By: Shreyas Devaraj
Gopal Rao Inamdar (1922-2014)
Who would have imagined that a shy boy who once doubted his ability to finish school would grow up to become an RBI icon? Gopal Rao Inamdar’s journey – from struggling with public speaking to leading the Reserve Bank of India with vision and purpose – truly highlights the power of perseverance.
In 1981 during a conversation with devotees at Sri Sai Spiritual Centre, Bengaluru, Gopal Rao Inamdar disclosed his lifelong battle with fear. Yet, he also shared an important lesson: our biggest weaknesses can become our greatest strengths. Reminding us that anyone can achieve greatness, no matter where they start. It simply takes a strong belief in oneself and the courage to face our fears.
Gopal Rao Inamdar was born in 1922 and was a great devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba and his apostle, Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji. He had his education in Bengaluru and Mumbai. He was employed in the Reserve Bank of India and retired as a Joint Officer in Mumbai in 1978. He lived in Reserve Bank staff quarters on Prabhadevi Beach.
Gopal Rao Inamdar was proficient in both Kannada and Marathi and had composed many poems on Sai Baba and other saints. He was closely connected with Udupi’s Pejawar Mutt at Santa Cruz, Mumbai. He met Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji who was then a member of the Executive Committee of Shirdi Sansthan and staying at Pejawar Mutt. This was sometime in 1969 and Swamiji visited Gopal Rao Inamdar’s residence on his invitation for the first time. He conducted a ‘Satsang’ and initiated the entire family to chant Vishnu Sahasranama.
Gopal Rao Inamdar and his family considered Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji an integral part of their family. Gopal Rao Inamdar was a trailblazer promoting innovation at the Reserve Bank of India. Beyond his role as an Administrator Gopal Rao Inamdar’s approach was deeply rooted in human values. His leadership emphasized ethical business practices and corporate governance. The RBI Group, of which he was a part and parcel, was not merely a red tape entity but a steward of social change. His values resonated with his philanthropic endeavors.
Even after his retirement in 1978 until his demise, Gopal Rao Inamdar remained deeply involved in philanthropic activities through the Pejawar Mutt, Shirdi Sansthan, and Sri Sai Spiritual Centre, Bengaluru, which continue to support causes like healthcare, education, and rural development. Gopal Rao Inamdar’s vision of creating lasting social change through strategic philanthropy stands as a model for other senior citizens and Sai devotees.
Sri Pankajlal Lakshmichand Goyal (1928-2023)
Sri Pankajlal Lakshmichand Goyal of Garhwal in Himachal Pradesh was a pious High School Teacher who single-handedly mobilized funds to build a magnificent Sai temple at the Himalayan abode in 1973 and took a leading part in propagating Sai Baba’s message at Dehradun, Rishikesh, Kulu Manali and other remote areas, A magazine Sai Sandesh was also published by him which carried articles on Sai Baba from different parts of the country. He was inspired by Sri Narasimha Swamiji and his Sai Seva. At Sai Baba Mandir Society at Garhwal, the Sai literature available is the result of Goyal’s selfless work.
Sri Ranganathaiyer Radhakrishnan (1922-2014)
Popularly called ‘Hubli Mama,’ he was the torch bearer of the Sai Railways movement for over seventy years all over the country. When he was a 14-year-old boy, he came under the magnetic influence of Sri Narasimha Swamiji, and his devotion to Sai Maharaj was unalloyed. He was employed at Sothern Railways at Hubballi in Karnataka, and along with his brother Subramanian, all his off-duty hours were spent performing Sai Bhajans and contributing articles to different Sai Magazines. He has written more than 3,000 articles. He had great adoration for Kanchi Paramacharya. From 1984 till his demise, he organized more than 2,000 ‘Akhanda Sai Nama Japa’ Yagnas of ‘Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai’ all over the country, with Sai Maharaj providing all resources.
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