Dr Mohan Ji Bhagwat presided over the first convocation of Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence in the presence of Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai, the Founder of the University and a galaxy of dignitaries. Bhagwat Ji’s presence at the event carried a special significance for the fact that this University is one-of-its-kind to provide higher education completely free of any cost to needy rural youths, on the foundation of the ancient Indian gurukula system of learning and living in a residential set-up.
A note-worthy point is that 50% of the graduands who convoked this year from the University were first generation literates, most of whom were also the first higher educated literates in their whole village. These students have been trained for fulfilling the very purpose of education, which is to serve the needy in society and hence they shall join their almamater – Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva Gurukulam Group of Institutions which is running 27 school campuses across 22 districts in Karnataka, 1 in Telangana and 1 in Tamil Nadu, completely free of cost to the rural children.
The first convocation of the University celebrated achievement and altruism by honouring six eminent personalities from various fields of excellence with honorary doctorates. Dr R Chidambaram – India’s most distinguished experimental physicist, Dr K Kasturirangan – Former Head of Indian Space Research Organisation, Mr Sunil Gavaskar – Cricket Legend, Pandit M Venkatesh Kumar – renowned hindustani classical vocalist, Ms Purnima Devi Barman – wildlife conservationist from Assam, and Mr C Sreenivas – Chairman of the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Child Heart Care Centres, were bestowed their honorary doctorates by Dr Mohan Ji Bhagwat.
Bhagwat Ji also visited a multi-speciality hospital that provides completely free of cost healthcare – Sri Sathya Sai Sarla Memorial Hospital, which is soon to become a teaching and training hospital for the world’s first free medical college in the same premises.
Dr Mohan Bhagwat spoke thus in his convocation address – “The act of offering education completely free of cost to needy children has truly impacted the lives of these children beyond their imagination. The motive behind using individual excellence to bring about collective excellence is the goodness behind this University. Transformation is the need of the hour—the kind of transformation that shall change the face of Bharath is what I am witnessing here.”
Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai remarked – ““Our work is our identity, our work is our worship. This first convocation of the Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence has produced graduands who will dedicate their knowledge and skills for the service of the society. Being a right example to the society is the highest form of service one can ever render, and these graduands will be exemplars of this kind of service.”
About Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence
Inspired by the ancient Indian way of education that caters to all aspects of human development with spiritual evolution at its very core, the Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence was established as a Private University under the Karnataka Legislative Act 2018 at Navanihala Village, Kamalapur Taluk, Kalaburagi District in Karnataka. The University encapsulates values-based integral education in a unique residential environment, with the core idea to create individual excellence in all fields of knowledge, and with the purpose to promote and propagate science, humanities, all forms of fine arts, and spirituality, free of any tuition fees or other charges, based on the ancient Indian gurukula system of education, to all students without any discrimination.
‘Redemption of one’s own self and the welfare of society’ is the principle on which the Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence has been founded. The emphasis at the University is, first and foremost, on a perfect balance between spiritual education and material education, or rather, between the means of living and the ultimate goal of life.
About Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai
Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai spearheads the mission of love and service as propounded by Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Walking in the footsteps of Baba, his Guru and God, Sri Madhusudan Sai is instrumental in establishing various humanitarian service projects across 33 Countries. Since 2011, he has been leading dedicated volunteers and passionate individuals to establish institutes of excellence in Education, Healthcare, Nutrition and Spirituality across the world.
Today, four super speciality paediatric cardiac care hospitals, a multi-disciplinary secondary care hospital, two exclusive mother and child hospitals, 27 values-based educational campuses in South India, a veda gurukulam to promote learning and research in vedic studies, and a morning nutrition programme which nourishes over 500,000 school-going children every single day, have been established to offer services absolutely free of cost to children from needy and impoverished backgrounds.
Over 170,000 little hearts have been mended at the temples of healing and 5,000 rural children have been empowered with values-based integral education at the temples of learning, and 11 Centres for Human Development in 11 countries have been established to carry out spiritual and service activities across the world. The life of Sri Madhusudan Sai is indeed a reflection of Baba’s message of love and service, as several lives are being illumined through these benevolent acts of service every single day.
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