IAF pilot to sanyasi, he now wants to unite India, spread peace

Kolkata: What can compel an Air Force pilot and a father of two to turn to spirituality? For Swami Sachidananda Bharathi, it was an air crash in 1982.
Bharathi said he was flying from Delhi to Kochi when the aircraft caught fire and went out of control. “Instead of going up in flames or crashing, it dived into a nearby lake,” said Bharathi, the pilot-turned-peace-activist who is now in the city. “I and 14 passengers were rescued after 10 minutes.“It was a miraculous escape. I realised that there was some divine power that was driving our destiny.”
Born in a Christian family at Kerala’s Idiki district, and named N V John, Bharathi then turned to spiritualism.
Squadron Leader John got married in 1979, and later became a father of two. But he renounced his family in 1996 and took up sanyas in 2001. In 2003, he finally decided to change his name to Swami Sachidananda Bharathi.Out on a year-long tour of India, Bharathi wishes to unite Indians for a second freedom struggle. The aim of his tour, called ‘Desh Vandana’ (salute the nation), is to promote values of sacrifice and service.
17/04/07 Debarati Chakraborty/Kolkata Newsline

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: General Aviation Apr 2007