VICE PRESIDENT APPRECIATES SATHYA SAI SYSTEM OF EDUCATION

[Guest guest]

VICE PRESIDENT APPRECIATES SATHYA SAI SYSTEM OF EDUCATION

 

22nd Convocation of SSSIHL

 

Chief Guest of the Convocation, Sri Bhairon Singh Shekawat, Vice

President of India with the Revered Chancellor of the Institute,

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

----

 

Expressing deep appreciation of the spiritual ambience of Sri Sathya

Sai Institute of. Higher Learning, Sri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Vice

President of India and the Chief Guest of the 22nd Convocation of the

Institute remarked, This campus has a unique serenity and sublimity

of atmosphere. It is not just that your buildings and gardens are

beautiful, which they undoubtedly are. It is not just that the

climate is pleasant, which it surely is. But beyond all this, there

is a certain intangible quality about the atmosphere of this place.

There is a refinement and a soothing power about your campus. Every

teacher and student, every administrator and worker here seem to know

intuitively that this Institute of Higher Learning is also a centre

of Higher Behaviour and a seat of Higher Understanding."

 

Sri Shekhawat was delivering the Convocation Address at the 22nd

Convocation of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning held in

beautifully decorated and glittering Sai Kulwant Hall, Prasanthi

Nilayam on 22nd November 2003. Commending the integral system of

education of the Institute, Sri Shekhawat said, "Your Institute is

known for imparting integral education. Welfare of the poor and the

downtrodden through several humanitarian projects is the running

theme of this Institute which shapes the outlook of the students and

forms a part of their mental make-up; they are trained to think in

terms of giving more to society than to take from it. Gandhiji's

noble advice when he said, 'The best way to find yourself is to lose

yourself in the service of others', convincingly reverberates in the

ethos of this Institute.'

 

THE CEREMONIAL PROCESSION was led from Poornachandra Auditorium to

Sai Kulwant Hall by the brass band of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of

Higher Learning. At the head of the procession were the Chief Guest,

Sri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Revered Chancellor of the Institute,

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba and Vice Chancellor of the Institute,

Sri S.V. Giri. The procession received a rousing welcome by the

students and devotees when it entered the glittering Sai Kulwant Hall

at 3.10p.m.

 

The Vice Chancellor, Sri Giri garlanded the Chief Guest after the

procession reached the dais. The Convocation was then declared open

by the Revered Chancellor, Bhagavan Baba on the request of the Vice

Chancellor after invocatory Vedic chants by the Institute students.

 

Vice Chancellor's Introductory Speech

 

In his introductory speech, the Vice Chancellor of the Institute, Sri

S.V. Giri extended a warm welcome to the gathering on this auspicious

occasion of the 22nd Convocation of the Institute. He had a special

word of welcome for the Chief Guest of the function Sri Bhairon Singh

Shekhawat, the Vice President of India.

 

Sri Giri elaborated how the integral education being imparted to the

students of this Institute had helped them to develop Samanvaya - a

harmoniously balanced outlook and insight. Commenting on the academic

excellence achieved by the Institute, Sri Giri informed the august

gathering that the Peer Team of the NAAC (National Assessment and

Accreditation Committee) which visited this Institute awarded A++

grade to the Institute in the university system. The Team said: "The

Peer Team feels that this Institute stands out as a crest jewel among

the University education system in the country and this model is

worthy of emulation by the institutions of higher learning in the

country and elsewhere, so that these benefits would be reaped fast

and on the widest possible scale." Sri Giri then dwelt on the

significant events of the last year and referred to many projects of

social concern undertaken by the Institute including the recent one

of rehabilitating the physically challenged persons from the lowest

rung of society.

 

The source of inspiration and guidance behind all these achievements

of the Institute is its Revered Chancellor Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai

Baba, remarked Sri Giri.

 

Graduands Presented to the Chancellor

 

After these introductory remarks of the Vice Chancellor, the

candidates who had successfully completed their studies were

presented to the Revered Chancellor by Prof. U.S. Rao, Principal,

Prasanthi Nilayam Campus of the Institute. The candidates stood up on

their seats and bowed to the Revered Chancellor with folded hands who

bestowed His benedictions on them. Thereafter, the Vice Chancellor

administered the pledge to the candidates who had been conferred the

degrees by the Revered Chancellor. After this, the names of

meritorious students who had won gold medals were announced. They

were lustily cheered by the students and devotees when they came to

the dais to receive their medals and certificates from the Revered

Chancellor, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

 

Convocation Address by the Vice President, Sri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat

 

At the outset, the Chief Guest, Sri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Vice

President of India expressed deep gratitude to the Revered

Chancellor, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba for giving him this

opportunity to come to Prasanthi Nilayam which was his long-cherished

desire. To visit these precincts is to undertake a pilgrimage; to be

in Holy Baba's enlightened presence is to witness the self-renewing

spirit of India's spiritual heritage," said Sri Shekhawat.

 

Sri Shekhawat then congratulated the graduating students and wished

them a successful career. He hoped that those coming out of the

portals of this prestigious institution would address themselves to

the problems of the country. "I have no doubt that the humanistic

culture of this Institute will positively orient your attitude

towards the imperative need to help the. poor to come out of the

shackles of poverty, disease, ignorance and illiteracy," said Sri

Shekhawat.

 

Referring to the social concern of Bhagavan Baba to help the

downtrodden and the needy, Sri Shekhawat observed, "Holy Baba's

social concern is unparalleled. He has started a water supply project

which provides drinking water for over 700 villages in a hardcore

drought prone area proverbially known for its scarcity of drinking

water. He has established an Educational Institution, such as yours,

which provides the best quality education without charging any fees

whatsoever. He has founded an institution which provides the most

expensive medical care to those who can least afford it, and totally

free. I wish all religious organisations derive inspiration from Baba

and in addition to spiritual upliftment, also work for the

amelioration of the poor, the hungry and the diseased."

 

In conclusion, Sri Shekhawat urged the students to play a meaningful

and constructive role in promoting universal peace and harmony as

envisaged by Bhagavan Baba in the axiom: "There is only one caste,

the caste of humanity ... There is only one God, He is omnipresent."

 

Benedictory Address by the Chancellor, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

 

In His Benedictory Address, the Revered Chancellor of the Institute,

Bhagavan Baba reminded the students of the glory and pristine culture

of Bharat, the mansion of which rested on the pillars of Sathya and

Dharma. He therefore advised them to uphold the prestige of this

great land by adhering to the values enshrined in its great culture.

The Chancellor advised the students to use the education acquired by

them for the good of others and not to amass wealth. He

said, "Remember always that your education is not merely to amass

wealth or to eke out a livelihood. Money cannot confer true happiness

on you. Do not deviate from Dharma for the sake of Dhana (money).

Dharma is your life, truth is your breath. Good reputation is your

wealth. You should not crave for worldly name and fame. Once you

practise Dharma, you will naturally attain good reputation. Dharma is

related to the heart. Practice of Dharma is termed as Ritam which

will make you immortal. But today we do not find anybody adhering to

Ritam. Bharat has given birth to many great scholars, poets and men

of sacrifice who demonstrated great ideals. But today people have

forgotten them. We should always remember people who have sacrificed

their life for a noble cause and try to emulate them. It is the

spirit of sacrifice that has protected and sustained this country for

many ages and generations. Sacrifice is the Dharma of the Bharatiyas.

You should offer your life for the protection of Dharma and not for

amassing wealth."

 

The Revered Chancellor concluded His Benedictory Address by exhorting

the students to imbibe love for God in their heart. He said, "Love is

your life. Love is your goal." The Bhagavad Gita also lays great

emphasis on the principle of love. Having studied here for a long

time, you should fill your life with love. You have immense love for

Me. It cannot be described in words. Love others as you love Swami.

Give Me your love. Take My love in turn. There is no trace of body

attachment in Me. Doctors said they would perform hip surgery on Me.

I told: You can do whatever you want. I am not the body This body is

yours. Your love becomes worldly in nature when you have body

consciousness. You should develop such love which transcends body

consciousness. Only then can you understand the eternal truth. When

you truly experience Divine love, you will not lead a worldly life.

You will make your love flow incessantly towards God."

 

The proceedings of the 22nd Convocation of the Institute came to a

close at 5.00 p.m. with the singing of the National Anthem by the

entire congregation.

 

Tera Tujkho Arpan

 

The students of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning presented

a powerful drama entitled "Tera Tujhko Arpan" on the occasion of 22nd

Convocation of the Institute on 22nd November 2003 in Poornachandra

Auditorium, Prasanthi Nilayam in the Divine Presence of the Revered

Chancellor of the Institute, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Based on a

theme which is pertinently relevant to modern times when even fine

arts and spirituality have not been spared by the onslaught of

commercialisation, this excellent drama depicted how music loses its

divine quality when it is put to commercial use for money, power,

name and fame.

 

As the story unfolds, one of the two disciples of a saint musician

goes to city to earn name and fame lured as he is by his youthful

ambition, while the other disciple keeps following the teachings of

his Guru to sing for God and serve the poor. Meteoric rise of the

ambitious disciple has an equally steep fall when he suffers a

catastrophe and loses his voice. This leads to his homecoming in the

Ashram and ultimately at the Lotus Feet of the Avatar Bhagavan Sri

Sathya Sai Baba through the loving persuasions of his saintly brother-

disciple.

 

Scripted under the direction of Bhagavan Baba Himself, the drama was

an unrivalled piece of excellence which brought the dramatic art to

absolute perfection. Besides, matchless direction, superb acting of

the cast, appropriate dialogues, soul-stirring devotional songs,

perfect choreography and excellent stage management made it an

outstanding presentation from all standards.

 

The drama which began after the arrival of Bhagavan in Poornachandra

Auditorium at 6.30 p.m. kept the audience spellbound till the end at

7.50 p.m. when Bhagavan went up on the stage, blessed the cast, posed

for photographs with them and distributed watches to them. The

dignitaries who watched this play included the Vice President of

India, Sri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

 

Man must get rid of the feeling that he is the doer. As long as the

ego is dominating, the Atma or God consciousness will not be

realised. The egoist cannot recognise the Atma. Therefore, first

crush your ego. It is egoism that is the root cause of all troubles

of man.

 

 

Sourced: Sanathana Sarathi Page Nos 369-372 December 2003 Issue

 

Yours in Sai's service

 

Regards

 

Deepak Bharwani

Website: http://web1.mtnl.net.in/~sairam