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~ Educational Institutions ~
Introduction
Profile
Anantapur Campus
Brindavan Campus
Prasanthi Nilayam Campus
If you are planning ahead for one year, Plant a seed,
For ten years, a tree,
But, if you are planning for a hundred years, educate the children.
- Confucius
A popular chronicler had
once aptly observed, that Swami was indeed planning ahead for a thousand years
and more by the establishment of the Sai Educational Institutions. In His
benedictory discourse on the inaugural function, Swami expounded the principles
and practice of true education and stated, “This is the inaugural day of our
Institute. The sapling has been planted today. The students are its roots. The
tree will grow majestically with branches all around; countless flowers will
bloom; it will provide and promote peace and security to the world. For that to
happen, students must — as roots do — remain firm and provide sustenance.
I know that the roots have to be watered and I shall do it.”
On another occasion Swami
said that the Education system of a country, “is the bank on which the nation
draws a cheque whenever it requires strong, reliable, skilled workers. If it
goes bankrupt, it is a national disaster. If the system is overhauled and
lubricated, the next generation is assured of good leaders, and, what are
equally essential, good followers.
You must learn to become a
new type of leaders, leaders who have passed through the crucible of Seva as
Sadhana; leaders who have passed through schools and colleges and mastered the
problems of the present and future and as leaders who appreciate the traditions
and culture of this great country Bharath”.
Swami started the
educational institutions with an agenda to evolve a new generation of leaders.
Leaders who reflect the virtues of Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema and Ahimsa;
and work towards global peace and harmony. These leaders are His Apostles of
peace, love and harmony.
The first college was started by Swami at Anantapur
in 1968 for women. Almost immediately thereafter, in 1969 Swami established a
college for boys at Brindavan and a decade later another in Prashanthi Nilayam.
These educational institutions were established to impart secular education.
These Institutions were set up with a vision for the revival of the perennial
spiritual wisdom of all religions and the all round development of the
students, thereby enabling the Ultima Thule of education being the holistic and
harmonious development of the human personality.
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of
Higher Learning – A Profile
The Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning was
founded on November 22, 1981, by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, as an autonomous
body. It was recognised by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, and
the University Grants Commission (UGC), as a Deemed University way back in 1981
itself and has been admitted as a regular member of the Association of Indian
Universities. The Institute subscribes wholly to the concept and practice of
national integration and has adopted an open admission policy, based on merit,
encouraging the enrollment of boys and girls from all over the country and
overseas as well. In order to effectively mould the student’s personality,
hostel living has been made compulsory and patterned around the ancient
Gurukula style.
Swami is not only the
Founder of the Institute, but also its Revered Chancellor. Extremely dear to
Him are the eternal principles of Sathya, Dharma, Santi, Prema and Ahimsa; all
aspects of the Institute seek to reflect these noble ideals.
Swami has repeatedly
declared that Education is for life and not for making a living. Accordingly,
class-room work, hostel life and extra-curricular activities have all been
designed to blend, mesh and to achieve a coherent development of the body, the
mind and the soul of the student. The watchwords are: Duty, Discipline and
Devotion. The focus is on purity, and the harmony of thought, word and deed
(Trikaranasuddhi).
Swami has set the goal that
when the students graduate from the Institute, they should be fully imbibed
with noble ideas, patriotic fervor, compassion for the downtrodden, a desire
for selfless service, and above all the firm determination to uphold Sathya and
Dharma by observing the twin Vedic injunctions:
Sathyam Vada (Always speak
the Truth) Dharmam Chara (Always engage only in Righteous action)
This Institute is committed
to the responsibility of education as stated by Bhagavan: “ .... Education must
teach a person what life is, and its goal. It must purify the heart and clarify
the vision. It must prevent pollution of heart and hand by habits injurious to
the individual, the society and the nation. It must promote virtues and raise
the moral and spiritual standards of the educated. There is an ancient axiom
which says education imparts humility; humility ensures credibility;
credibility brings wealth; wealth induces charity; charity confers peace and
joy, here and hereafter.”
In practical terms, the
students are always expected to:
Love all and Serve all Help
ever and Hurt never
The Institute has several
distinctive features. The more important among them are:
Ø
Residential character of the Institute with students and faculty staying
on the Campuses.
Ø
An open admission policy enabling students from all over the country to
seek admission to various courses, irrespective of income, class, creed,
religion or region, making it truly national in character.
Ø
Merit based selection through a very comprehensive testing and
interviewing procedure giving adequate weightage to Intellectual attainments
and intuitive insight.
Ø
Free Education: The Institute does not charge any type of fees—Tuition
fees, laboratory fees, library fees, examination fees, caution deposit and the
like.
Ø
English as the medium of instruction at all levels
Ø
Development of Scientific research at the doctoral level relevant to the
local and national needs; introduction of educational technology through the
installation of a modern space theatre in rural surroundings providing an
opportunity for the students and the faculty to develop various kinds of
simulation exercises and also formulate
programmes of a creative and constructive
character.
Ø
Integrated courses of five years duration in order to promote talent.
Ø
A very favourable teacher-pupil ratio for closer rapport between
students and faculty.
Ø
Maximum number of working days, fuller utilisation of national holidays
and important festivals for educational purposes and extension work.
The success of the
Institute in upholding these high ideals may be judged from the fact that
everything operates with clockwork precision. In particular, there is never any
student unrest. Examinations are always held on schedule as announced, and the
Annual Convocation of the Institute invariably takes place on November 22. Sai
students are scattered throughout the Globe, and wherever they are, they remain
committed to the values they had imbibed while studying.
Anantapur Campus
In June 1966, Swami was at Anantapur at the
invitation of the High School for Girls. The plight of the girls who had to go
to distant places for higher education and also the kind of education for which
they were spending much time and money, affected Him. He resolved upon another
step in His task of Dharmasthapana; for women have been the custodians of
Dharma since millennia; the cradle is the first school for the children of man.
He announced that there would be a Women’s College at Anantapur soon. The
Women’s College was inaugurated on 22 July 1968. Swami said “The
prompting behind this college is not the search for reputation or the desire to
propagate a cult, or the hope of monetary profit. Fame is a fickle figment!
Reputation rots quite soon. Profit, when calculated in terms of cash, defiles.
I have allowed this college to rise because it will install in the minds of the
students, the ideals of Sathya, Dharma, Shanthi and Prema—ideals delineated in
the Vedas, described in the Sastras, illustrated in the Epics, practiced by
countless generations and confirmed by experience, as best suited for
individual and social progress. Every child born in Bharath has the right to
know and benefit by this precious heritage”.
“Woman is the foundation of society and her heart is
the source of all virtues. I have established this institution with great hope
and aspiration to inculcate morality and integrity in society and to uphold the
honor of a great tradition. I aspire that the college will set high ideals in
all fields of life. Those who serve and learn in this college should work
together with mutual love and understanding”. The new college building was
opened by Sri VV Giri, President of India, on 8 July 1971.
Contact Address:
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning
Anantapur Campus
ANANTAPUR - 515 001
ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA
Phone: (08554) 272567, Hostel: (08554) 273122
Brindavan Campus
After opening a college for women, next was college
for boys at Brindavan in Swami’s grand scheme of education reformation. The
college was inaugurated on 9th June 1969 in Brindavan by the then
Chief Minister of Karnataka, Sri Veerendra Patil. The Chief minister said “Baba
has come resuscitate Dharma, which is the foundation for the welfare of
humanity. Dharma insists on the supremacy of ethical and spiritual value, and a
college fostered by Baba is bound to promote these values among the
youth”. Dr. VK Gokak, Vice-chancellor of University of
Bangalore, to which the college was affiliated, welcomed the new addition as a
“gem in the jewel crown of the Bangalore University”. “It will set the pattern
for college education, not only in the academic field, but also in the ethical
and spiritual fields. This is a college conceived, devised and completed by
Baba’s Love, Grace and Wisdom. Brick by brick, plank by plank, He attended to
every detail. It is a lesson for all who seek to do sincere loving service.
Here the teachers and students have the unique chance of learning the art of
achieving harmony and gaining peace, apart from the intellectual attainments
which the curriculum enjoins”.
The foundation stone for the new buildings was laid
on 16 march 1972 on a vast piece of land adjacent to Brindavan. This building
was completely planned by Swami as a unique architectural gem. These
magnificent row new buildings was opened at a joyous and colourful function by
Swami on 19 May 1978.
Contact Address:
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher
Learning
Brindavan Campus
Kadugodi P.O
BANGALORE - 560 067
KARNATAKA, INDIA
Phone: (080) 28452329, Hostel: (080) 28452233
Prasanthi
Nilayam Campus
On 28 November 1978, Baba laid the
foundation-stone of Sri Sathya Sai Arts, Science and Commerce College at
Prshanthi Nilayam. In the north-east corner of the site, Swami laid the first
line of stones after sanctifying the spot by placing nine precious gems created
by Him. The college was ingurated by Swami on 01-07-1979. Initially both
Prashanthinilayam and Anantapur colleges were affiliated to Sri Venkateswara
University. Swami revealed His intention to have an autonomous university at
Prashanthinilayam within a year of starting this college and affiliating all
the three colleges to the new University. Lo and Behold – The New University –
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning.
Contact Address :
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher
Learning
Prasanthi Nilayam Campus
PRASANTHI NILAYAM - 515 134
Anantapur Dist.
ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA
Phone: (08555) 287235, Hostel: (08555) 287234
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