In May 1988, when Baba Gobinddas Sahib merged as one with the Lord, Sai Sadhuram Sahib was grief stricken and wept uncontrollably like a small child. He was inconsolable. Sai said, “As for you all – Baba Sai was your Guru, but for me – he was my world, my mother, my father, and above all my Guru. Baba Gobinddas Sahib has fostered, sheltered, protected and reared me since childhood. I have lost everything”.
The next day, before leaving for Haridwar for the last rites, when everyone assembled in Darbar, there, a disciple Shri Ramesh Bhambhani announced that Baba Gobinddas Sahib had declared in Mumbai in 1978, at the silver jubilee celebrations of His gracing the Gaddi, that His successor would be Bhai Sadhuram, who at that time was only 27 years of age. Baba Gobinddas Sahib must have seen such great ability in Sai Sadhuram Sahib that He made this declaration which was readily accepted by everyone. So Shri Ramesh Bhambhani on behalf of all disciples humbly requested Sai Sadhuram Sahib to accept and grace the Gaddi. Hearing this Sai was overwhelmed, He took the mike in His hands and said, “At this moment, I feel very lonely, as not only my Guru but my everything has been lost. Please forgive me, I feel I am not fully prepared to undertake this responsibility, I need at least 10 years more.” At this time Sai Sadhuram Sahib was only 37 years old.