Parthi Update 18th to 24th Feb 2005 - Talks by VC and Students

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Parthi Update

24-02-2005

 

Talks by VC and Student

8.05 a.m.

Institute Auditorium

 

 

The Vice Chancellor commenced his talk with the chanting of some verses from the

Vishnu Sahasranamam. He stated his inability to express his gratitude to

Bhagawan for having given him an opportunity to work for such a hallowed

Institute under Bhagawan’s direct Guidance. The emphasis in this Institute is

on Character Building, with Vinayam (Humility), Bhakti (Devotion) and Shraddha

(Steadfastness) shaping the personality of the students. Here Swami gives them

the confidence

to face life and inspires them to develop compassion for all.

 

He said that the five major efforts which the Institute has been privileged to embark upon are

 

1) Seva – Service in all its forms. Free education, free medicare, free

water and service to society in all ways.

2) Veda Poshana – Recitation of the eternal verities

3) Deenodarana – Lifting the forlorn and downtrodden

4) Women’s Empowerment – Supporting women’s freedom and empowerment

5) Caring of elders and aged – Bheema Ratha Shanti being an example.

 

These are the social manifestations of His Mission in which students are used as

instruments. He has given them the opportunity to translate what He has in mind

into reality and interpret its significance to the rest of the world.

 

He concluded his talk by once again expressing his feeling of inadequacy to show

his gratitude to Bhagawan. He quoted a Tamil poem which says that – “You thought

that I was of some worth, You chose me and you gave me the eyes of wisdom to

understand an iota of what you are; O Mother what Grace of yours! How could

this limited intellect of mine ever comprehend your Grace!”

 

He said that With Swami there is no discharging the debt of Gratitude.

Subsequently, the Vice Chancellor introduced his successor Sri Anil Vinayak

Gokak.

 

Sri Anil Vinayak Gokak held several responsible positions both at the State and

at the Centre. He belongs to the IAS cadre of Maharashtra. He graduated from

the Osmania University. At the Central Government he held the post of the

Cement Controller of India, MD of Food Corporation of India and the position of

secretary in three

important Ministries including Telecommunications and Fertilizers.

 

He is the son of the father – Sri Vinayak Gokak who described Bhagawan – our

Chancellor as the Divine Chancellor of the Universe. It was Sri Vinayak Gokak,

the first Vice Chancellor who enjoyed Bhagawan’s confidence and was

instrumental in drafting the rules and regulations which hold till now as the

best in the University. Sri Anil Vinayak Gokak is a great speaker and is

blessed to be the 7th Vice Chancellor of this sacred University.

 

Sri S.V. Giri then invited our Ph.D. Scholar from the School of Business

Management, Sri Sanjay Mahalingam to share his thoughts with the audience.

 

Brother Sanjay began his talk by quoting the episode of the inauguration of the

Bukkapatnam High School, when Sri Kasturi was sent an invitation to be the

Chief Guest by Bhagawan. In that invitation his name was mentioned as Dr.

Kasturi. Sri Kasturi Garu approached Swami and said that this was a mistake as

he did not have a Ph.D. To this Bhagawan said that he indeed was a doctorate

holder. Sri Kasturi humorously asked Bhagawan, “From which University Swami?”

Bhagawan replied, “From the Puttaparthi University”. Sri Kasturi Garu had a

great laugh!

 

Least did he realize that when the Cosmic Consciousness – Bhagawan speaks, it

can never go in vain! Sri Kasturi Garu did live to see this become a reality.

Brother Sanjay went on to highlight the achievements of the Institute during

the tenure of Sri S.V. Giri as the Vice Chancellor – a position which he held

from the 7th of August 1998 and served illustriously in this capacity for the

last six years.

 

The University scaled great heights under his leadership. New courses such as

the ‘Diploma in Indian Culture and Philosophy’, the ‘Post Graduate in

Economics’, the ‘Master of Philosophy’ programme were started. The Sri Sathya

Sai Mirpuri College of Music also came into existence during his tenure in

office. The Institute acquired total connectivity with state-of-the-art

infrastructure and Video-conferencing between the Campuses, the Bio-Sciences

department got the ‘Special Assistance Project’ from the UGC. The National

Conference for the Vice Chancellors for Education in Human Values was held at

Prasanthinilayam. The University under the leadership of Sri S.V. Giri won

nation wide acclaim. Brother Sanjay corroborated his statements quoting from

reports of two committees that visited the Institute.

 

In January 2000, a committee headed by Sri M.K. Kaw visited our University and

stated, “The Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning is Bhagawan Baba’s

outstanding contribution to the world of learning. It is unique for it has

integrated value education with shining success since its inception. All the

gamut of activities that are carried out in this University have one single

underlying message and that is – education is for life and not for a mere

living.”

 

The Peer team of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council that visited

our University in December 2002 had this to say, “The Sri Sathya Sai Institute

of Higher Learning is a crest jewel among the Universities of India and their

model is worthy of emulation by Universities in India and elsewhere so that the

benefits can be reaped fast and on as wide a scale as possible.”

 

Brother Sanjay went on to say that great people are remembered not just for what

they do but what they are. Sri S.V. Giri is known for his accessibility and the

undivided attention he gives for those whom he grants an audience. He

personifies humility and dignity. His very presence carries an aura of dignity.

He is a man of stupendous accomplishments but one without the air of

attainments. None have seen him lose his temper or allow his emotions to get

the better of him. He is a man who always is in full control of himself.

 

Brother Sanjay praised the leadership of Sri S.V. Giri quoting General

Eisenhower who said that if you push a string from behind it will go nowhere

but if you pull it from the front it will go anywhere. Leading from the front

is the key! He narrated an episode during the Grama Seva of 2000 wherein, the

Vice Chancellor had made it a point to visit a very far off village, the road

to which was almost impassable. But he somehow made it to that remote hamlet,

went around every house asking them whether they had received Prasadam and then

also had a few words of encouragement for the students who were assembled there.

Students were left with great admiration for him.

 

Another incident was during the Sports Meet of 2000 when Bhagawan had allowed

even staff members to participate. Early morning, on the very first day, when

few staff members assembled in the ground fighting the chilly weather, at 5.30

a.m., Sri S.V. Giri was already there in his full sports gear ready to

encourage them.

 

He would be remembered as someone who could not possibly always oblige for

certain valid reasons, but always made the listener very comfortable by

obliging words. His keen interest in the Awareness programme, to which he

accorded utmost importance, can never be forgotten.

 

As Sri S.V. Giri moved on to assume higher responsibilities, Brother Sanjay

recalled the statement made by Bhagawan on the 4th of March 1993 when Sri

Hanumanthappa was taking over the Vice-Chancellorship of the University.

Bhagawan said, “With Swami, there is no send off. It is always welcome, welcome

and welcome!”

 

Brother Sanjay concluded his talk recalling the contribution made by Sri Vinayak

Gokak in building the foundation for this University. Talking about the great

person that Sri Gokak was, he shared an incident that occurred long back. Once

Sri Vinayak Gokak was sitting on the benches of Trayee Brindavan and he had

just completed a book in Kannada. A friend of him asked him as to when he would

publish the book. To this Sri Gokak asked him to look into the sky and tell him

what he saw. The friend replied that there were stars appearing in the night

sky. Sri Gokak said that these were not just stars appearing but it was God

composing His epic. The next morning, there would be nothing. God composes His

epic every evening and erases it every morning. Does He care to publish it? He

acts out of the sheer joy of existence without any concern for any appreciation

or acknowledgement. Then why should we

worry about our accomplishments?

 

Today as Bhagawan’s Divine Mission enters its 80th year and our Institute enters

its 25th year, it is a great fortune that the illustrious son of Sri Vinayak

Gokak is taking over the stewardship of our University. Under your guidance and

the Blessings of Bhagawan we hope to take this Institute to far grater heights

of glory! Yesterday evening Swami made a great statement. He said – Boys you

all are Blessed, because one great Vice Chancellor is going and another great

Vice Chancellor is coming!

 

Brother Sanjay’s talk was followed by Sri Anil Gokak. He sought the guidance and

inspiration of Sri S.V. Giri and Sri Chakravarthi who were his senior colleagues

in the IAS. He described our Institute as an island of hope amidst chaos and a

spiritual lighthouse for the whole world. What distinguishes this great

Institution is the emphasis on Educare as separate from education. Education as

defined by Swami Vivekananda is truly Educare. Educare is enabling the students

to realize the Divine potential within him. Man is not only Divine, he is also

the acme of creation for he alone has the ability to transform himself from a

beast into an angel or God. We need to find out whether we are enabling this

process. We are lucky to have the Divine incarnation itself as our Guru.

 

However, this adds on a special responsibility on the teachers. The teachers

have to play a multifarious role over here. They have to act as the snake

charmer to wean away the minds of the students from evil tendencies and be a

shepherd to the hungry sheep. Teachers are like the wire that connect the

Generator i.e. God with the students who are like the lamps. The teacher has to

carry the current within him so that it reaches the other end and has the

transforming effect.

 

He has to be the experiencer and not merely the transmitter of the Divine

Message. He has to identify the talents in the students and accelerate them on

the path that suits them best. He has to communicate like a poet choosing an

appropriate medium, and then recreate the experience he has had, in the minds

of the students. All this must be done selflessly, without any expectations and

with pure motives. Teachers in this Institute must be distinguished from their

counterparts in other Institutes, by the great quality of possessing nothing

and seeking nothing.

 

We need to conduct a spiritual audit of ourselves to find out whether we are

transforming ourselves. This is the only way to transform the students and

restore our country to its ancient glory and pride. He concluded his talk by

seeking Bhagawan’s Guidance and encouragement and gave a word that he would do

his best to translate the objectives of the Institute into reality.

 

Sai Ram

 

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