Hon’ble President of India presided over Second Convocation

03 July 2023 – Smt. Droupadi Murmu, the Hon’ble President of India graced the Second Convocation of Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence.

Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence celebrated its second Convocation on the Guru Purnima Day this 03 July 2023. Smt. Droupadi Murmu, the Honourable President of India presided over the Convocation which was held at Sathya Sai Grama. Sri Thaawar Chand Gehlot, the Governor of Karnataka as the Head of the State was also present for the Convocation.

Here is a brief glimpse into the profile of the graduating students.

The University also conferred Honorary Doctorates on six accomplished personalities in six different fields of social relevance.

Left to Right (Only Honorary Doctorates): Sports and Fitness – Mr Pullela Gopichand, Chief National Coach for Indian National Badminton Team and Former Indian Badminton Player Education – Professor Vijay Shankar Shukla, Regional Director, Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi Music and Arts – Ganakalabhushana Vidwan Dr R K Padmanabha, Legendary Carnatic Vocalist Healthcare – Dr Pratima Murthy, Director of National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS)

Social Service and Philanthropy – Mrs Tulsi Munda, Environmentalist.

The sixth Honorary Doctorate was conferred for Science and Technology to Professor Ajay K Sood, Fourth Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India, in absentia.

Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu said, “I am happy to be here in this beautiful campus of Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence. My greetings to those students who are receiving their degrees today. Along with this, I specially want to greet those who are being awarded the Honorary Doctorates for their excellent contribution towards various fields of life. The ideals of Sri Sathya Sai Baba are guiding this Institution. He believed that education should not be limited to academic excellence only, rather education should promote holistic development of an individual’s character by instilling moral values and societal consciousness. My special greetings to all those people, who are associated with this task of social service. I am very happy to know that more than 66% of students in this University are girls. And today, out of 17 gold medallists, 11 medallists are girls. It is my observation that girls are doing well if provided with an opportunity. I am also happy to know that more than 50% of the graduates today are first generation graduates. I believe that this Institution will become a world class institution in the coming days.”

Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai said, “On this day of the auspicious Guru Purnima, we offer our salutations at the lotus feet of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who is our guru. यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः – yatra nāryastu pūjyante ramante tatra devatāḥ – where women are worshipped, all Gods reside in that place. यत्रैतास्तु न पूज्यन्ते सर्वास्तत्राफला क्रिया – yatraitāstu na pūjyante sarvāstatrā phalāḥ kriyāḥ – where women are not worshipped, there all endeavours fail. The success of all our endeavours—building a University in a remote rural area and providing free of cost education to many children coming from below poverty line and marginalised sections of the society, especially promoting girls’ education, is because we worship women in letter and spirit at our Institutions. The worship is done by providing girls with equal opportunities, safety and security. I am proud to say that out of 17 gold medallists, 11 of them are girls.

The śikṣāvalli of taittirīyopaniṣad gives four main thoughts:

• सत्यं वद – satyam vada – speak the truth at all times. Know the truth that all are one

• धर्मं चर – dharmam cara – do what is right at all times. Serve the Divine in all

• स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः – swadhyayanma pramadah – continue to practise what you have learnt by using it for the welfare of all. Upgrade your skills and knowledge continuously.

• आचार्याय प्रियं धनमाहृत्य प्रजातन्तुं मा व्यवच्छेत्सीः – acaryaya priyam dhanamahrutya prajatantum ma vyavacchetsih – offer the dearest offering to the guru, by continuing the lineage of teaching and learning.

As guru dakṣiṇā on this day of Guru Purnima, I expect that each of our student, in their life time, should educate 1,000 more children from the rural, tribal, and underprivileged areas.”

The Governor of Karnataka, Mr Thaawar Chand Gehlot said, “In this Southern Indian State of Karnataka, amidst an exquisite environment rich in culture, this tree of education is giving inspiration to one and all. Several innovative experiments in free nutrition, free education and free healthcare are happening here, based on Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s messages of ‘Love All Serve All’ and ‘Help Ever Hurt Never.’ योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् – yogah karmasu kausalam, means ‘Perfection in action is Yoga’. Yoga brings divinity in action, and this is the motto of Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence. My greetings and best wishes to all the members of this University for the integration of modern education with spiritual education.”