July 2024

The Department of Languages and Literature held LitOrient ’24, an orientation programme for first-year undergraduate and postgraduate students of Literature, Anantapur campus on July 3, 2024, and the BA (English) students at the Muddenahalli Campus on July 8, 2024.

The objective was to formally induct the freshers into the English Literature and Language Programme and provide an overview of the National Education Policy (NEP) and the BA (Hons) programme in English, providing the students with details of the courses offered, available electives, research prospects, and opportunities for undertaking projects and internships.

Summary of the Proceedings at Anantapur Campus

The event commenced with traditional Vedam chanting and the ceremonial lighting of the lamp. Dr. Nelli Vani Sri, Assistant Professor of English, delivered the welcome address, followed by Prof. Rani P. L., Dean of Humanities & Social Sciences and Languages & Literature, who set the stage for the rest of the programme. Prof. Rani’s talk emphasized the role of humanities in academia and instilled confidence in the freshers for their choice of stream for their respective degrees.

Dr. (Ms.) Vijaya Lekshmi R., Assistant Professor of English, discussed the genesis of the Department and its journey to date. Dr. (Mrs.) Maitali Khanna, Associate Professor of English & Head of the Department, explained the degree requirements and goals for undergraduate freshers as prescribed by NEP 2020. Dr. Sowmya Srinivasan, Assistant Professor of English, then outlined the various career prospects in English Language and Literature available to students after their degree at SSSIHL.

Next, Miss Sai Archana M., Teaching Assistant, highlighted the department’s achievements over recent years, including events, academic excursions, presentations, and publications by students and faculty members. This was followed by an informative and engaging panel discussion by the research scholars, who discussed the research process in English Language and Literature, drawing examples from their respective research areas. An entertaining games session, led by senior students, served as the penultimate point of the event.

Additionally, three senior students from the sub-departments of humanities—Shambhavi (Philosophy), Aastha (Political Science), and Sharanya (Economics)—provided a brief introduction to their respective subjects while sharing personal experiences from their classrooms to give the freshers a glimpse of what they could expect in the coming years.

The event coordinated by Dr. Sowmya Srinivasan, Assistant Professor of English, concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Miss Sreenidhi S., a research scholar at the department, followed by Mangala Aarti.

Summary of the Proceedings at Muddenahalli Campus

The event commenced with traditional Vedam chanting and the ceremonial lighting of the lamp. The Director of the MDH campus, Sri B. Venkatramana, welcomed the freshers to the campus and key members of the faculty including Prof. P.L. Rani, Dean of Humanities, Social Sciences, Languages, and Literature; Dr. Maitali Khanna, Head of the Department of Languages and Literature, Dr. B. Venkataramana, Assistant Professor of English; Dr. M.G. Mahabala Rao, Assistant Professor of Sanskrit; and Sri Sai Govardhan J., Assistant Professor of English.

Prof. P.L. Rani delivered an insightful talk on the genesis and achievements of the English Department over the years, setting an inspiring tone for the programme. Dr. Maitali Khanna welcomed the students by pinning badges onto them and presented an overview of the BA English programme, providing a comprehensive perspective on the 4-year curriculum. Dr. B. Venkataramana then delved into the essence of literature, quoting various excerpts and enriching the student’s understanding of the field. An interactive session followed, where students engaged with faculty members on topics such as career paths, programme structure, and course specifics. Dr. Maitali Khanna also assured the students of regular engagement with faculty from other campuses.

In the afternoon session, Sri Sai Govardhan J. provided an in-depth discussion on the minor subjects in the programme, career paths, and the credit framework.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Pragyan Rai, a student at the department, followed by a prayer.

LitOrient ’24 was indeed an enlightening experience for the students, giving them valuable insights into the programme and highlighting the numerous career opportunities ahead. The event aimed to facilitate academic interaction among teachers, scholars, seniors, and juniors, fostering a collaborative and enriching academic environment.

The 8th Vice-Chancellor (05-08-2008 to 18-05-2010) | Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (Deemed to be University)

Hailing from the crest jewel of India, Kashmir, Prof. Vishwanath Pandit, a well-known Indian economist, assumed charge as the 8th Vice Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) on 5th August 2008. Fondly referred to by Bhagawan Baba as the ‘Delhi Professor,’ Prof. Pandit’s remarkable journey from serving as a Seva Dal at Prasanthi Nilayam in the 1980s to assuming the position of the 8th Vice-Chancellor of SSSIHL is truly commendable.

Prof. Pandit, regarded as the pioneer of ‘Macroeconomics Policy Modelling in India,’ completed his B.A. from Kashmir University and M.A. in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, U.S.A., under the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Lawrence Klein, in 1971. He has been a colleague of some of the most eminent economists of India, including former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Amartya Sen.

After completing his doctoral research, he served as a Reader in econometrics at the Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi. During his four-decade-long stint at the Delhi School of Economics, he also served in various capacities such as Head of the Department of Economics and Director of the Centre for Development Economics. During this period, he held many visiting positions at his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania (1984-85), as well as at the University of North Carolina as a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow (1970-71). Prof. Pandit also held a visiting faculty position at the University of Manchester, England, U.K. (1975-76), and later was also the Simon Fellow (1976-77) and Hallsworth Fellow (1983-84).

Throughout his illustrious career, he played several roles, including Consultant to the World Bank, Washington, USA (1975); Consultant to Rail India Technical and Economic Services, New Delhi (1978-79); Editor for the Indian Economic Review (1986); Macroeconomic Planning Adviser to the Government of Sri Lanka (1989-90); Chairman, Expert Group on Policy Modelling for LDCs, U.N., New York; Consultant to the Planning Commission, Govt. of India; and President of the Indian Econometric Society (2001-02). He served on selection committees for two prestigious awards, the Mahalanobis Memorial Medal (National and International) and the VKRV Rao Awards in Social Sciences. For his extraordinary contribution to the field of economics, he was conferred the Swami Pranavananda Saraswati Award by the University Grants Commission in 2004.

Prof. Pandit was an eminent academician with vast experience in teaching and guiding research. Several Ph.D. and M.Phil. scholars completed their research under his supervision. He published more than 100 research articles and papers in national and international journals and authored nine books on economics.

Professor Pandit has been associated with SSSIHL since 1984. He was one of the members of the expert committee that was instrumental in framing the syllabus and administrative/admission procedures in developing the Department of Management at SSSIHL in 1986. He used to deliver guest lectures in the Management & Commerce Department of the Institute. In June 1991, the B.Sc. (Hons) in Economics programme was introduced at the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus of SSSIHL with his assistance.

Post-2000, he joined SSSIHL as a regular faculty member. In 2001, he was instrumental in setting up the Department of Economics at the Institute. He held the position of Head of the Department of Economics and Dean of Humanities at SSSIHL. The M.A. (Economics) programme was introduced at the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus of SSSIHL in June 2001 under his leadership.

Prof. Vishwanath Pandit played a key role as Coordinator during the very first cycle of accreditation of SSSIHL by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in 2002 when Sri S V Giri was the Vice-Chancellor. Prof. Pandit highlighted the importance of the Sri Sathya Sai Values-based Integral Education system to the members of the Peer Team from NAAC, who visited our Institute from 2nd to 4th December 2002. The NAAC granted accreditation at the A++ level (highest grade) in 2003-2004, thus placing the Institute at the top grade among Indian universities.

He was instrumental in commencing the B.A. (Hons) in Economics programme with History and Political Science as additional subjects at the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus of SSSIHL in the academic year 2004. This supplemented the existing B.Sc. (Hons) in Economics programme, which included Mathematics and Statistics as additional subjects. Additionally, in the same year, the M.Phil. programme was introduced in all subjects where postgraduate programmes already existed.

Prof. Pandit was also a part of the 25th Anniversary celebrations of the Institute in 2006, when a new Humanities Building at the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus was inaugurated by the Revered Founder Chancellor, Bhagawan Baba, on 26th August 2006 in the presence of Dr. Ashok K Lahri, the Chief Economic Advisor, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India. He briefly served as Chairman of the Sri Sathya Sai Centre for Human Values run by the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust.

During his tenure as the 8th Vice-Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prof. Pandit spearheaded several milestone events. The Conference on “Ethics and the World of Finance” was organised by SSSIHL on the 28th and 29th of August 2009 under his leadership, where the keynote address was delivered by Dr. Duvvuri Subbarao, the then Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. This conference, held in the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2007–2008, focused on the need for revitalizing ethical practices in the financial sector. The participants included top executives from the financial sector, representatives from regulatory bodies like RBI, SEBI, and IRDA, CEOs of around 20 banks and financial institutions in India, bureaucrats, academicians, and many others who were part of the then financial echelon of India.

In 2008, Prof. Pandit hosted the UGC team headed by Prof. Moolchand Sharma, a distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Delhi and the Founder Vice-Chancellor of Central University of Haryana, along with eminent Professors/Vice-Chancellors of Indian Universities and Dr. (Mrs.) Renu Batra, Joint Secretary, UGC as the member Secretary, who visited the Institute to review the UGC X Plan and proposal for the UGC XI plan from 25th to 27th September 2008.

The initiative for starting the fourth Campus of SSSIHL at Muddenahalli, Chikkaballapur District, in consultation with the Govt. of Karnataka and the MHRD, New Delhi, and the starting of a new building for housing the MBA Department at the Anantapur Campus, happened during his tenure. Even for the second cycle of re-accreditation by NAAC in 2009-10, Prof. Pandit played a key role in the entire accreditation process, including the drafting of the reports.

The book “Man Management,” based on several Discourses on Management delivered by Bhagawan Baba and compiled by Prof. (Hon.) R Kumar Bhaskar was released under the leadership of Prof. Pandit. He was also associated with the Values Orientation programme for school teachers from all over India, between 2003-2006.

For Prof. Pandit, the most gratifying moment was joining the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning in Prasanthi Nilayam. He considered this his real blessing and said that the fact that Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba let him be so close to Him and be His instrument for starting the Department of Economics at the Institute, was in itself a source of fulfillment.

In addition to his professional career, Prof. Pandit was very active in the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organizations in Delhi. Before joining SSSIHL, he was the “Activities in charge” at the Sri Sathya Sai International Centre, New Delhi.

His devotion to Swami and the rare humility to see everything as His ‘doing’ is something that students tried to learn from him, apart from his socio-economic wisdom. “My first memory of Prof. Pandit was when he took a class for us in our I MBA in 1987,” says Prof. N Sivakumar, Director of Brindavan Campus. “Our class was floored by his erudition. He was so thorough in his presentation that he would reel out statistical data and figures about the Indian economy just from memory. I used to note down every point he mentioned. By the end of each class, I would have copied easily 10 pages of notes. That was the level of erudition of Sir.”

A very silent and calm person, a genius mind with lofty thoughts that embodied leadership with gentle firmness and scholarly humility, a loving human being with a life full of purpose and intellectual achievements, who meant so much to so many, now rests at the Lotus feet of Bhagawan Baba. Prof. Vishwanath Pandit is survived by his wife.

The Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning pays its sincere homage to the towering personality of Prof. Pandit. The faculty, staff, and students of the Institute are immensely grateful to Bhagawan for having brought them face-to-face with such a brilliant academic, a humble leader, and a good human being. We pray that his soul may rest in eternal peace and pray for Bhagawan’s blessings on all his family members.

Sairam!

The Department of Management & Commerce at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning conducted ‘Launchpad-to-Success’, a four-day induction program from July 3-6, 2024, for first-year MBA students at the Brindavan Campus. The orientation included talks by seven eminent industry speakers and a bridge course on financial accountancy for non-commerce students held in the afternoons.

Summary of Talks:

3 July 2024

Mr. Srinivasa Raghavan, a retired CFO with over 35 years of experience, delivered an inspiring talk titled “Raise Your Hands.” Key takeaways included the importance of simple and effective communication, challenging oneself, embracing constant change, doing what is right, being receptive to ideas, moving beyond one’s function, continuous learning, seeking regular feedback, planning for the future, and managing key stakeholders.

4 July 2024

Mr. Vaidyanathan R (Vaidy) Iyer, Training & Placement Officer, SSSIHL, emphasized that an MBA is not just about subject knowledge but also about acquiring essential corporate skills. He highlighted integrity, effective communication, respectful disagreement, professionalism, continuous learning, attention to detail, and developing leadership rather than authoritative skills. These are the qualities that organizations expect from MBA graduates to thrive in a corporate environment.

Mr. Viswas Polepalli, Vice-President, Account Management Services, Teikametrics India Solutions Pvt. Ltd., shared his insights on digital trends, highlighting the evolution from commerce to e-commerce to quick-commerce, driven by pervasive technology and innovation. His perspectives on the rapid advancements in digital commerce provided the students with a deeper understanding of the current and future landscape.

5 July 2024

Mr. Sai Kiran K, Head – Executive Search, C2X, delivered an insightful session emphasizing the importance of staying informed about current events to maintain human relations, the necessity of lifelong learning, shifting focus from degrees to skills, and the evolving philosophy of equal pay for equal work. He also highlighted the future of AI and humans working together to create autonomous businesses, referring students to the World Economic Forum Flagship Report, June 2024.

Mr. Prasad Katta, Co-founder & COO of Cogos Technologies Pvt. Ltd., emphasized the holistic approach to management as envisioned by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Founder Chancellor of SSSIHL. He articulated that an MBA is about mastering the art of Man Management, understanding and nurturing unique skills and talents. Fostering a collaborative environment where individuals grow together, the focus is on synchronizing efforts to maximize contributions. Mr. Katta highlighted how Swami’s teachings continue to inspire and guide MBA students, emphasizing the importance of empathy, understanding, and the harmonious blending of diverse capabilities.

6 July 2024

Mr. Arunkumar N T Member, Board of Director & Strategic Advisor in several companies, addressed the topic “The Future of Work,” discussing how managers today grow ideas, businesses, teams, and profits non-linearly by distinguishing between data, facts, and truth. This critical skill helps in making informed decisions and driving innovation.

Mr. Anand Nergunam S, Vice-President – Revenue Management & Growth, Zoho Corporation, enlightened students on the importance of identifying and developing their core competencies as they prepare to transition from campus to corporate life. He emphasized self-assessment and seeking feedback to uncover unique skills, talents, and strengths. By focusing on these areas, students can enhance their performance, achieve personal and professional growth, and create a competitive advantage in their careers.

The event was a comprehensive introduction to the MBA journey, preparing students to navigate their academic and professional paths with confidence.

View: Event Flyer

The Centre for Excellence in Mathematical Biology (CEMB) at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) successfully concluded its 8-day Faculty Development Program (FDP) on “Dynamical Systems & Optimal Control Theory, AI/ML, and Bioinformatics with Applications to Healthcare.” This program was held online from July 8 to July 15, 2024.

This FDP featured lectures by domain experts from renowned institutions on topics such as Dynamical Systems & Optimal Control Theory, AI/ML, and Bioinformatics, with a specific focus on healthcare applications. In addition to theoretical insights, the program included hands-on sessions to enhance practical understanding.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the experts for their participation and for sharing their invaluable expertise:

• Dr. Prof. Mukesh Doble, IIT Madras
• Dr. P. Muthu, NIT Warangal
• Dr. B. S. R. V. Prasad, VIT Vellore
• Dr. D. K. K. Vamsi, SSSIHL
• Dr. Darshan Gera, SSSIHL
• Dr. M. S. Srinath, SSSIHL
• Dr. K. N. Naresh, SSSIHL
• Dr. N. B. Gayatri, SSSIHL
• Dr. Bharat Parthasarathy, SSSIHL
• Mr. D. Bhanu Prakash, SSSIHL
• Mr. Rithwik Chandra Pandey, SSSIHL

For more details, please view the detailed report.

The Department of Humanities and Social Sciences hosted the inaugural session of the ‘Students’ Success School’ on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Anantapur Campus. This session marked the beginning of a series aimed at assisting students in preparing for competitive examinations.

The event commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by the Chief Guest, Sri Megha Swaroop, IAS, Municipal Commissioner of Anantapur, along with the Campus Director, Prof. Rani P L, the Dean of the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Languages and Literature departments, and faculty members Dr. M R Geetha Bala, Dr. M Venkatalakshmi, and Ms. Arunima Pant from the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Following the lamp lighting, students performed an invocatory Vedam. Dr. M R Geetha Bala, Associate Professor of Economics and former Dean, delivered the welcome address, expressing gratitude to the Chief Guest and highlighting the importance of the session series in guiding students toward successful careers. Prof. Rani P L, Campus Director, emphasized the foundational educational values championed by our Founder Chancellor, Sri Sathya Sai Baba, particularly the idea that “The End of Education is Character,” and thanked the Chief Guest for their participation and the department for organizing the initiative.

Sri Megha Swaroop, IAS, then delivered the inaugural address, focusing on essential values for UPSC aspirants, systematic study techniques, and insights into the exam’s stages, drawing from personal experience. A question-answer session followed, where he provided valuable tips and addressed students’ queries. Dr. Arun Kumar from the History Department elaborated on UPSC subjects and necessary subject knowledge, concluding the enriching session.

The event wrapped up with a vote of thanks and Mangala Arathi. This initiative by the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences proved to be both informative and inspiring providing valuable guidance and motivation for the students in attendance.

The 7th International Conference on Food and Nutrition, organized by the Universal Society of Food and Nutrition (USFN) in collaboration with UCSI University, Malaysia, was held in hybrid mode on June 29-30, 2024. The conference, themed “Culinary Diversity and Health: A Global Perspective,” attracted a diverse group of professionals, including nutritionists, dieticians, professors, scientists, research scholars, health experts, industrialists, and students, who gathered to discuss the latest advancements and research in food science and nutrition. Over 100 presenters from around the world showcased their work during the two-day event.

Faculty members and students from the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences (DFNS) at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) participated in the conference in the following capacities:

Keynote Address

• Prof. B. Andallu, Honorary faculty and former Head of the Department, delivered the keynote address on “Herbs and Spices in the Prevention and Treatment of Stress-Induced Diseases.” Her presentation emphasized the role of phytochemicals in herbs and spices in enhancing health and slowing degenerative processes associated with aging. Prof. Andallu highlighted the potential of common kitchen herbs and spices in preventing serious chronic diseases and managing stress-related health issues. Her talk was well-received, sparking an engaging discussion session.

Organizing Committee Member and Session Chair

• Dr. Jhinuk Gupta, Assistant Professor, served as an organizing committee member and session chair, and evaluator for one of the virtual presentation sessions on June 30, 2024. Dr. Gupta, an active researcher in food safety and quality monitoring, facilitated discussions on advanced research in food safety and its critical role in nutrition.

Research Presentations

• Ms. Amrita Shaw, a Doctoral Research Scholar, presented her research on “Detection of Re-used Cooking Oil through Micro-Raman Spectroscopy.” This research, guided by Dr. Jhinuk Gupta and Dr. Sai Muthukumar V (Associate Professor, Dept. of Physics), addressed a crucial issue in the food industry and was commended by the session chairs for its significance. Dr. Muthukumar, a meticulous researcher in the field of Applied Spectroscopy, played a pivotal role in the presented work.
• Ms. Shreya P Sarathy, who completed her M.Sc. dissertation under Dr. Jhinuk Gupta during the academic year 2023-2024, presented her project on “Mislabeling in the Indian Health Food Market: Market Survey and Analytical Testing,” co-authored by Ms. Tharani Lakshmi Tharuni and Ms. Amrita Shaw. Her presentation illuminated the widespread issue of mislabeling in the health food sector and the importance of detecting such practices. The panelists praised her work and the relevance of the research.

The active participation and contributions from the DFNS team at SSSIHL were highly appreciated and added significant value to the conference.

Sri Undavalli Venkata Gopi, a Research Scholar from the Department of Chemistry, under the supervision of Dr. Kumar Sai Smaran, delivered an oral presentation titled “Defect Engineering Pathways Towards Unlocking the Potential of Perovskites in Supercapatteries” at the 18th International Symposium of Polymer Electrolytes (ISPE-18). The event took place from 23-28 June 2024, in Langkawi, Malaysia, and was organized by the ACS Malaysia Chapter.

Sri Gopi’s oral presentation explored how the inherent options to manipulate the stoichiometries (defects) in perovskite derivatives and their higher-order analogues can be utilized. Specifically, their oxygen deficiency attributes can be employed in anionic intercalated mechanism-based supercapatteries, which was the core of his presentation at the conference.

Sri Gopi was also the recipient of the ISPE 18 Young Researcher Travel Award, which acknowledges young talents for their contributions to the field of energy storage. To encourage participation from young researchers worldwide, the ISPE 18 Young Researcher Travel Award is awarded to eligible and deserving scholars who demonstrated academic excellence through the quality of their research. The travel award (100,000 INR approx.) was awarded to only four participants worldwide, including Sri Gopi.

The International Symposium on Polymer Electrolytes (ISPE) is a premier conference in the field of energy storage. The 18th session held in Langkawi, Malaysia, focused on the theme “Zero Carbon Emission by Revolutionizing Energy with Polymer Electrolytes.” The conference encouraged scientific presentations on a variety of topics, including Lithium-ion batteries and related technologies, Supercapacitors and allied technologies, Solar cells, Fuel cells, Sensors,
Actuators, and emerging energy-related themes

The conference featured esteemed pioneers in the energy storage field, such as Prof. Michel Armand, Prof. Stefano Passerini, Prof. Maria Forsyth, Prof. Masayoshi Watanabe, and Prof. Vito di Noto.

Watch: Sri Gopi Receiving the Young Researcher Travel Award

Raj Kumar Thakur, a student of II M.Sc. Physics, Prasanthi Nilayam campus was awarded the second-best poster presenter at this year’s Summer School Program 2024 at the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Dept. of Atomic Energy, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

The project for his summer internship was titled “Axial Plasma Diagnostics of Fireball Plasma Using Langmuir Probe” under the supervision of Dr. Mukesh Ranjan (Scientific Officer-G). During this project, Raj Kumar gained hands-on experience in experimental plasma physics, including managing a vacuum system, generating fireball plasma inside the vacuum chamber, diagnosing the plasma using a Langmuir probe, and estimating plasma parameters.

The two-month Summer School Program, held annually for M.Sc. Physics and 3rd-year B.Tech. students also featured a week-long lecture series on plasma research. This series was conducted by IPR scientists, professors, the dean, and the director, covering fundamental plasma physics and its industrial applications. It included discussions on the “International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor” (ITER), a global mega project for developing a fusion reactor, in which India is a participant member.

Internships are a great way for students to gain practical exposure and learn from a real environment, and students at SSSIHL are encouraged to actively participate in internship programs as part of their curriculum.