A Devoted Life of Service: Honouring Mrs Rajes Sivayogan
A Devoted Life of Service: Honouring Mrs Rajes Sivayogan
With profound love and reverence, we mark the earthly passing and spiritual merging of a rare and radiant soul, Mrs Rajes Sivayogan, the first-ever female National Council President for the United Kingdom and the third National Council President in our UK history. A light of strength, grace, and unwavering devotion, she has now returned to her Beloved Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, with whom she shared a deep and divine bond.
Long before the days of email, smartphones or digital coordination, Rajes Amma, as she was affectionately known, was already pioneering the future of Sai leadership in the UK. Armed with little more than a fax machine, a telephone, and an unshakeable faith in Swami, she travelled the length and breadth of the country, from Scotland to Penzance, uniting devotees, launching Sai initiatives, and nurturing the flame of devotion in every home and centre she visited.
She balanced this enormous seva with her high-profile legal career in the City of London, at a time when very few women of Asian heritage held such roles. She was not just a professional trailblazer, but a spiritual one, breaking boundaries while remaining deeply grounded in Swami’s teachings.
Swami’s love for her was visible to all. Upon her arrival in Prashanti Nilayam, she would be called almost immediately for an interview. And rightly so, for her life was a mirror of His message, and her leadership was rooted not in status but in selfless service.
As National Bal-Vikas Coordinator under Lucas Ralli’s presidency, she helped lay the foundations for one of the most important wings of our Organisation. She conceptualised and delivered the first-ever National Easwaramma Day at Battersea Town Hall, a celebration that drew over 1,500 devotees from across the UK. Alongside a strong and dedicated Bal-Vikas team, she championed the Bal-Vikas movement across the UK, inspiring Sai centres nationwide to initiate regular classes and uplift the spiritual education of children. Her vision was not just about teaching, it was about nurturing character, sowing the seeds of devotion, and uniting generations in Swami’s love.
Recognising that strong leadership was essential for sustained growth, she conducted tireless training sessions for office bearers, often travelling great distances to do so. These sessions weren’t just procedural, they were transformative. She empowered individuals to serve with clarity, courage, and deep spiritual conviction, reminding every leader that true authority lies in humility and service.
Her life was Swami’s message in motion. With grace and grit, she inspired countless devotees to join the Organisation and deepen their connection to Him. Wherever she went, she carried His name, His work, and His love. She did not just follow Swami’s message, she became it. Through her example, countless souls were drawn to the Sai Organisation, finding in her both inspiration and invitation to walk the Sai path. To this day, the structures, standards, and spiritual culture she helped embed continue to support our Organisation. Her legacy is not confined to memory, it lives in every centre, every programme, every soul who was lifted by her words, her example, her light.
Mrs Rajes Sivayogan was more than a chairperson, she was a visionary, a mentor, and a servant-leader in the highest sense. Her work brought the United Kingdom to the forefront of the Sai world stage, setting a benchmark for excellence in spiritual Organisation.
Today, we honour her extraordinary life, one filled with grit, grace and Guru bhakti. A life poured into Swami’s mission. A life that burned bright, steady, and strong.
Yours in the Service of Sai,
Shitu Chudasama
Zonal Chair – Zone 6 (Europe & UK)
Sri Sathya Sai Global Council
