Perialwar was one of the seventh century Alwars (staunch devotees of Lord Mahavishnu). While singing the glory of Lord Venkateshwara, the Incarnation of Mahavishnu adored by different names, such as Govinda and Balaji, Perialwar said: “Govinda, we have worshipped you for generations as family God and you have bestowed on me your grace like an ocean and none else in the universe can be better blessed than me.” In the present century as a humble devotee of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, whom I worship as Sai Govinda, I feel that I am a greater beneficiary than Perialwar, as He is my life’s navigator showering His choicest blessings on me.
I was born to and brought up by Godfearing parents in a small town of Kolar Gold Fields in Karnataka. They inculcated in me basic values of life such as respect for elders, honesty and integrity, which have drawn me closer to Bhagavan. Baba always says to me, “Be Honest, Work Hard and Leave the Rest to Me.” In fifty years of my life, Swami has elevated me from the position of a research assistant at Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore to the Member of Rajya Sabha nominated, as an eminent educationalist, by the President of India. But for Baba’s grace, none of these could have happened.
Though formally founded on 22 November 1981 by Baba, the process of starting the Institute had begun much earlier. With His great vision, He has provided dynamism to the Institute emphasizing on the quality of education and the rich cultural values. The three campuses of the Institute - Prasanthi Nilayam, Anantapur (for Women) and Whitefield were brought under one umbrella of the Deemed University. On evaluation of the systems in place to achieve the mission and vision, the Government of India and the University Grants Commission awarded Deemed University status to the Institute hailing it a model Institute for higher learning.
Baba preaches that education is not merely for getting academic degrees or certificates to fetch employment but it is for life – a Valuebased life, and education should aim at character building. He says, “The end of knowledge is love and the end of education is character.” It is Sath, Chith, and Ananda leading to Self-Realization. Sathya, Dharma, Prema, Santhi and Ahimsa are the pillars of education in the Institute. In many of Baba’s discourses, He elaborates on character building very eloquently stating that everyone in the process of education should develop selfrespect, self-discipline, self-courage, selfconfidence, self-satisfaction and self-sacrifice.
Bhagavan’s divine concept is that education should enable an individual to achieve a quality life through practice of Devotion, Dedication, Discipline, Determination, Discrimination and Detachment. Generally, humility is mistaken for weakness. Knowledge should lead to wisdom and in turn to humility. An individual possessing both commands respect. Therefore, Swami preaches to all those who come in contact with Him to become humble through education. ‘Divine Sai’- Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient and the Creator of the Universe yet appearing so simple and humble, commands love and reverence from the world community. Baba who is an epitome of humility, says, “My Life is My Message.”
Bhagavan Baba being the Chancellor of the Institute makes a world of difference, as its curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities are sanctified by His grace. The Institute’s wholesome education which gives rise to physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual upliftment is widely appreciated by every visitor.
The Institute features uniquely designed and constructed buildings, well-equipped laboratories with state-of-the-art infrastructure enabling the faculty and students to engage in research, exploring creativity. The Space Theatre established in the Institute is a feature unique to the Institute located in a rural part of the country. The library is rich in its collection of books, periodicals and journals. Elegantly designed auditoriums in each of the three campuses eloquently glorify the Institute. Listening to Baba’s discourses in them has been a blissful experience for me. The Institute looks like a temple of Goddess Sai Saraswathi. The residential campus promotes universal brotherhood in students, faculty and their families.
Unlike other autonomous academic institutions, the Institution grants full freedom to the faculty to design the courses dynamically to match the technological advances with glasnost and perestroika in teaching and examinations. Introspection backed by scientifically designed performance appraisal systems is the basis of sound higher education system in the Institute.
Baba says, “The over-head tank should be clean enough for good water to flow in the taps.” Thus, Baba has recruited men with integrity, dedication, devotion to the profession along with academic credentials fulfilling the student-staff ratio coupled with excellent staffstudent relationship. Underperformers are given special focus as underpinning measures. Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning is the only Institute where integrated courses of five years duration is offered giving opportunity to the students to learn more and develop talents through additional courses, which are prerequisites for pursuing further higher studies.
 |
| Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning - Administrative Building |
In Sathya Sai Institute, time is respected and effectively used unlike in other Institutions I have come across in my long tenure as Director of Collegiate Education, Karnataka and Vice Chancellor of Mysore University. Strikes and frittering away time is a commonplace in the Indian scenario. Swami strongly believes that education should culminate in service to society. Thus, in addition to utilizing working hours efficiently, the faculty of Sathya Sai Institute dedicates weekends and semester interludes for reaching the rural masses and the needy through extension programmes.
The Institute practises secularism in letter and spirit, without any discrimination of caste, creed, income, region, religion and language. The very application forms for admission to the Institute stand testimony to this. Admission is granted purely on merit and entrance test performance. Thus, the Institute is an Abode of Learning for students across the globe.
Education is totally free from nursery to the highest level in Sathya Sai Institutions. Donations are unheard of in these Institutions unlike in others where education is charged exorbitantly as sports fee, laboratory fee, caution deposit, medical fee, etc., in addition to donations. The Institute also provides free medical treatment to the staff and students in super specialty Hospitals located in Prasanthi Nilayam and Whitefiled, Bangalore.
Though, the United Nations Organization has declared March 8 as Women’s Day, the celebration in real terms is yet to happen. Baba advocates women empowerment and hence believes in education for both boys and girls. He recognizes the role of women as mothers, wives, daughters, teachers and so on, thus contributing to the building of culture and tradition in the society. Children will benefit greatly from a spiritually elevated mother. Thus, Swami started a college exclusively for women in 1969 at Anantapur, affiliated to Sri Venkateswara University until SSSIHL was established. Way back in 1995 Baba earmarked a day in November as Ladies’ Day and it is a big celebration for every woman devotee. All the programs on that day are conducted only by women.
The entire administrative machinery of the Institute comprising the Vice Chancellor, Registrar and others works with devotion and dedication for the development of the Institute. The Institute has received wide appreciation from eminent leaders of India and abroad. The high level committees of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD), Government of India and of the University Grants Commission which visit the Institute periodically have declared SSSIHL as the best University in India. The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) established by UGC for assessment and accreditation of the higher education institutions has awarded accreditation to Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, the Deemed University with A++ grade. The Institution will remain a role model to all educational institutions for generations, with the grace of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
About the Author:
Source: Vidyagiri: Divine Vision (2006)
No comments:
Post a Comment