Day 1(26 July 2026): A Clarion Call for Inner Awakening
The Summer Course in Bharatiya Culture and Spirituality 2026 commenced on 26 July 2026 at the Poornachandra Auditorium, Prasanthi Nilayam, marking the beginning of three days of reflection, inspiration, and self-transformation. Instituted by Revered Founder Chancellor Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba in the early 1970s, the Summer Course remains a distinctive feature of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, nurturing students through a harmonious blend of academic excellence, character development, and spiritual wisdom.
The inaugural session was graced by Sri K. Chakravarthi, IAS (Retd.), Chancellor, SSSIHL; Prof. B. Raghavendra Prasad, Vice Chancellor, SSSIHL; Dr Srikanth Khanna, Registrar, SSSIHL; Sri R. J. Rathnakar, Managing Trustee, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust; along with senior members of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL), Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust (SSSCT), Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations (SSSSO), and the Sri Sathya Sai Global Council (SSSGC), reflecting the collective commitment of these institutions to Bhagawan’s vision of integral education.
Centred on the theme “Antar Jāgaraṇa – Inner Awakening: The Guiding Light in Life’s Journey,” the inaugural session brought together students, faculty, staff, and distinguished speakers to reflect on the deeper purpose of education and the transformative journey from knowledge to wisdom.
The programme commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp, followed by Invocatory Vedam chanting by students of the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus, invoking divine blessings for the successful conduct of the course.
Welcoming the gathering, Dr Srikanth Khanna, Registrar, SSSIHL, reminded students of Bhagawan’s profound declaration that education is the process of drawing out the divinity already present within. He emphasised that the five cardinal human values—Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Love and Non-violence—cannot simply be taught through textbooks but must blossom from within through sincere effort and practice. Encouraging students to harmonise academic excellence with spiritual depth, he urged them to awaken their inner light, for only an illumined individual can become a source of light for the world.
Setting the context for the three-day course, Dr G. S. Srirangarajan, Co-Chairperson, Centre for Sri Sathya Sai Studies and Controller of Examinations, SSSIHL, unfolded the significance of Antar Jāgaraṇa through the evocative symbolism of a lamp. He likened knowledge to the flame, humility to the oil, self-confidence to the wick, skills to the light, and the Summer Course to the spark that ignites the process of self-discovery. His address beautifully illustrated that true education culminates not merely in intellectual accomplishment but in inner transformation.
The Inaugural Address was delivered by Sri R. J. Rathnakar, Managing Trustee, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, who fondly recalled his own years as a student in Bhagawan’s divine presence. Reflecting on Bhagawan’s unique vision of integral education, he explained that every Sai student learns through three sacred classrooms represented by the acronym HIM—the Hostel, where one learns discipline and harmonious living; the Institute, where knowledge and academic excellence are pursued; and the Mandir, where devotion, culture, and spirituality become living experiences. Encouraging students to embrace lifelong learning, he affirmed that through sincere sadhana, perseverance, and continuous practice, no goal is beyond one’s reach.
The morning session concluded with an inspiring keynote by Sri Amol Anil Muzumdar, Head Coach of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team, on “Inner Awakening and Inner Resilience – Samatva (Equanimity) and Sthiratā (Steadfastness) of the Mind.” Drawing upon experiences from the world of international sport, he presented resilience not as the absence of challenges but as the strength to refuse to let adversity define one’s life. Quoting the timeless teaching of the Bhagavad Gita, “Karmanyevadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana,” he reminded students that while effort always lies within one’s control, outcomes do not. Comparing life to a game of cricket, he observed that true success is measured not by the runs one scores but by the number of lives one positively influences.
The afternoon featured an engaging and interactive case study presentation and panel discussion titled “Choosing Śreyas (Lasting Good) over Preyas (Instant Pleasure): Lessons from Naciketā.” Moderated by Sri Rajeev Rajan, Assistant Professor, Department of Management and Commerce, SSSIHL, the panel comprised Sri S. Sai Manohar, Asst. Professor, SSSIHL, Dr Yadusree K. P., Asst. Professor, SSSIHL, Sri T. S. Balaramachandran, Senior Vice President – Human Resources, HDFC Bank, and Sri Siddharth S. Bhatt, Senior Vice President – Business Excellence & Ethics, Tata Capital Ltd. Through insightful discussions rooted in the Katha Upanishad, the panel explored the timeless dilemma between immediate gratification and enduring good, encouraging students to cultivate discernment in making life’s choices.
The evening programme at Sai Kulwant Hall commenced with Vedam chanting, followed by the Samāna Sūktam rendered by students of the Brindavan Campus. A concise summary of the day’s proceedings was presented by Sri Sai Siddhanth Botta, II M.B.A., SSSIHL. The day’s activities concluded with a Bhajan Workshop conducted by Sri S. Ravi Kumar (SSSIHMS) and the Prasanthi Bhajan Group, providing students with an opportunity to deepen their understanding and appreciation of devotional music as an expression of inner awakening.
The inaugural day of the Summer Course thus set a profound and inspiring tone for the days ahead, inviting every participant to look within, cultivate resilience, choose the path of Śreyas, and embark upon the lifelong journey of Antar Jāgaraṇa—the awakening of the divinity that Bhagawan taught resides within every human being.
