22 November, 2025 – Prasanthi Nilayam, Andhra Pradesh, India:
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL), a Deemed to be University, held its 44th Annual Convocation on 22 November 2025 at 4 p.m. at the Poornachandra Auditorium, Prasanthi Nilayam, Andhra Pradesh, in the Divine Presence. This year’s Convocation holds special significance as it coincides with the Centenary Year of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba and forms an integral part of the ongoing Centenary Celebrations at Prasanthi Nilayam
SSSIHL was privileged to have Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan as the Chief Guest for the event and Sri N. Chandrababu Naidu, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh as the Guest of Honour. Additionally, the event was graced by Sri Nara Lokesh, Hon’ble Minister for Human Resources, IT & Electronics, and Real-Time Governance, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh.
In keeping with tradition, the ceremonial procession—led by the Institute brass band and the Registrar bearing the mace and the Institute insignia—featured the Chief Guest, Guest of Honour, Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Controller of Examinations, Deans, and members of the SSSIHL Public Charitable Trust, Executive Council, Academic Council, and Finance Committee, as they proceeded towards the dais at the Poornachandra Auditorium.
The event commenced with the National Anthem upon the arrival of the dignitaries onto the stage, which was followed by the invocatory Veda chanting from the Taittriya Upanishad. The Convocation was declared open in the Divine Voice of the Revered Founder Chancellor, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, at the request of the Vice-Chancellor.
In his welcome address, Prof. B. Raghavendra Prasad, Vice-Chancellor, took great delight in welcoming the Hon’ble Vice President of India, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and the Hon’ble Minister for Human Resources, IT & Electronics to the 44th Convocation of the Institute.
He then outlined the Institute’s progress during 2024–25—a year of transformative growth guided by Bhagawan’s vision and supported by the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust. He highlighted substantial advancements across academics, research, innovation, and global engagement. Research expenditure grew by 18%, while publications and academic activities rose by 68%. SSSIHL earned over 100 awards—the highest in its history—including national and international recognitions for AMRx® technology. The Institute also retained its prestigious CAS Gold Level and SOA UCAP Advanced accreditations.
The Vice-Chancellor underscored the expansion of global partnerships through 25 new MoUs, strengthened collaborations with institutions including Rutgers University, TIFR, Manipal Institute of Virology, the University of Essex, and Johannesburg Business School, as well as advancements in student wellness, digital HR systems, a 950-teraflop high-performance computing facility, and enhanced internship and placement outcomes enabled by the Placement Cell and Alumni network. He also highlighted the significant contributions of the Centres of Excellence—CADS, CEMB, the Centre for Sustainable Development, and the Centre for Sri Sathya Sai Studies—and the efforts of the newly established Sri Sathya Sai Research and Innovation Foundation. “This year, the Ministry of Education recognised SSSIHL as a Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems—a distinction of great honour and responsibility,” he noted.
This was followed by the felicitation of the Chief Guest, the Guest of Honor, and the Minister, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh. The grand ceremony then saw the Hon’ble Chancellor, Sri K Chakravarthi, IAS (Retd.), admit 510 graduands to their degrees followed by the convocation pledge administered by the Vice-Chancellor.
Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan awarded the Gold Medals to 20 students who achieved distinction in various disciplines. 14 doctoral research scholars were conferred their Ph.D. degrees.
In his address, Hon’ble Minister Sri Nara Lokesh emphasised that “greatness is achieved through character and not through comfort.” He commended SSSIHL for nurturing graduates of character, compassion, and purpose, and for its unwavering commitment to values-based, holistic, and multidisciplinary education. Lauding the Institute as an ethical benchmark aligned with NEP 2020, he urged students to lead with courage, serve with compassion, and contribute to building a stronger India.
Addressing the gathering, Sri N. Chandrababu Naidu, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, reflected on the enduring relevance of the Sri Sathya Sai Siddhanta. Quoting Bhagawan — “The first medium of instruction is Love, and the 1-2-3 language is Service, Service, and Service”—he encouraged students to live by these values. He highlighted India’s future promise across emerging sectors such as AI, quantum computing, aerospace, and defence, and urged students to contribute to national and global welfare through technology, innovation, and service.
In his Convocation Address, Hon’ble Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan expressed deep gratitude for being part of what he described as a sacred and unforgettable occasion. Commending SSSIHL’s unwavering commitment to discipline, excellence, and timeless values, he praised the tradition of conducting the Convocation unfailingly on 22 November each year. He lauded the students’ exemplary discipline and the Institute’s Gurukula-inspired model of free, values-based education. Calling for greater investment in multidisciplinary research, he urged youth to embrace global ideas while remaining rooted in India’s culture and values. Encouraging students to “live for others while living for themselves,” he reminded them that responsibility, integrity, and service must guide their lives.
This was followed by the Divine Benediction of our Revered Founder Chancellor, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. In His discourse, Bhagawan reminded students that while modern education expands knowledge of the external world, true wisdom emerges from Self-knowledge. Real education, He said, lies in drawing out innate virtues—love, compassion, forbearance, and kindness. Degrees and wealth cannot confer peace; only virtue can. He urged students to honour their parents, cultivate noble qualities, choose good company, and allow compassion to guide their lives.
A key highlight of the event was the inauguration of the Sri Sathya Sai Biobank & Research Hub by the Hon’ble Vice President of India. The state-of-the-art facility located in Prasanthi Nilayam, is poised to significantly strengthen the nation’s capabilities in biomedical research and innovation, AI-enabled predictive healthcare, diagnostics and therapeutics, biosimilar development, and both national and global research collaborations.
The event concluded with the National Anthem and Mangala Aarati.
View the recording of the 44th Annual Convocation of SSSIHL: https://www.youtube.com/live/ub9eEVvgtBk