Puttaparthi, 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.
Born in an agricultural family in the Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh, Justice N.V Ramana enrolled as an Advocate in 1983 and practiced in the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Central and Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunals, and the Supreme Court of India in Civil, Criminal, Constitutional, Labour, Service, and Election matters. He has specialized in Constitutional, Criminal, Service, and Inter-State River laws. Before being Elevated as a Judge, Supreme Court of India on 17.02.2014, he held several prominent positions including the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Acting Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court, and a permanent Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, in addition to the role of the Additional Advocate General of Andhra Pradesh. Justice Ramana was appointed as the 48th Chief Justice of India by the President of India on 6 April 2021. He took Oath on 24 April 2021.
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.
Speaking on the occasion, the Vice- Chancellor gave a glimpse into the high-quality research for societal benefit done leveraging the world-class Central Research Instruments Facility (CRIF) and the Central Research Laboratory (CRL) at SSSIHL. He said it was a proud moment for SSSIHL, when the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), approved the ‘SAIC-19 AgKit’ Rapid Antigen Test Kit for COVID-19 in February 2021, that was developed by SSSIHL, making us the only academic institution to have received the approval in that category. Patented in the name of SSSIHL, the ‘SAIC-19 AgKit’ is now aiming for US-FDA approval, he added. On the Innovation side, he said SSSIHL is pursuing over 30 projects with ‘Technology Readiness Level’ of 5 or more, in (a) Healthcare, (b) critical Public goods & services, (c) Food & Nutrition, (d) Cyber Security applications and (e) Insurance.
The Vice-Chancellor then highlighted various international collaborative research projects with bilateral funding opportunities under Indo-Swedish, Indo-Italian, Indo-Australian, Indo-Canadian, and Indo-US programs. He also reported two such recent collaborations, one with Uppsala University in Sweden and the other with Macquarie University, Australia and University of Maryland Baltimore County, USA. He then went on to congratulate the faculty and students for the various academic achievements won by them for their work in their respective field of study.
He concluded by fondly remembering the Revered Founder Chancellor Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s prophetic statement “The seed has been planted; it will sprout and spread, heavy with fruits, providing shade, security and sustenance to all”, from His Discourse during the inauguration of the College Building of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Anantapur Campus 50 year ago, praying that He continues to guide us to take His noble Mission to greater heights as envisioned by Him.
The convocation oath was then administered by the Vice-Chancellor, after which the Gold Medallists of the Institute were awarded by the Chief Justice of India, Hon’ble Justice N V Ramana. In addition to Gold Medallists, the doctoral research scholars were conferred their Ph.D. degrees by the Chancellor and given special mementos blessed by Founder Chancellor Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
The Chief Justice of India, Hon’ble Justice N V Ramana in his Convocation address to the students, said education is much more than academic learning, and that true education helps imbibe the moral values and virtues of humility, discipline, selflessness, compassion, tolerance, forgiveness, and mutual respect. And that it helps elevate our character and broaden our thinking, enabling us to take the right decision when faced with complex challenges in life. Students of SSSIHL are fortunate to have Baba’s philosophy enshrined at the centre of their curriculum which believes that the ‘End of Education is Character’.
SSSIHL he said was built around the concept of a modern Gurukula, where cutting edge modern education is being offered along with the essence of Indian Culture, values, and lifestyle is inculcated in the students ensuring all-round development, mental fortitude, and a sense of social responsibility, which he said was, unfortunately lacking in the modern education being offered today.
Exhorting students to look beyond their own needs, he emphasized on their responsibility towards enriching society, by propagating knowledge and empowering people and communities around them to usher in a progressive world free of conflicts and violence. He concluded by reminding the students of their pledge where they promised to support the cause of sound learning, humanity, morality, and spirituality and urged them to uphold their oath in life.
The graduates were then blessed with the Divine Benediction by our Revered Founder Chancellor, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Baba who addressed the students as ‘Emancipators and Patrons of education’. Baba then spoke on how true education can prepare a student for life, and not merely to earn a living. Likewise, the true meaning of ‘Educare’ imparted to students at SSSIHL He said was ‘to bring out that which is latent or hidden in us’ and asked the students to try to bring out the ‘Divine feelings’ hidden within and make it the second wheel of the chariot of life, the first being worldly education.
The event concluded with the National Anthem and Mangala Aarati.
As part of the 40th convocation, a Drama entitled “Wind Beneath My Wings” will also be streamed on the Prasanthi Mandir Live channel of YouTube, at 7pm later this evening. The Drama entitled- Wind Beneath My Wings is a 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
