Author: SSSIHL

The 39th MBA Day was celebrated enthusiastically on 21st August 2024 at the Brindavan Campus of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL). This event marked a significant occasion as we welcomed back our esteemed alumni from the batch of 1992-1994. The day was filled with nostalgia, insightful discussions, and heartfelt interactions between our alumni and current students, particularly the freshers, who gained invaluable perspectives on navigating the competitive business world.

The event commenced with a welcome address from the head of the Department of Management and Commerce, Dr. Sayee Manohar Krishnamurthy. This was followed by an inspiring inaugural address by Prof. B. Raghavendra Prasad, Vice-Chancellor of SSSIHL.

We were honored to have our distinguished Guests of Honour, Sri Alok Ohrie, President & MD, Dell Technologies, India, and Sri R. J. Rathnakar, Managing Trustee, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, Prasanthi Nilayam, who shared their profound insights on leadership and values in the corporate world.

Our alumni, Sri Pushkaraj Gumaste, Managing Director and Head of Corporate Banking, Asia Pacific & Middle East, Barclays Bank PLC, and Sri V. V. Eashwar Prasad, Head of Solutioning and Service Readiness, Ericsson India Global Services Pvt. Ltd., captivated the audience with their reflections on how the teachings of SSSIHL have shaped their professional journeys and contributed to their success.

The event was a resounding success, reinforcing the significance of SSSIHL’s values-based education in fostering ethical and capable leaders. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our speakers and participants for making the 39th MBA Day a memorable occasion.

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The Department of Management and Commerce at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Brindavan Campus, successfully hosted a comprehensive session titled “C-Suite Insights on Enterprise Risk Management” on August 9, 2024. This day-long event was meticulously designed to provide MBA and final-year B. Com (Hons.) students with an in-depth understanding of the complex domain of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM).

The event commenced with an inaugural session led by Shri Rajeev Rajan, Associate Professor at the Department of Management and Commerce, who extended a warm welcome to all participants. This was followed by the inaugural address delivered by Shri Raghavendra Prasad, Vice-Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, setting a reflective tone for the day’s proceedings.

The first expert session featured insightful presentations by Mr. Satya Pramod, CEO of KayEss Square Consulting, and Mr. Sunil Shenoy, Director at KayEss Square Consulting. They offered valuable perspectives on the practical aspects of ERM in the consulting industry.

Following this, Ms. Hema Nevatia, CFO and Global Shared Services Leader at Allstate India, and Mr. Nagaraj, Finance Controller at Allstate India, shared their extensive experiences in managing financial risks within a global corporation. The next expert session was led by Mr. Shrivathsa, Global Head of Internal Audit at Wipro Enterprises [P] Ltd., who shed light on the critical role of internal audits in risk management.

The final expert session was conducted by Ms. Sandhya Sriram, Group CFO of Narayana Healthcare, who provided a unique perspective on managing risks in the healthcare industry, emphasizing the importance of strategic financial planning.

The morning session concluded with a panel discussion moderated by CA V Srinavasa Raghavan, bringing together all the distinguished speakers for a dynamic and engaging dialogue on various facets of risk management.

The afternoon session was dedicated to a series of case study discussions, moderated by CA V Srinavasa Raghavan, allowing students to apply their newly acquired knowledge in practical scenarios.

The event was a resounding success, significantly enriching the academic environment and equipping students with valuable insights into Enterprise Risk Management.

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The Summer Course in Indian Culture & Spirituality serves as an induction programme for all students and teachers of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning to expose students of the University to the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of Bharat. It orients students into Bhagawan Baba’s educational philosophy and gives them deep, first-hand insights into how they can directly benefit from this unique institution.

The genesis of the event dates back to the early seventies when Bhagawan Baba organized Summer Courses in Indian Culture and Spirituality for the benefit of students. The course then was usually three to four weeks long and would typically consist of a series of lectures on Indian culture, the essence of the scriptures and other spiritual topics delivered by learned scholars, senior devotees and men of esteem. The highlight however was the daily discourse by Baba Himself, delivered typically in the evening.

In 2011, Bhagawan willed that the Summer Course be reinitiated in a shorter format of two-and-a-half days and which is now an annual event at SSSIHL at the beginning of each academic year that the Students and Teachers of the University eagerly look forward to participate, experience and learn.

The Summer Course was and is an effective way to inspire young minds to follow a life of good values and character. The event also marked the beginning of the academic year for students and teachers of all four campuses of SSSIHL.

Enclosed is a detailed report on Summer Course 2024:

SSSIHL Anantapur Campus

Report & Pics | Schedule

SSSIHL Brindavan Campus

Report & Pics | Schedule

SSSIHL Prasanthi Nilayam and Muddenahalli Campus

Report & Pics | Schedule

“Swaraj Ki Oar” is a powerful narrative that delves into the deeper meaning of India’s freedom struggle by focusing on the contributions of key figures who epitomized unity, courage, and sacrifice. The story begins with a writer on a quest to capture the true essence of the freedom movement, realizing that his previous accounts lack the emotional depth and connection necessary to convey the full significance of the struggle.

The narrative unfolds through the stories of three pivotal historical figures:

Pingali Venkayya, the visionary who designed the Indian flag, is portrayed as someone who understood the need for a unifying symbol to rally the nation. His creation of the tricolor, with the spinning wheel at its center, symbolizes unity and self-reliance, embodying the spirit of the freedom movement.

Baba Ramchandra is depicted as leading the farmers of Awadh in their resistance against oppressive landlords. His leadership, fueled by the chant of “Sitaram,” ignites a movement that empowers the oppressed to rise for their rights, showcasing the strength and resolve of the common people.

Subhash Chandra Bose emerges as a leader who inspires the Indian National Army to fight for India’s independence. His story emphasizes the importance of sacrifice and unwavering commitment to the cause, highlighting the lengths to which individuals were willing to go to achieve freedom.

The drama ultimately conveys that true freedom, or “Swaraj,” extends beyond political independence—it is about mastering oneself and aligning one’s thoughts, words, and actions. Through these historical examples, “Swaraj Ki Oar” underscores that the real heroes of the freedom struggle were not just the leaders, but the ordinary people whose unity and sacrifices brought about India’s independence.

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Four students from the Actuarial stream (UG and PG) at SSSIHL participated in the 2024 CAS Student Central Mentor-led Summer Program. They were part of the 10-member team representing Panel 1: Cohort 5, which emerged victorious in this year’s international Case Competition, which was conducted as part of the program. Their team was one of the five winning teams globally.

Congratulations to all participants of the winning teams for their outstanding achievements. A special mention goes to our SSSIHL team for making us proud:

• Arunachala Mudigonda – BS ADS – I UG
• Manan Luthra – MSc Mathematics (Actuarial Stream) – II PG
• Pranavchandra Vivekananda – BSc MES (Actuarial Stream) – III UG
• Sai Kartheek Cherukuri – MSc Mathematics (Actuarial Stream) – II PG

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These students excelled in analyzing a complex real-world business problem and presented their findings to senior actuaries in the USA, who judged their team as one of the top five winners internationally. Each team will receive a $500 gift card as a winning prize from the CAS.

The CAS Student Central Summer Program is an eight-week interactive professional and educational experience offered by the Casualty Actuarial Society. During these 8 weeks, participants will complete modules on Property and Casualty Basics, Excel, Data Visualization, Ratemaking, Reserving, Predictive Modeling, Soft Skills, and a Property and Casualty Case Competition. The program is designed and taught by practicing actuaries who are experts in the field of property and casualty insurance.

Once again, congratulations to our students for their exemplary performance and for bringing pride to SSSIHL.

Our original short video entry by the Wastewater Analysis Treatment and Energy Recovery (WATER) Lab, Department of Biosciences, has been featured in the Science in Shorts video library on the Nature Portfolio YouTube channel. This entry, part of the ‘Science in Shorts 2024 competition’ organized by Springer Nature, highlights the innovative research conducted by our team.

The video, titled ‘Our DREAM – Measuring Bacterial Electron Transfer,’ showcases the indigenously developed Dye Reduction-based Electron-transfer Activity Monitoring (DREAM) assay. It stands out among the 82 entries shortlisted from a total of 250 submissions worldwide. The video was created by Ph.D. students Mr. Shakthi Thangavel and Mr. Sahashransu Satyajeet Mahapatra, under the supervision of Dr. A. S. Vishwanathan, Assistant Professor, Department of Biosciences. The team dedicated their work to our Founder Chancellor, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

The Science in Shorts competition, organized by Springer Nature in partnership with Merck, invited active researchers to submit one-minute videos that presented their research in an informative, engaging, and entertaining manner.

SSSIHL congratulates the team from WATER Lab for their outstanding achievement and for showcasing their excellent work on a global stage.

In pursuit of sustainability, the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences at SSSIHL organized a two-day national symposium titled “A Holistic Approach to Sustainable Food Systems: Integrating Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Safety” on 1st and 2nd March 2024.

The event brought together experts in agriculture, nutrition, and food processing to discuss and examine the essential components of sustainable food systems. The symposium provided a platform for addressing and exploring the key challenges in this vital area.

We extend our gratitude to our esteemed speakers who contributed to the symposium:Scientists: Dr. A. Ashok Kumar, ICRISAT-Asia; Dr. B.V.S.K. Rao, CSIR-IICT, Hyderabad; Dr. P. Raghavendra, ICMR-NIN, Hyderabad; Dr. Jeevan Prasad Reddy D, CSIR-CFTRI, Mysore; and Dr. K.B.R.S. Visarada, CSIR-IIMR, Hyderabad

Academia: Prof. R. Jagan Mohan, NIFTEM, Thanjavur; Prof. D. Vijayalakshmi, ICAR., UAS, GKVK, Bangalore; and Prof. P. Sarala Kumari, UAS, GKVK, Bangalore.

Industry: Mr. Kalluri Suresh, Pranav Food Processor India Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad, and Mr. Shyam Mohan, Tier 1 Network Pvt Ltd., Bengaluru

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Watch Recording:

1 March (Session-1)  – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB-lIKX8_38

1 March (Session-2) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKW6n36fr-Y

2 March (Session-1) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aopn0HkF2JQ

2 March (Session-2) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcEkPH7r5J8

In commemoration of the 4^th Anniversary of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, a special lecture was organised on 29 July 2024 by the SSSIHL NEP2020 Cell, in collaboration with the Institution’s Innovation Council and the Department of Physics at the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL).

Dr. S. Sathyeshwar, Principal, of Jyothy Institute of Commerce and Management, Bengaluru was the guest speaker at the event and addressed the students on the topic “Innovation and Creativity in Education – The NEP2020 Way”

Over 120 students got an insightful overview of the NEP2020 vision and its alignment with SSSIHL’s ongoing role in advancing holistic education.

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Speaker Profile

The Department of Languages and Literature held LitOrient ’24, an orientation programme for first-year undergraduate and postgraduate students of Literature, Anantapur campus on July 3, 2024, and the BA (English) students at the Muddenahalli Campus on July 8, 2024.

The objective was to formally induct the freshers into the English Literature and Language Programme and provide an overview of the National Education Policy (NEP) and the BA (Hons) programme in English, providing the students with details of the courses offered, available electives, research prospects, and opportunities for undertaking projects and internships.

Summary of the Proceedings at Anantapur Campus

The event commenced with traditional Vedam chanting and the ceremonial lighting of the lamp. Dr. Nelli Vani Sri, Assistant Professor of English, delivered the welcome address, followed by Prof. Rani P. L., Dean of Humanities & Social Sciences and Languages & Literature, who set the stage for the rest of the programme. Prof. Rani’s talk emphasized the role of humanities in academia and instilled confidence in the freshers for their choice of stream for their respective degrees.

Dr. (Ms.) Vijaya Lekshmi R., Assistant Professor of English, discussed the genesis of the Department and its journey to date. Dr. (Mrs.) Maitali Khanna, Associate Professor of English & Head of the Department, explained the degree requirements and goals for undergraduate freshers as prescribed by NEP 2020. Dr. Sowmya Srinivasan, Assistant Professor of English, then outlined the various career prospects in English Language and Literature available to students after their degree at SSSIHL.

Next, Miss Sai Archana M., Teaching Assistant, highlighted the department’s achievements over recent years, including events, academic excursions, presentations, and publications by students and faculty members. This was followed by an informative and engaging panel discussion by the research scholars, who discussed the research process in English Language and Literature, drawing examples from their respective research areas. An entertaining games session, led by senior students, served as the penultimate point of the event.

Additionally, three senior students from the sub-departments of humanities—Shambhavi (Philosophy), Aastha (Political Science), and Sharanya (Economics)—provided a brief introduction to their respective subjects while sharing personal experiences from their classrooms to give the freshers a glimpse of what they could expect in the coming years.

The event coordinated by Dr. Sowmya Srinivasan, Assistant Professor of English, concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Miss Sreenidhi S., a research scholar at the department, followed by Mangala Aarti.

Summary of the Proceedings at Muddenahalli Campus

The event commenced with traditional Vedam chanting and the ceremonial lighting of the lamp. The Director of the MDH campus, Sri B. Venkatramana, welcomed the freshers to the campus and key members of the faculty including Prof. P.L. Rani, Dean of Humanities, Social Sciences, Languages, and Literature; Dr. Maitali Khanna, Head of the Department of Languages and Literature, Dr. B. Venkataramana, Assistant Professor of English; Dr. M.G. Mahabala Rao, Assistant Professor of Sanskrit; and Sri Sai Govardhan J., Assistant Professor of English.

Prof. P.L. Rani delivered an insightful talk on the genesis and achievements of the English Department over the years, setting an inspiring tone for the programme. Dr. Maitali Khanna welcomed the students by pinning badges onto them and presented an overview of the BA English programme, providing a comprehensive perspective on the 4-year curriculum. Dr. B. Venkataramana then delved into the essence of literature, quoting various excerpts and enriching the student’s understanding of the field. An interactive session followed, where students engaged with faculty members on topics such as career paths, programme structure, and course specifics. Dr. Maitali Khanna also assured the students of regular engagement with faculty from other campuses.

In the afternoon session, Sri Sai Govardhan J. provided an in-depth discussion on the minor subjects in the programme, career paths, and the credit framework.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Pragyan Rai, a student at the department, followed by a prayer.

LitOrient ’24 was indeed an enlightening experience for the students, giving them valuable insights into the programme and highlighting the numerous career opportunities ahead. The event aimed to facilitate academic interaction among teachers, scholars, seniors, and juniors, fostering a collaborative and enriching academic environment.

The 8th Vice-Chancellor (05-08-2008 to 18-05-2010) | Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (Deemed to be University)

Hailing from the crest jewel of India, Kashmir, Prof. Vishwanath Pandit, a well-known Indian economist, assumed charge as the 8th Vice Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) on 5th August 2008. Fondly referred to by Bhagawan Baba as the ‘Delhi Professor,’ Prof. Pandit’s remarkable journey from serving as a Seva Dal at Prasanthi Nilayam in the 1980s to assuming the position of the 8th Vice-Chancellor of SSSIHL is truly commendable.

Prof. Pandit, regarded as the pioneer of ‘Macroeconomics Policy Modelling in India,’ completed his B.A. from Kashmir University and M.A. in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, U.S.A., under the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Lawrence Klein, in 1971. He has been a colleague of some of the most eminent economists of India, including former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Amartya Sen.

After completing his doctoral research, he served as a Reader in econometrics at the Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi. During his four-decade-long stint at the Delhi School of Economics, he also served in various capacities such as Head of the Department of Economics and Director of the Centre for Development Economics. During this period, he held many visiting positions at his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania (1984-85), as well as at the University of North Carolina as a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow (1970-71). Prof. Pandit also held a visiting faculty position at the University of Manchester, England, U.K. (1975-76), and later was also the Simon Fellow (1976-77) and Hallsworth Fellow (1983-84).

Throughout his illustrious career, he played several roles, including Consultant to the World Bank, Washington, USA (1975); Consultant to Rail India Technical and Economic Services, New Delhi (1978-79); Editor for the Indian Economic Review (1986); Macroeconomic Planning Adviser to the Government of Sri Lanka (1989-90); Chairman, Expert Group on Policy Modelling for LDCs, U.N., New York; Consultant to the Planning Commission, Govt. of India; and President of the Indian Econometric Society (2001-02). He served on selection committees for two prestigious awards, the Mahalanobis Memorial Medal (National and International) and the VKRV Rao Awards in Social Sciences. For his extraordinary contribution to the field of economics, he was conferred the Swami Pranavananda Saraswati Award by the University Grants Commission in 2004.

Prof. Pandit was an eminent academician with vast experience in teaching and guiding research. Several Ph.D. and M.Phil. scholars completed their research under his supervision. He published more than 100 research articles and papers in national and international journals and authored nine books on economics.

Professor Pandit has been associated with SSSIHL since 1984. He was one of the members of the expert committee that was instrumental in framing the syllabus and administrative/admission procedures in developing the Department of Management at SSSIHL in 1986. He used to deliver guest lectures in the Management & Commerce Department of the Institute. In June 1991, the B.Sc. (Hons) in Economics programme was introduced at the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus of SSSIHL with his assistance.

Post-2000, he joined SSSIHL as a regular faculty member. In 2001, he was instrumental in setting up the Department of Economics at the Institute. He held the position of Head of the Department of Economics and Dean of Humanities at SSSIHL. The M.A. (Economics) programme was introduced at the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus of SSSIHL in June 2001 under his leadership.

Prof. Vishwanath Pandit played a key role as Coordinator during the very first cycle of accreditation of SSSIHL by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in 2002 when Sri S V Giri was the Vice-Chancellor. Prof. Pandit highlighted the importance of the Sri Sathya Sai Values-based Integral Education system to the members of the Peer Team from NAAC, who visited our Institute from 2nd to 4th December 2002. The NAAC granted accreditation at the A++ level (highest grade) in 2003-2004, thus placing the Institute at the top grade among Indian universities.

He was instrumental in commencing the B.A. (Hons) in Economics programme with History and Political Science as additional subjects at the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus of SSSIHL in the academic year 2004. This supplemented the existing B.Sc. (Hons) in Economics programme, which included Mathematics and Statistics as additional subjects. Additionally, in the same year, the M.Phil. programme was introduced in all subjects where postgraduate programmes already existed.

Prof. Pandit was also a part of the 25th Anniversary celebrations of the Institute in 2006, when a new Humanities Building at the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus was inaugurated by the Revered Founder Chancellor, Bhagawan Baba, on 26th August 2006 in the presence of Dr. Ashok K Lahri, the Chief Economic Advisor, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India. He briefly served as Chairman of the Sri Sathya Sai Centre for Human Values run by the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust.

During his tenure as the 8th Vice-Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prof. Pandit spearheaded several milestone events. The Conference on “Ethics and the World of Finance” was organised by SSSIHL on the 28th and 29th of August 2009 under his leadership, where the keynote address was delivered by Dr. Duvvuri Subbarao, the then Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. This conference, held in the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2007–2008, focused on the need for revitalizing ethical practices in the financial sector. The participants included top executives from the financial sector, representatives from regulatory bodies like RBI, SEBI, and IRDA, CEOs of around 20 banks and financial institutions in India, bureaucrats, academicians, and many others who were part of the then financial echelon of India.

In 2008, Prof. Pandit hosted the UGC team headed by Prof. Moolchand Sharma, a distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Delhi and the Founder Vice-Chancellor of Central University of Haryana, along with eminent Professors/Vice-Chancellors of Indian Universities and Dr. (Mrs.) Renu Batra, Joint Secretary, UGC as the member Secretary, who visited the Institute to review the UGC X Plan and proposal for the UGC XI plan from 25th to 27th September 2008.

The initiative for starting the fourth Campus of SSSIHL at Muddenahalli, Chikkaballapur District, in consultation with the Govt. of Karnataka and the MHRD, New Delhi, and the starting of a new building for housing the MBA Department at the Anantapur Campus, happened during his tenure. Even for the second cycle of re-accreditation by NAAC in 2009-10, Prof. Pandit played a key role in the entire accreditation process, including the drafting of the reports.

The book “Man Management,” based on several Discourses on Management delivered by Bhagawan Baba and compiled by Prof. (Hon.) R Kumar Bhaskar was released under the leadership of Prof. Pandit. He was also associated with the Values Orientation programme for school teachers from all over India, between 2003-2006.

For Prof. Pandit, the most gratifying moment was joining the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning in Prasanthi Nilayam. He considered this his real blessing and said that the fact that Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba let him be so close to Him and be His instrument for starting the Department of Economics at the Institute, was in itself a source of fulfillment.

In addition to his professional career, Prof. Pandit was very active in the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organizations in Delhi. Before joining SSSIHL, he was the “Activities in charge” at the Sri Sathya Sai International Centre, New Delhi.

His devotion to Swami and the rare humility to see everything as His ‘doing’ is something that students tried to learn from him, apart from his socio-economic wisdom. “My first memory of Prof. Pandit was when he took a class for us in our I MBA in 1987,” says Prof. N Sivakumar, Director of Brindavan Campus. “Our class was floored by his erudition. He was so thorough in his presentation that he would reel out statistical data and figures about the Indian economy just from memory. I used to note down every point he mentioned. By the end of each class, I would have copied easily 10 pages of notes. That was the level of erudition of Sir.”

A very silent and calm person, a genius mind with lofty thoughts that embodied leadership with gentle firmness and scholarly humility, a loving human being with a life full of purpose and intellectual achievements, who meant so much to so many, now rests at the Lotus feet of Bhagawan Baba. Prof. Vishwanath Pandit is survived by his wife.

The Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning pays its sincere homage to the towering personality of Prof. Pandit. The faculty, staff, and students of the Institute are immensely grateful to Bhagawan for having brought them face-to-face with such a brilliant academic, a humble leader, and a good human being. We pray that his soul may rest in eternal peace and pray for Bhagawan’s blessings on all his family members.

Sairam!