Saint Mira

Author(s): T L Vaswani
Publisher: Saint Miras English Medium School

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SAINT MIRA
In 1933, Dadaji founded the "Mira Movement in Educa. tion" which has, today, its headquarters at Poona. The Movement was started in Sind and plans were afoot to develop it into a Mira University when the "Partition" came to paralyse the best efforts of enlightened men in Sind. The Mira Movement attempts at enriching students with vital truths of modern life and, at the same time, making them lovers of the Indian Ideals and India's culture, at once idealistic and spiritual. Such an education is essential to India's social and political salvation. The emphasis in the teaching passed on in Mira Educational Institutions is that education is a thing of the Spirit and that the end of all knowledge is service, -service of the poor and lowly, the sick and afflicted ones.
• A number of humanitarian activities are being conducted at Poona under the ever-living guidance and inspiration of Dadaji. They include two charitable dispensaries where hundreds of poor patients receive free medical aid; St. Mira's College and St. Mira's Schools, where education is given free to poor students; a "Welfare Fund” which sends out financial aid to displaced people in different parts of India; a Home of Service through work where women are given opportunities to earn their livelihood; a Jiv Daya Department dedicated to the welfare of brother birds and animals.
Dadaji's life was one of unceasing service and sacrifice. In the words of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the then President of India, "the life of Vaswaniji has been a saga of unassuming service, spiritual illumination and a source of inspiration to us all."
Dadaji worked on, day after day,--wanting nothing for himself, seeking only opportunities to serve the poor, the lonely and the lost. His body was weak and, for a number of years, he was unable to move, but he felt he had the strength of ten."