but before it was opened Baba spoke – “Ah, he says that I promised him to come but deceived him. Inform him that I did attend his dinner with two others, but he failed to recognize Me. Then why did he call me at all? Tell him that he thought that the Sanyasi came to ask for subscription money; did I not remove his doubt in that respect and did I not say that I would come with two others, and did not the Trio come in time and take their meals? See, to keep My words I would sacrifice my life, I would never be untrue to My words“. This reply gladdened Jog’s heart and he communicated the whole of the reply to Deo. As soon as he read it, he burst into tears of joy, but he took himself to task mentally for vainly blaming Baba. He wondered how he was deceived by the Sanyasi’s prior visit and his coming to him for subscriptions, how he also failed to catch the significance of the Sanyasi’s words that he would come with two others for meals.

Above text taken ‘as is’ from “Saiamritadhara” website

2. Two rupee money order to Baba

Once a devotee had sent a money order for two rupees. Shyama went and collected the money from post office. But while returning from the post office, he changed his mind and came and hid the money atop the Rath room inside Dwarakamai (Shyama wanted to test if Baba is indeed keeping track of all dakshina being sent by devotees to Baba). The omnipresent Baba knew this but did not utter a word to Shyama. But after few days, disaster struck. One night there was a theft in Shyama’s house and the thief robbed him of two hundred fifty rupees. Shyama searched for the money everywhere and later reported the matter to the police, but to no avail. Then in desparation he went to Baba and said “Baba there was a theft in my house and the thief stole two hundred and fifty rupees. Do you feel good about this? That a poor man like me lost so much of money. Arre Deva who can I tell my tale of woe to but you?”. To This Baba calmly said “Arre Shamyaa what is the matter? Because there was a theft, and you lost money, you came to Me with your complaint. But when My two rupees were stolen to whom should I complain?”. Shyama immediately understood the meaning of Baba’s words. Baba further said to Shyama “the value of two hundred and fifty rupees for a poor man like you, has the same value of two rupees for a Fakir like Me” (Shri Sai Leela Magazine, Ank 5, Year 17, 1940).