22 November 2021

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) (Deemed to be University) held its 40th Annual Convocation in the Poornachandra Auditorium, Prasanthi Nilayam, Andhra Pradesh in the Divine Presence on 22 November 2021 at 9:10 a.m.

The grand ceremony saw the Honourable Chancellor, Sri K Chakravarthi, IAS (Retd.), admit candidates to their degrees.

SSSIHL was honoured to have the Chief Justice of India, Hon’ble Mr. Justice N. V. Ramana, as the chief guest for the event.

The event began at 9:10 a.m. when the Chief Guest along with the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Controller of Examinations, Members of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning Trust, the Board of Management, Academic Council, Deans, HoDs and other distinguished delegates, entered the Poornachandra Auditorium in Prasanthi Nilayam with the Registrar of the University carrying the ceremonial mace.

Following the invocatory Veda chanting from Taittriya Upanishad, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. (Dr.) C B Sanjeevi prayed to the Revered Founder Chancellor to declare the convocation open. The Convocation was then declared open in the Divine voice of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

The programme included speeches by the Vice-Chancellor, the Chief Guest and the Revered Founder Chancellor (video broadcast of a previous Convocation Address).

Ph.D. Awardees 2021/22

S R Pranav Sai – Actuarial Science
Enhancing the Operational Efficiency of the Non-Life Insurance Business in India by Integrating Actuarial and Data Science Techniques

Rohan Yashraj Gupta – Actuarial Science
Data Driven Fraud Prevention and Detection in Health and Motor Insurance Business using Actuarial and Data Science Techniques

Isha Sai – Biosciences
Investigations on Biochemical and Biological Aspects of Two Wild Edible Mushrooms of Anantapur (A.P.)

Skanda S – Biosciences
Bioactive Potential and Bioremediation Capacity of Soil Derived Fungal Isolates from Puttaparthi, A.P., India

Kottapalli K Jayant – Biosciences
Studies on the biological potential of endophytic micro-fungi associated with medicinal plants – Ficus religiosa (L.) & Phyllanthus emblica (L.)

Balaram Khamari – Biosciences
Understanding Nitrofurantoin Resistance in Enterobacteriaceae: A Systematic Analysis of the Interplay Between Resistance Acquisition and Fitness

Prasanth Ghanta – Biosciences
Investigation into the anti-inflammatory potential of the alkaloids of Adhatoda vasica Nees.

Pachi Pulusu Chanakya – Biosciences
Genomic analysis of clinically isolated antibiotic resistant variants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and heteroresistant Morganella morganii

Manmath Lama – Biosciences
Genomic Insights into the Evolutionary Dynamics of Clinically Relevant, Emerging Novel Bacterial Pathogens

Thota Sai Manohar – Biosciences
Metabolic Re-wiring Modulates Mutant Huntingtin Aggregation in Huntington’s Disease

Sujith Kumar P – Biosciences
Integrated analysis of clinical data, metabolomics and cell culture model system to elucidate mechanisms, potential biomakers and therapeutic targets in Glaucoma

Mukul Anand – Biosciences
Investigations on Biological and Biotechnological Potential of Tecoma stans (L.) Juss. ex Kunth

Bebeto Rai – Chemistry
Monitoring and Management of Myocardial Infarction Patients in Resource-Limited Settings: An Integrated Approach for Bottom of the Pyramid

Aayush Rai – Chemistry
Nano-Assemblies and Nanohybrids: Frugal Synthesis Techniques and Advanced Plasmonic Applications

Seemesh Bhaskar – Chemistry
Disruptive Engineering of Smart Nano-architectures and Photonic Crystal Frameworks for Augmented Fluorescence-based Biosensing Applications

Darshan Gera – Computer Science
Deep Facial Expression Recognition in the Wild

Sayel Basel – Economics
A Study on Some Aspects and Issues of Development in Multidimensional Perspective

Supriya C P – Education
Pedagogical Approaches to Peace Education at Secondary School Level

Prashant Luthra – English Literature
Reading R. K. Narayan in the Post-Truth Era

Manjula Devi Ghoora – Food Technology
Nutritional quality, metabolomic profile, health potential, sensory characteristics, and postharvest technology of culinary microgreens: A futuristic food crop

Padmalalitha T V – Management
Organisational Learning for Greening Supply Chain Practices: An Empirical Study

Bhabani Shankar Padhy – Management
A Study of Social Entrepreneurs in India: Issues and Challenges

Kaluri Suseela Padma Sowndarya – Mathematics
Domination and Separation Problems on Chessboard Graphs

Abishek H – Physics
Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy of Neurotransmitters

Putrevu Saijagannadha Bharadwaj – Physics
Investigations into the structure-property correlation in trivalent (Sm³⁺, Gd³⁺, Nd³⁺) and tetravalent (Ti⁴⁺) doped and co-doped YFeO₃ perovskites

Ranjan Rai – Physics
Investigations into the Nonlinear Optical, Magnetic and Visible Light Induced Photocatalytic Properties of KBiFe₂O₅

Gold Medalists 2021/22

• Eshitha Sankar Budida (Bachelor of Arts)
• Sankar Krishna (Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Mathematics)
• Sai Prasad Mahapatra (Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Physics)
• Guggilam Sri Chandana Krishna Lekha (Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Chemistry)
• Mani Kanta Koppolu (Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Biosciences)
• Malla Vandana (Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutritional Sciences)
• Rao Aditya Nagesh (Bachelor of Commerce (Hons.))
• Deepam Rai (Bachelor of Computer Applications)
• Bhoini Pavan Kishore (Bachelor of Business Administration)
• Saiganesh Ramesh (Master of Arts in Economics)
• Ajit Kumar Sahu (Master of Science in Mathematics)
• Pendem Sai Vikranth Goud (Master of Science in Physics)
• Gedela Sravani (Master of Science in Food and Nutritional Sciences)
• Majeti VSSS Durgesh (Master of Science in Data Science and Computing)
• Sulochana Paudyal (Bachelor of Education)
• Boddu Raghu Veera Saikumar (Master of Business Administration)
• Padala Vishnu Vardhan Reddy (Master of Technology in Computer Science)

Annual Convocation Drama

Each year on the day of the Annual convocation, students of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning put together a drama presentation in the Divine Presence. This year, the drama, titled Wind Beneath My Wings, explored the story of a day in the life of a tiny bird that is all set to take its first leap of faith for a graceful flight unto a wonderful realization.

View recording of the Convocation Drama.

Sai Krishna award for excellence in teaching in the Sri Sathya Sai Values-based Integral Education for the academic year 2019-20 is awarded to Dr. G Raghavender Raju, Associate Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences

Sai Krishna award for excellence in Research for the academic year 2019-20 is awarded to Dr.(Miss) N Srividya, Associate Professor, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences

Sai Krishna award for Young Achiever for excellence in the Sri Sathya Sai Values-based Integral education and Research for the academic year 2019-20 is awarded to Dr.(Miss) Deepa Seetharaman, Associate Professor, Department of Physics

The S G Sundaraswamy Memorial Lecture is an annual endowment lecture at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) instituted in honour of late Sri S G Sundaraswamy—a doyen of the legal profession in Bengaluru and an ardent devotee of Bhagawan Baba—by his son, Sri S S Naganand, Trustee, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (Public Charitable Trust), Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust and Sri Sathya Sai Media Foundation.

The 2020 (online) lecture on 22 September, on the topic, Inspiring Innovation, was delivered by Lieutenant General (Dr.) Madhuri Kanitkar, AVSM, VSM, a highly decorated serving General Officer in the Indian Army.

She is only the third woman in the Indian Armed Forces to be promoted to a Three-star rank, and currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Medical) under the Chief of Defence Staff. The Gen. Officer has been nominated to the PM-Science and Technology Innovation Advisory Committee and Board of Governors of the Medical Council of India in October 2018 and July 2019.

#SSSIHL #SSSIHLIntegralEducation

Amidst the COVID-19 lockdown, students of the Brindavan campus, with the help of alumni served prasadam (in the form of food packets) to 900 people in Kadugodi village. Cooking commenced at 3 a.m. followed by packing, transportation and organized distribution. In addition to this, ashram workers and their families were given new clothes.

#SSSIHLIntegralEducation #SSSIHL

Transforming Self to Transform the World

Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations (SSSSO), India in association with Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) kicked off the Sri Sathya Sai National Leadership Programme (SSSNLP) on 13 March 2020 at SSSIHL.

The 26 weeks long programme, for 200 participants from 25 states of India (both Sai youth and others), is a certified leadership programme which aims to bring a specific set of leadership skills. Some of these include Communications, Goal Setting, Change Management, National Building, Managing Relationships, Stress Management, Presentation Skills and Corporate Culture. Participants will be tutored online every Saturday for the duration of the programme.

On 13 March, at the launch of the programme at SSSIHL, Sri Gopi Krishna P, Convener and Master of Ceremonies, SSSNLP introduced a panel of introductory speakers. These included Sri K Chakravarthi, IAS (Retd.), Chancellor, SSSIHL, Sri R J Rathnakar, Managing Trustee, SSSCT, Prof. (Dr.) C B Sanjeevi, Vice Chancellor, SSSIHL, Prof. B Sai Giridhar, Registrar, SSSIHL and Sri Nimish Pandya, All India President, SSSSO, India.

They focused their talks on the four component of the SSSNLP Programme: Values and Ethics, Individual Skills, Group Skills and Self-Mastery. Prof. B Sai Giridhar, in his introduction, stressed on Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s example of leadership to humanity which encompasses everything the participants will come to learn from various experts during the course of the programme.

Sri K Chakravarthi express his happiness on such a programme and said he would meet the youth in smaller groups and share his experiences with them.

Sri R J Rathnakar stressed on the importance of Group Skills. He gave an example of how during the Rama avatar, Sri Rama didn’t just give a directive, but instead chose to consults the group of seniors before allowing the pure-hearted Vibhīṣaṇa, the brother of Ravana (the King of Lanka) to take refuge at His lotus feet.

Prof. (Dr.) C B Sanjeevi said that leadership from the perspective of Sri Sathya Sai includes the immeasurable devotional component, as it is priceless. If one leads with the undercurrents of devotion and Human values, anything is achievable.

#SSSIHL #SSSSO #SSSSOIndia #LoveAllServeAll

The International Women’s Day, an annual worldwide focal point in the movement for women’s rights, was celebrated by students of Anantapur Campus (the women’s only campus at SSSIHL), Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning.

The programme (highlighting the 2020 theme of Each for Equal) commenced with the description of the history of International Women’s Day followed by a role play, where students presented the lives and contribution of iconic women of Vedic, medieval and modern ages. The roles played included Gargi, Draupadi, Savithri, Jhansi Rani, Wangari Mathai, Kiron Bedi, Ophra Winfrey, Muniba Mazari, Malala and Kalpana Chawla.

They highlighted the struggles, turmoil, pain and sleepless nights these women had on their path to glory, which were overcome by their indomitable spirit, resolute courage and determined willpower.

A video presentation on Hellen Keller and Marie Curie was followed by Bhagawan Baba’s Discourse on ‘Women in Society’.

#InternationalWomensDay #EachforEqual #SSSIHL

The students and staff of the Anantapur Campus hostel have adopted a leper colony situated in the outskirts of the town of Anantapur since 1986, with the objective of making the inmates of the colony as self-sufficient as possible.

Project Love Stream is a long-standing example of service in action and how a little love and care has the power to create long lasting benefits to generations of families. It has helped transform the lives of twenty-five socially marginalized families.

The colony that consisted of 10-12 huts in 1986 now has twenty neat little houses. The creatively raised capital has funded water pumps, stationery items, food supplies and even fifty trees so that they can sell their own fruits and earn an income. As a result, almost every family now has its own bank account.

Practicing human values, bhajan singing, educating the inhabitants in various ways- these are some of the ways that the warden and students have taken time out to help the lepers with.

The long-term objective is to make the families as self-sufficient as possible.

As part of the project, each year, the students of the Campus made a variety of handicrafts like cards, bookmarks, rakhis and friendship bands. These are then sold to the inmates of the hostel and the amount thus raised is utilized to buy provisions for the residents of the leper colony on a monthly basis. They also help with their basic requirements like provision of water connections, bathroom doors and fodder for the cows maintained by them.

Each academic year, the staff and students do service activities such as distributing blankets to the residents, getting them provisions, etc.

The project has had a long-lasting impact on generations of students for over thirty years now.

#SSSIHLIntegralEducation #SSSIHL