Published on Thu, Nov 23, 2008 at 01:30.00 Hrs.IST , Convocation 2008

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Published on Thu, Nov 23, 2008 at 01:30.00 Hrs.IST

Convocation 2008

Sri Sathya Sai University – Alma Mater for Ambassadors of Peace…

The

27th Annual Convocation of Sri Sathya Sai University was held on the

22nd November 2006, in a glittering ceremony that had its grandeur,

richly deserved for the yeomen service it has been rendering in the

field of education for a quarter century. This prestigious institution

that is undoubtedly the one of its kind that has won attention and

accolades for simple reason that it promotes value education with

spiritual orientation helping in engendering students whom Bhagawan Sri

Sathya Sai Baba prefers to address as future ambassadors, has thousands

of such students in its alumni list who are engaged in relentless

service activities in different part of the world, following the

invaluable inputs that they received before leaving the portals of this

great institution.

Sai Kulwant Hall, the

venue of the XXVII Convocation of Sri Sathya Sai University was

tastefully decorated with flowers of various hues. A beautiful arch

decked with flowers bearing the letters XXVII Convocation of Sri Sathya

Sai University welcomed Bhagawan into the Hall. Another arch bearing

the same lettering embossed in gold was placed near the gate facing the

dais. A backlit panel bearing the letters XXVII Convocation … with

serial lights of various colours was placed just the dais. The dais had

virtually a bower with flowers in the background in the shape of an

arch. Roses arranged in the shape of a Kalasam were placed on either

side of the dais. On the dais were neatly arranged chairs for Bhagawan,

the Chief Guest, the Vice Chancellor, Members of the Governing Body and

Members of the Institute Trust. The regal convocation procession began

at 3.50 p.m. led by the students of Institute Brass Band. They were

followed by two students on either side holding the scepter with the

Institute insignia embossed on it. The Registrar of the University

carried the ceremonial mace. Members of the Governing Body and Members

of the Institute Trust followed them. Bhagawan the Chancellor of the

University came to the Hall in a red robe. At the outset, Prof.

Vishwanath Pandit, the Vice Chancellor of the University garlanded the

Chief Guest Prof. G. Venkataraman. He also welcomed the prominent guest

from the UGC, the Vice Chairman of University Grants Commission, Prof.

Moolchand Sharma. The proceedings began with the customary Vedic chant

which has a lofty meaning to consider the mother, father, preceptor and

guest as God and hold them in high esteem. The Vice Chancellor then

requested the Chancellor, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba to declare the

convocation open. The convocation was declared open by Bhagawan exactly

at 4 p.m.

 

 

 

The Vice Chancellor in his speech welcomed the Chief Guest and Members

of the Governing Body and Members of the Institute Trust to the XXVII

Convocation of Sri Sathya Sai University. The Vice Chancellor then

introduced the Chief Guest Prof. G. Venkataraman. Prof. Venkataraman,

educated at the University of Madras, had an illustrious career. He has

rendered yeoman service to the nation, starting his career at the Bhaba

Atomic Research Centre (BARC). He also held the position of Director,

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In recognition of

his services, he was elected President of Indian Physicist Association.

He was also conferred Padma Shri by the Government of India. Above all

he has been a humble devotee of Bhagawan and was also the Vice

Chancellor of the University. Prof. Pandit said that this was the 17th

Birthday of Bhagawan as he had come to serve Bhagawan in the year 1992.

He pointed out that this University was declared as the crest jewel of

all universities by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation

Council). We have to be grateful to Bhagawan for giving this University

to the world, he said.

Then the Vice Chancellor announced the achievement of the students of the University:

8 students have cleared the CSIR examination.

42 students have passed the GATE examination with a student securing the top rank.

 

Sri Sathya Sai Grama Seva and the spectacular sports events every year

showcases the calibre of the students. He said 3 lakh residents in 150

villages were covered by students in the Grama Seva held this year. 437

students received their degrees this year, 20 students were decorated

with gold medals by Bhagawan this year. 5 students had completed their

doctoral dissertations from the departments of Mathematics, Physics,

Finance (2 students) and Economics.

 

The candidates for the various degrees were then presented to the

Chancellor. The principal of the Sri Sathya Sai University then

administered the oath to the students: “I hereby solemnly declare and

promise that if admitted to the degree for which I have been duly

recommended, I will conduct myself which befits as a member of Sri

Sathya Sai University …†The various gold medalists were as follows: List of Gold Medallists

Chief Guest’s Key-note address:

 

The Chief Guest of the Convocation Prof. G.V. Venkataraman began his

convocation address by expressing his gratitude to Bhagawan for being

conferred the honour of the Chief Guest of the 27th Convocation. Prof.

Venkataraman congratulated the grandaunts not for only for their

degrees, but also for being the students of Bhagawan. Many years ago

Prof. V.K. Gokak declared that this university has the good fortune of

having Bhagawan as the Chancellor of the University who is also the

Chancellor of the universe. He said, when Bhagawan established the Sri

Sathya Sai Arts and Science College in 1968 for women in Anantapur, He

made the first move for a Kali Yuga Gurukulam. The seed had sprouted

into a sapling with the establishment of Sri Sathya Sai Arts and

Science College in the year 1969 in Brindavan. He said that Bhagawan

takes care of the minute details of the University right from its

management to its finance to examination. While students learn from

teachers how to earn a living, Bhagawan teaches the students how to

live, the learned speaker said. In the early days at Brindavan, the

students rose as early as 4 a.m. and took care of activities like

milking the cows, even ploughing the fields, feeding cattle and

whitewashing walls. Prof. Venkataraman then narrated an interesting

incident of those days when this college was affiliated to Bangalore

University wherein a student was awarded 7 gold medals. In the

convocation function when the medals were about to be given, the

student requested the chancellor of the University that he wanted the

medals to be given in his hand as he wanted his Guru to confer the

medals. As soon as the convocation function was over, he rushed to

Brindavan and offered the medals to Bhagawan so that he could be

decorated by Bhagawan for his achievement.

 

He also related an incident which amply showed the love of students for

Bhagawan’s physical proximity. When in 1975, the Brindavan college was

growing and the hostel was relatively small for the students. So,

Bhagawan wanted to build a spacious hostel near the sports ground. All

preparations were being made by Col. Joga Rao. A day before the ground

breaking ceremony, Bhagawan came to hostel. Then a student gave a

letter to Bhagawan. After Bhagawan read the contents of the letter

asked the student whether He could ask the warden to read the letter

for the benefit of others. The student readily agreed. He had expressed

his anguish at being separated from Bhagawan. He had written, “Why was

Bhagawan so upset that He was distancing them from Him?†Bhagawan was

moved by the sincere prayer of this boy and He immediately changed the

plan to construct the hostel at that place. Instead the hostel was

built close to His residence. After a few years Bhagawan built a

college and hostel in Prasanthi Nilayam when it was considered

impossible to have college in such a remote place, but Bhagawan

established a University itself. He said, Bhagawan would visit the

hostel and institute frequently and discoursed on Atma Vidya (education

of the Self). Bhagawan even used to visit the stadium and witness the

matches. Once in the course of a volleyball match, Bhagawan said to the

teachers and senior students present there that once the server serves

the ball, his teammates would at any cost ensure that the ball does not

touch the ground on their side. In a similar way, the teachers should

maintain that students do not slacken in their efforts.

 

Bhagawan used to take the students along with him to Kodaikanal in the

summer months. On an Easwaramma Day, Prof Venkataraman said, Bhagawan

had suddenly gone out in his car and came back after one and a half

hour. The students thought that Bhagawan had gone for a ride, but

Bhagawan revealed to His students that He had gone to distribute

blankets to poor people who could not come to the Sai Sruti Ashram when

the distribution was done. He said this showed Bhagawan’s care and

concern for the poor and needy.

The

erudite speaker said that the current economic meltdown is due to

uninhibited consumerism without any regard to moral values. He said

that Bhagawan has been emphasising a lot on moral values in business to

MBA students in His talks. He referred to a Bhagawan’s Discourse when

Bhagawan said that Mother Yashoda had butter in one hand and a stick on

another hand to catch Krishna. Similarly Bhagawan draws students with

education. Like Mother Yashoda, He does not have a stick, but imparts

Atma Vidya to His students. He also narrated an incident when He took

upon Himself the injury the students were to suffer while doing a stunt

on lorries. The learned speaker said that such is the concern of

Bhagawan for His students.

Prof.

Venkataraman then related what Bhagawan had told in one of His

Discourses during Kodaikanal visit in 2007. “The students as long as

they are here, behave well, but when they go out how they would conduct

themselves is My concern. This is what worries Me. If they behave well

that is enough gratitude for Me.†Does any chancellor bestow so much

love? That God is here playing innumerable roles being the revered

Chancellor the universe. As Sadguru, He is steering the students to the

moral path in His Gurukulam, opined Prof. Venkataraman. He concluded

His speech by saying that he did not speak about students because the

world knows about it, but wanted to tell the secret behind it.

After Prof. Venkataraman’s speech, Bhagawan delivered His Divine Discourse, the excerpts of which follows:

The Divine Benedictory Address

Bharat

is the motherland of many noble souls who earned great reputation in

all the continents of the world. This is the land of many valorous

people who could vanquish the enemies in the battlefield. This is the

land of many learned people who taught the Vedas and other sacred

scriptures to the people of other countries. But, unfortunately, the Bharatiyas

today have forgotten the principles of spirituality and are taking to

wrong path. (Telugu Poem)

Boys and Girls!

It is your responsibility to uphold the glory of this country Bharat.

This country Bharat is highly reputed and is the land of plenty and

prosperity. In spite of many foreign invasions, this country has

prospered. The real beauty in this land is observance of forbearance.

There is no greater feeling than the feeling that one has towards one’s

own mother. This country Bharat is known for women of chastity. Savitri

could bring her dead husband back to life. Do you find such chaste

women in any other country? This is also the birthplace of Damayanti.

Mother Sita came out of blazing fire unscathed to prove her chastity.

Today everyone seems to succumb to silly problems. People seem to have

forgotten their responsibilities. Just as a mighty elephant submits to

the dictates of the mahout, the Bharatiyas are unaware of their own

strength and are aping others. Truth and righteousness have been the

guiding principles of Bharat. Since these twin principles are forgotten

by the Bharatiyas they are suffering.

 

Man should declare that I am a human being not an animal. When he

declares that he is a human being, he should have human qualities and

not animal qualities. Where there is love, there is no chance for

hatred or enmity. The dog loves its puppies and the birds love their

young ones, but modern man does not love his fellowmen. Today there is

no unity in Bharat. Where there is unity, there is purity, where there

is purity, there is divinity.

Man

should develop faith in the Self. But man today lacks Self-confidence.

Self-confidence leads to self-satisfaction, self-satisfaction leads to

self-realisation.

Human quality is

still prevalent in Bharat. In other countries there are so many

problems. Today even countries like U.S.A. and Japan are envious of

Bharat.

Today the food is polluted, water is polluted, even air is polluted. Bharat faces no such pollution problems.

 

Man is verily God. But man is not able to know his true nature.

Education leads to only argumentation. Modern education is not

conferring the knowledge of the Self. Parents spend lakhs and lakhs to

send their children abroad for studies. But they return totally

spoiled. There is no need to go abroad. What is available in Bharat is

not available elsewhere. The greatness of Bharat is beyond estimation.

The kind of fortune that you find is Bharat is not found anywhere.

 

There are many people who invite Bhagavan to foreign land. They are

prepared to bring aeroplanes to take Bhagawan with them. I do not want

these comforts, I want only devotion.

There are no enemies of Bhagawan. Bhagawan loves everyone. But His pure divine love is often misunderstood.

 

If your desires are fulfilled, you are sure to be spoiled. So, Bhagawan

is training youngsters here with all limitations. Students have great

love for Bhagawan. As Bhagawan leaves this place elsewhere, they bid

farewell with tears. He is an intelligent man who helps those who have

harmed them. That is true human quality. Whomsoever you meet, consider

him as God. God is in human form. Rama, Sita, Hanuman, all were humans.

All are divine. Names may be different, but the principle of Atma is

the same in all.

It is necessary to

develop equal-mindedness at this young age. You may think it is

difficult, but in reality it is easy. You will not experience in spite

of doing Yajnas and rituals. In the outside world, there are only

pieces. Peace is within you.

You call

yourself as humans and behave like an animal. Evil qualities like

greed, avarice, hatred are animal qualities. Be a human with fellow

human beings. Do not hate anyone. Till this moment, Swami has no hated

anyone. Bhagawan is full of love. Bhagawan may be at a distant place,

but divine love is drawing people like magnet. He is not angry with

anybody. He is always happy. Bhagawan always smiles. Swami wants us to

be blissful. Swami has not sent any invitation to anyone, but thousands

have gathered here. It is only your love for Bhagawan that has drawn

you here. When Bhagawan goes in the streets, shopkeepers come running

out of their shops to have His Darshan. On this sacred day, one has to

develop love primarily. Very soon the world will be united under one

roof. Nobody would say, I am from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and so

on. Everybody would call themselves a Bharatiya. We do not belong to

any party. We have only the party of love. You may go anywhere, you

will respected and honoured if you have the party of love. Love is

selfless. A true man is one without an iota of selfishness. Every human

being has love. There is no greater quality than love. Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu (May

all the beings of all the worlds be happy!). This should be our prayer

if we want the world to be peaceful. This is the message of Bhagawan

today.

Bhagawan concluded His Discourse with the Bhajan, “Hari Bhajana Bina Sukha Santhi Nahin …â€

The grand convocation function concluded with the singing of National Anthem by all at 6.15 p.m.

In

the evening at 6.30 pm. students of Sri Sathya Sai University presented

a play "Divya Premashrayam", in the Poornachandra Auditorium. The Drama

entails the tenets of His essential teachings to serve the society in

the name of the Lord. This presentation interspersed with scenes from

the epics and lives of the greats bringing greater effectiveness

sending out the message of service to the society. Songs set to

melodious music added flavour go the glittering presentation that was

watched by Bhagawan, the Chief Guest, the UGC Vice Chairman, The Vice

Chancellor, scores of other dignitaries, students and staff from the

university and devotees in general. A grand finale to the glittering

Convocation of the unique Institution, Sri Sathya Sai University. The Story in detail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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