Samarpan 2007: Dedicated to Love

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Article published in: Chennai Online - Chennai, India Title: Samarpan 2007: Dedicated to Love URL: http://www.chennaionline.com/education/Events/Nov07/11article11.asp Samarpan 2007: Dedicated to Love What is love? Is it just affection or liking as often depicted in cinemas? Or is it something deeper than that? Today, in a period when elders themselves cannot make the difference between ephemeral, worldly attraction and the ever-existing bond between all of God’s creation, the students and teachers of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Educare depicted in myriad ways that love or Prema is the single thread that binds us all together. Samarpan 2007, the first of a series of annual events dedicated to the various facets of higher human values, was conducted on Saturday, November 17, 2007. This year’s theme was Love. It was depicted in multiple ways – through song, dance, Bhajan Anthaksharis, skit, talk and yes (!) even a ‘match-the-following’ type of game; not to forget a human pyramid! The programme started at 9 a.m. with loud Veda chanting by all students that reverberated in the entire prayer hall, followed by Sai bhajans. School correspondent P Kumaraswami lit the Lamp of Love. What followed was a brief introduction by a former student of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Puttaparthy. The school was divided into four houses: Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, and Prema. Each house proportionately comprised students from class-1 to class-10. Students brought out Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s universal message of love through colorful posters, songs, skits, and dance. Even teachers chipped in! They came out with their version of a popular drama written by Sri Sathya Sai Baba, called Cheppinattu Chestara? (Do you do as you say?). The skit essentially questions the bipartite concurrence of man’s word and deed. The Bhajan Anthakshari was conducted by former Puttaparthy students, P Shyam Sunder and Sriram S, who were active members of the music group at Puttaparthy. Interspersed between the programmes were random questions thrown at the students on the life and teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Those who answered

correctly were instantly rewarded! Latha, a teaching faculty of the school, spoke of her and her family’s experiences with Sri Sathya Sai Baba. The correspondent spoke on the school’s vision and mission. Shyam Sunder laid out the institute alumni’s vision and plan of action for the school in the months to come. The programme concluded with the grand finale - prize distribution! To the cheering applause of all present, Sathya house won the trophy this year. The trophy was given away by Ritesh Kumar Patnaik, a senior alumnus of Sai Baba’s Institute. The teachers’

trophy was handed over by the school correspondent. The event was the brainchild of a couple of former students of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Puttaparthy. Correspondent Kumaraswami was all praise for the event. Ramakrishnan Ramani Published on Nov 23rd, 2007 2007, Chennai Interactive Business Services (P) Ltd. All rights reserved.