I am Sai Baba he said on 23 May 1940

On 23 May 1940, Sathya called household members and reputedly materialised prasad and flowers for his family members.His father became furious at seeing this To this Sathya announced calmly and firmly "I am Sai Baba", a reference to Sai Baba of Shirdi.He proclaimed himself to be a reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi—a saint who became famous in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Maharashtra and had died eight years before Sathya was born.