Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro has spoken about his deep spiritual connection with Sathya Sai Baba, whom he regards as his guiding guru. Maduro recalled visiting Puttaparthi during his 2005 trip to India to seek Baba’s wishes. He has kept Baba’s photo in his office, and after Sai Baba’s passing in 2011, Venezuela observed a national day of mourning in his honor.