Memories of Amma’s first USA Yatra 1987 – part 3

The task which would absorb my attention for nearly three months was applying for all the passports, procuring the US & French visas, and getting the plane tickets for Amma and the nine others who would go on tour. The passports would be easy, but the visas were another matter. In those days, even for a short visit, US sponsors were required for Amma and the brahmacharins. It was very difficult to get one visa, much less seven of them. In fact, although none of the families I approached for sponsorship had met Amma, they were all ready to sponsor Amma’s group.

A feeling of trepidation was weighing heavily on me as I waited in the KayamKulam bus station for the 17 hour bus ride to take me to the US Consulate in Chennai. I had no appointment, no plan in particular as to how to get the visas, no agent in tow to make our case. The bit of research I was able to do indicated it was unheard of to get what we needed without many months of waiting. If we were declined, we had to wait for one year before re-applying. I knew the determining factor, as always, would be Amma’s prevailing grace. One of Amma’s countless miracles was to arrange all such matters without the slightest hitch. But we still had to make the effort. With the set of ten plane tickets, passports and seven sponsorship letters safely tucked in my backpack, I boarded the bus, spending much of the time praying not to return empty handed. If the visas were not granted it would leave the tour plans in tatters, at least for the timetable which had been carefully laid out.

Walking into the Consulate I found myself amidst dozens and dozens of people waiting in the entry hall, some pacing around and each one holding a large number tag waiting to be called over to a glassed in area where the clerks were seated. Scanning the noisy, nervous crowd of people I felt the air go still again, just as it had on the porch of the Kalari with Amma some months before. I decided to forgo the number system and walked right up to the glass window to get a clerk’s attention. In quiet tones I leaned forward and explained what was needed… Seven visas to visit America for two months this summer. No, none of the applicants were married. No, not even engaged. No, none of them owned businesses. But, yes, all of them would be certain to return to India in August. Yes, I did know they would need sponsors. Held up the sponsorship packet nodding ‘yes’. I smiled shakily at the clerk while internally reciting Amma’s words, “Ask for nothing, and all will come, ask for nothing and….the clerk swung open the door and ushered me into one of the offices for the interview. It was a Yoda moment from Star Wars. I heard myself explaining what was needed, and watched in stunned silence the hand stamping over and over again, seven times, the visas into all the passports. As it turned out, less than one hour was spent getting all the visas issued; tears of gratitude poured down my cheeks standing outside on the sidewalk. That same afternoon I caught a bus back to KayamKulam and was back home with Amma 17 hours later, safe and sound.

– Kusuma

To be continued…