News

As part of its ongoing extension and community outreach initiatives, the staff and students of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL), Anantapur Campus conducted a one-month skills enhancement programme for visually challenged students residing at the “Meenakshamma Inclusive Development Centre” a privately-run hostel in Anantapur.

This initiative was catalysed by Ms. Rama Devi, a visually-challenged alumna and a long-time resident of the Sri Sathya Sai Women’s Hostel, who brought to light the pressing need for skill development among this group. The Meenakshamma Inclusive Development Centre, managed by Smt. & Sri Venkata Narayana, a devout couple, provides accommodation and support to approximately 40 underprivileged girls—most of whom are fully visually challenged and currently pursuing intermediate or undergraduate studies.

The objectives were

• to provide basic computer literacy using assistive technology (talkback-supported systems)
• to develop spoken English and communication skills
• to create awareness among SSSIHL volunteers of the challenges faced by visually impaired students and to foster a spirit of selfless service

Planning and Preparation

A preliminary visit by the Director and a faculty team in April 2025 confirmed the feasibility and need for such a programme. Following this, a call for volunteers was made. Seventeen faculty members and research scholars came forward to offer daily training sessions, each lasting 90–120 minutes over four weeks. The programme was coordinated by Ms. K. Hemalatha, Asst. Director, Physical Education, with four rotating teams conducting sessions from 1st May to 30th May 2025.

Implementation

The programme was divided into two core modules:

• Computer Basics (using talkback): turning on a PC, navigating applications, typing in MS Word, creating resumes, and making PowerPoint presentations.
• Conversational English: confidence-building exercises, basic grammar and sentence structures, interactive speaking tasks.

The students were grouped into two batches that alternated between modules every three days to ensure focused attention and learning continuity.

Outcomes

• Students successfully gained the ability to operate a talkback-enabled desktop system, create documents and presentations.
• They showed marked improvement in spoken English; one student confidently delivered a vote of thanks in English on the concluding day.
• The programme significantly impacted both beneficiaries and volunteers.
• The experience deepened the volunteers’ appreciation for their own privileges and strengthened their resolve to serve society.

Future Directions

The visually challenged students and the management at the Centre have requested continued support. The campus aims to design a sustainable follow-up training module as part of its regular outreach activities, with the continued grace and inspiration of our Founder Chancellor Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Identifying the Issue

• Current titanium implants, though biocompatible, require surface treatments to improve early-stage bone integration and also to prevent bacterial adhesion causing conditions like peri-implantitis.
• High cost and complexity of typical implant surface treatments limit its accessibility, especially in lower economic settings, warranting the need for simpler and cost-effective methods

Objective of the Research

• Develop a low-cost surface treatment to improve implant to bone integration and minimize bacterial colonisation.
• Create a technique that’s feasible in clinical settings without complex equipment.

Who should read this?

• Dental and orthopaedic implant manufacturers
• Biomedical engineers
• Dental surgeons and clinicians
• Medical device R&D professionals

Solution

A dual alkali (NaOH and NH₄OH) etching was performed at room temperature on titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V). This treatment technique improved surface roughness and chemistry and the etched samples showed better osseointegration and bacterial resistance.

Key Features and Benefits

• Etching performed at room temperature, without the need for any special equipment
• Compatible with existing implant materials (Grade 5 titanium)
• Cost-effective, scalable, and clinically feasible
• Improved bone integration and promotes healing
• Minimises bacterial colonization

Impact

• 7× reduction in bacterial adhesion vs. as received grade 5 titanium
• Good hydroxyapatite formation within 1 week of soaking in SBF that proves ability for early-stage bone formation
• In-vivo studies show improved early osseointegration in 1 and 4 weeks of implantation
• Technique suitable for adoption in a clinical setting

Team

1. Sushmita Chettri (first author) (SSSIHL)
2. Deepa Seetharaman (Corresponding author) (SSSIHL)
3. Wei Zhu (Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences)
4. Huasi Zhou (Uppsala University, Sweden)
5. Håkan Engqvist (Uppsala University, Sweden)
6. Wei Xia (Uppsala University, Sweden)

Title of paper: “Dual alkali etching for osseointegration and reduced bacterial adhesion: a feasible alternative to SLA“

Read Paper Here: https://doi.org/10.1039/d4ma01223b

On 28 May 2025, the Sri Sathya Sai Research and Innovation Forum (SSSRIF) welcomed its inaugural start-up, Saimeethya Foods Pvt Ltd, founded by SSSIHL alumna Dr Sai Dharshini S (Food & Nutrition, Anantapur campus)

What they do:

Saimeethya Foods Pvt Ltd. offers millet-based, ready-to-eat products that transform under-utilised major and minor millets into convenient, daily foods. The formulations are validated for physicochemical quality, nutrition, and shelf stability by the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, SSSIHL.

The impact:

Despite their nutritional value, millets remain underused in Indian diets. Saimeethya changes that—offering ready-to-eat options that are practical, tasty, and aligned with our Founder Chancellor’s emphasis on healthful, indigenous foods.

The moment:

The incubation agreement was formally signed and exchanged by Prof. B. Raghavendra Prasad, Vice-Chancellor, SSSIHL and Chairman, SSSRIF, and Dr. Sai Dharshini, Founder of Saimeethya Foods Pvt. Ltd., in the divine presence of our revered Founder Chancellor on 28 May 2025 at Prasanthi Nilayam

Also present were Prof. Pallav Kumar Baruah (President, SSSIHL-IIC), Mr. Pavan Kumar T. L. (CEO, SSSRIF), Mr. N. L. S. Murthy, members of the IIC team, and several faculty mentors who helped shape the venture.

This milestone reflects our vision: to incubate ventures that nourish lives, respect natural resources, and carry Sai values into the marketplace.

Welcome, Saimeethya Foods. Let the grains—and the good—go far.

The Faculty Development Program (FDP) on Advances in Mathematical Modeling Techniques, AI/ML and Bioinformatics was organized online by the Centre for Excellence in Mathematical Biology (CEMB), SSSIHL, in collaboration with ISMMACS, from April 12–19, 2025, as part of the Sri Sathya Sai Centenary Celebrations. It brought together 72 participants—faculty, researchers, and students—from across India.

Over eight days, expert speakers from premier institutions worldwide delivered sessions covering key domains such as optimal control, parameter estimation, epidemiological modeling, delay differential equations (DDEs), stochastic modeling, bioinformatics, and scientific machine learning. The program balanced theory with hands-on training, using tools like Python, MATLAB, and JAMOVI to simulate real-world scenarios in population dynamics, disease spread, cancer research, and more.

Highlights included sessions on machine learning techniques like Extreme Learning Machines, cryptographic applications of graph theory, and hybrid modeling approaches combining AI and mechanistic models. Real-life case studies, such as modeling the effects of insecticides on crops or hereditary cancer diagnostics through bioinformatics, added practical value.

Participant feedback was overwhelmingly positive, praising the program’s interdisciplinary nature, clarity of instruction, technical depth, and smooth organization. Many appreciated the accessibility of complex topics and the provision of session recordings for continued learning. The FDP successfully enriched participants’ knowledge base and provided a robust platform for future research and collaboration in mathematical biology and computational modeling.

View detailed report:

The Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) successfully organized a one-day hands-on workshop titled “Attracting Investments for Research and Innovation” on 25 April 2025 at the Multimedia Learning Centre, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus.

The workshop comprised three interactive sessions and saw participation from over 50 attendees, including faculty members, research scholars, and students from all four campuses of SSSIHL.

Session I

Following the traditional Vedam chanting, the event commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by distinguished dignitaries:

• Dr. Anand Govindaluri, Guest Speaker and Founder & CEO, Govin Capital, Singapore
• Prof. B Raghavendra Prasad, Vice-Chancellor, SSSIHL
• Dr. Srikanth Khanna, Registrar, SSSIHL
• Prof. Pallav Kumar Baruah, Dean of Sciences and President of IIC, SSSIHL
• Dr. Raghunatha Sharma, Director, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus

Dr. B. E. Pradeep, IPR Coordinator, IIC-SSSIHL, delivered the welcome address, setting the tone for the day. The inaugural address was presented by Prof. B Raghavendra Prasad, Vice-Chancellor, who emphasized the significance of innovation, entrepreneurship, and the role of investment in scaling scientific research.

Ms. Premembika from the Anantapur Campus introduced the guest speaker. Dr. Anand Govindaluri then delivered a compelling keynote address on the topic, “Attracting Venture Capital Funding to Scientific Research and Innovations”. Drawing from over two decades of experience in venture investment and entrepreneurship, Dr. Anand shared valuable insights and inspiring real-world examples. The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, during which he provided in-depth responses to participants’ queries citing real-world cases and insights.

Watch the recording of Session I: https://www.youtube.com/live/p-Um1VMFpvc?si=MEZ8-FmAXMyC69MN

Session II

The second session was a closed-door hands-on workshop, where selected participants showcased their research and entrepreneurial ideas through a concise “One-Slide Presentation”. The participants included:

• Sai Darshini, Research Scholar, ATP campus
• Amrita Shaw, Research Scholar, ATP campus
• Mounika Pandey, Research Scholar, ATP campus
• Dr. Vishweshwar, Assistant professor, DCHEM, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus
• Dr. Murali Ravi, Assistant Professor, DPHY, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus

Each presentation received detailed feedback from Dr. Anand Govindaluri, who expressed a strong interest in two of the projects, noting their potential for commercialization and investment. This endorsement provided a major boost to the confidence and motivation of the participants.

Session III

The concluding session included another enlightening talk by Dr. Anand titled, “Social and Scientific Innovations and Investors’ Dilemma”, where he elaborated on the challenges and opportunities that innovators and investors face in the current global scenario.

An open house discussion allowed for a free exchange of thoughts, clarifications, and further learning. The event concluded with remarks by Dr. Murali Ravi, who appreciated the inspiring guidance provided by the speaker and the active participation of the attendees, followed by a vote of thanks and Mangala Aarathi.

Watch the recording of Session III: https://www.youtube.com/live/-KPq8k3at9g?si=11XjzVObQRfJaJFC

The workshop proved to be a highly impactful initiative, leaving participants better informed about the venture capital ecosystem and inspired to transform their research innovations into real-world solutions.

View Photos

India’s semiconductor journey is gaining remarkable momentum, and the 2nd Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) Symposium, held at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, was a shining testament to this national progress. Organised at the IIT Madras Research Park (IITMRP) in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), RISC-V International, and several leading industry partners, the symposium brought together policymakers, global experts, start-ups, academia, and industry leaders to accelerate RISC-V innovation in India.

Amidst this inspiring national landscape, students from the Department of Physics, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) have made a significant mark. As part of the DIR-V Technology Roadshow in December 2024, the department initiated a hands-on skill development programme with the support of Kunal Ghosh, CEO and Founder VSD & Anagha Ghosh, Director and Co-Founder, VSD. This programme trained students on the indigenously developed VSD-minisquadron RISC-V microcontroller, fostering a culture of innovation and application-based learning.

This training journey culminated in a first prize victory in the Hardware Track of the DIR-V Symposium Product Hackathon, held on 2nd March 2025 at IIT Madras. The award, which included a cash prize of ₹50,000, was presented by Former Union Minister Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras.

The winning team of enterprising B.Sc. Physics students — Akhil Thapa, Vardan Chettri, Prudhvi Sai Bharadwaj, Vishnu Dev, and Kabiraj Basnet, under the guidance of Dr. Sai Muthukumar V, Asst. professor, Dept of Physics, developed and demonstrated a dual-axis solar tracker prototype named “Heliosync360.” Their laboratory model showcased innovative application of RISC-V microcontroller technology, and was met with enthusiastic appreciation from the academic and scientific community at IIT-M.

The Department of Physics extends heartfelt thanks to the administrators of SSSIHL, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations (SSSO), and SSSO-Alumni for their continued support and encouragement.

The students humbly dedicated this achievement as an offering in the centenary year of our Revered Founder Chancellor, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, whose divine vision and values continue to inspire and guide their academic journey.

A delegation from Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL), Prasanthi Nilayam, comprising six members and led by Prof. Rani P L, Dean, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, Language & Literature, visited the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), Mysuru, on April 7 and 8, 2025. The visit was a follow-up to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two institutions in November 2023, aimed at advancing collaborative research and academic initiatives.

During the two-day visit, the SSSIHL team, which included faculty from the Departments of Education, Performing Arts, and Languages, held detailed discussions with AIISH’s Department of Special Education. Key focus areas included integrating music therapy into special education, assessing the effectiveness of ongoing online Djembe rhythm therapy sessions, and exploring the incorporation of special education strategies within SSSIHL’s human values-based curriculum.

A highlight of the visit was a spontaneous music session conducted by SSSIHL faculty members Shri Nishikant Barodekar (Tabla), Shri P. Sreenivas (Vocal), and Shri Sai Dutt (Mridangam) for over a hundred preschool children and their parents attending therapy at AIISH.

On the second day, the team toured the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) department to explore opportunities for academic contributions in application development. Simultaneously, researchers from SSSIHL’s Department of Languages engaged with faculty from AIISH’s Department of Sign Language to discuss frameworks for collaborative and impactful research.

Prof. Rani P L also held strategic meetings with Dr. Pushpavathi, Director, and Dr. Ramkumar, COO of AIISH, to further strengthen the proposed action plan. The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of both institutions to promote research that is socially relevant and aligned with the vision of SSSIHL’s Revered Founder-Chancellor Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

On 3rd April, the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning had the honour of welcoming an Indo-Japanese delegation to its headquarters in Prasanthi Nilayam. The SSSIHL leadership—including Vice-Chancellor Prof. B. Raghavendra Prasad, Registrar Dr. Srikanth Khanna, Controller of Examinations Dr. G. S. Srirangarajan, and other senior members warmly received the guests.

The visit commemorated the MoU between SSSIHL and the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), and served as a platform to explore deeper and broader collaborations in scientific research and academic exchange.

The distinguished delegation comprised: H.E. Mr. ONO Keiichi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to India and the Kingdom of Bhutan, Mr. Nakada Yosuke, Second Secretary (Cultural), Embassy of Japan, Mr. Sanjay Kumar Verma, Former Ambassador of India to Japan, accompanied by Mrs. Gunjan Verma, Mr. Ashok Ahuja, Protocol Escort Duty Official and SSSIHL alumnus and Mr. Ali.

Earlier in the day, the delegation toured the Central Research Instruments Facility (CRIF) and the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus. They interacted with the Deans, reviewed ongoing research initiatives, and discussed avenues for future collaboration.

SSSIHL expresses its sincere gratitude to the esteemed delegation for their visit and remains committed to strengthening such collaborative partnerships in the years ahead.

The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), UK. hosted the prestigious IFoA Industry–Academia Conclave at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL), Brindavan campus, Whitefield, in Bangalore on 21st March 2025.

This landmark event brought together over 100 students from six leading institutions —Christ University, University of Madras, B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, Institute of Actuarial and Quantitative Studies (IAQS), Institute of Insurance and Risk Management (IIRM), and the host SSSIHL—

It also welcomed eleven top organizations shaping the future of actuarial talent acquisition in India: Accenture, Swiss Re, Aon, Chubb, K.A. Pandit, CreditAccess Life Insurance Ltd., RSA Insurance, TransAsia Risk Advisors, KPMG India, PwC India, and Tech Actuarial.

Inaugural Ceremony

The event commenced with a sacred Vedam Chanting (Medha Suktam), and offering of prayers to the Goddess of Knowledge (Saraswati), followed by the traditional lighting of the lamp by Prof. B Raghavendra Prasad, Vice-Chancellor, SSSIHL, Mr. Vikas Newatia, President, IFoA, and Mr. Satya Sai Mudigonda, Lead, Center of Excellence in Actuarial Data Science, SSSIHL, along with other dignitaries from academia and industry.

In his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor highlighted the significance of actuarial growth in India, the university’s unique value-based integral education system, and notable achievements such as the CAS Gold Level Recognition and SoA Advanced Curriculum.

Ms. Katrina Thompson, President of IFoA, delivered an engaging town hall address, sharing IFoA’s vision for the future and fostering dialogue among academia and industry stakeholders.

Roundtable Discussion: The Future of the Actuarial Profession

An exclusive, invite-only roundtable discussion on “The Future of the Actuarial Profession”, moderated by Ms. Katrina Thompson, President of IFoA, held at the start of the day, set the tone for the event

The session featured insightful contributions from key industry and academic leaders, including:

• Industry Leaders: Vikas Newatia (IFoA India, CEO of RSA), Mr. Rohit Jain (Accenture), Ms. Megha Garg (Swiss Re), Ms. Smita Singh (Aon), Mr. Raghu Anjan (Chubb), Ms. Suruchi Bhargava (K.A. Pandit), Ms. Anjani Choudhary (CreditAccess), and Ms. Arunima Sinha (Chubb).
• Academic Leaders: Satya Sai Mudigonda (SSSIHL), Dr. Biju Toms (Christ), Dr. Mahadeo Ota (Crescent), Dr. M. R. Sindhumol (Madras University), Dr. V. V. K. Mohan (IIRM), and Mr. Aman Loharuka (IAQS).

Other attendees included Prof. Pallav Kumar Baruah, Dr. Rohan Yashraj Gupta, Dr. Priyanka Pandey, Mr. Niranjan, Dr. Darshan Gera, Mr. Arunachala, Mr. Sai Prabhakar, Ms. V. Aparna, and Mr. Sai Vinod.

Panel Discussion: Cyber Risk

A key highlight of the conclave was an insightful panel discussion on “Cyber Risk”, exploring the evolving challenges in managing cyber threats. The discussion examined the current role of actuaries in cyber risk, gaps in actuarial involvement in cyber risk management, and innovative strategies for small businesses to mitigate cyber threats.

Moderated by Ms. Katrina Thompson, the panel featured leading experts Mr. Suresh Balakrishnan (Strategic Risk Consultant, TransAsia Advisors), Mr. Sony Anthony (Partner and Head – Cyber Defense & Incident Response, Global Head – Cyber in Deals, KPMG India), and Mr. Thilak Pandiyan (Director – Cyber Security & Privacy, PwC India), who shared invaluable insights on cyber risk management and how actuaries can contribute to cyber risk assessment and mitigation.

Student Showcase: Career Opportunities in Actuarial Science

The Student Showcase session provided young participants a unique opportunity to interact with five leading actuarial organizations: Accenture, Swiss Re, Chubb, Aon, and CreditAccess Life. Representatives from these firms presented diverse actuarial career pathways, fostering meaningful discussions and equipping students with a comprehensive understanding of career prospects in the actuarial industry.

Conclusion & Acknowledgments

The conclave concluded with the universal prayer symbolizing unity and gratitude. We express our heartfelt gratitude to IFoA for hosting this impactful event at SSSIHL. Special acknowledgment goes to Vikas Newatia, Chunku Pani, Payal Prakash, and Dhanashree from IFoA for their exceptional efforts in making this conclave a resounding success.

View Photos