As Educator

Sai as an Educationist is par excellence. He is undoubtedly the greatest educationist the world has ever known. Being Divinity itself Baba had already revealed His awareness of the problem that has been plaguing our educational system since centuries when He started Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vihar in 1968 which became Bal Vikas in 1970 and Lok Vikas (Education in Human Values) in 1981. Many commissions at the national level had grappled with the problem of plugging the lacunae in the system with little result. Baba summarised beautifully in one sentence the purpose of education not only in India but anywhere in the world, for humanity is one single community. He said:

"The educational system of a country is the bank on which the nation draws a cheque whenever it requires strong, reliable, skilled workers. If it goes bankrupt… it is a national disaster. If the system is overhauled and lubricated the next generation is assured of good leaders and, what is equally essential, good followers."

If that is the purpose, then the only answer would be the overhauling of the system so that the products could be Total Men - men of integrity, reliability and character. Our present system may be near perfection in the sphere of secular education, but certainly lacks something to make it wholesome and universal. It has head and body but miserably lacks heart and soul. And here comes Sri Sathya Sai Education for its rescue.

Baba's Bal Vikas and EHV Programmes (now called 3HV - Head, Heart and Hand) have made tremendous impact in the field of education inside and outside the country. His theory of 'catching them young' in their plastic age of six to fourteen is yielding rich dividends. Scientists have proved that moulding of all the faculties of a child in this age group will prove to be a boon for solving the ills of today's society. And if it is charged with a spiritual touch the result would be far more beneficial. Because faith in God who is the indweller of every being is bound to act as a catalyst providing sufficient fuel to the development of every human faculty.

Bhagawan translates 'Vidya' as 'Higher learning'. It is the 'unfoldment of the latent sublime energy already in the human being, namely divinity'. Education must help an individual to cultivate an awareness of his genuine nature - the atmic nature. An eminent educationist and the former Vice-chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning observes, against this background, that,

"The integration of the intellectual (knowledge), physical (skill), emotional (balance), psychic (insight or vision) and spiritual (identity or oneness) aspects of human personality with values will develop an individual into a complete man. This is the fundamental aim of education…."

The high-powered core group appointed by the national Planning Commission observed in 1992 that:

"There is an organic link between the Human Values and human personality. Mental happiness comes from peace, peace comes from love, love is linked with non-voilence, non-violence is the outcome of righteous conduct, righteous conduct without truth cannot be thought of. One human value without the other has no meaning."

The core group also agreed and endorsed the regrouping of 84 sub-values identified by NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) into five basic core universal human values such as Truth, Righteous Conduct, Peace, Love and Non-Violence. It also recommended for the preparation of the suitable learning material besides pedagogical strategy so as to contain the evil effects of pollutants in India's social environment.

Bhagawan's Bal Vikas and Education in Human Values programmes have thus been instrumental in bringing out a revolution in the educational system of the country within sight. The practical applicability of his educational programme is well demonstrated in schools and colleges associated with His great Name where the 'medium of instruction is discipline, the first, second and third language being Love, Service and Sadhana.' The Divine Master exhorts to the whole student community of the world:

"Begin like a lamp at home, carry the light outside, become a street light serving as an example and guiding others. Emulate the pole star which is a light unto the world".

This certainly does not mean it is all work and no play in the Campuses of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning or in the schools. The annual sports on 11th January every year has come to stay as a celebrated event that exudes Divine charm. The Presence that makes the event a unique one also draws the best in youngones. Watching the spectacular display of physical fitness and mental balance one will be dumbfounded to see the otherwise submissive, docile and unusually quiet students of Anantapur campus performing breathtaking acrobatics with enviable precision and incredible accuracy. The whole stadium reverberates with rapturous applause drawn from spellbound audience. The boys of Bangalore and Prashanti Nilayam Campuses stand a challenge to anyone in the field anywhere in the student world. Wherefrom they draw such inexhaustible -stamina? The answer is visible there itself. One cannot but exclaim 'fantastic!' when the fledglings - the heroes of Primary school - parade their skills in every discipline in line with their elder brothers and sisters. And love, discipline and order throughout are the ruling factors that make the event a unique one.

A question is often asked as to how the students find time for their studies (most of them with 80% marks and above) when they have a very tight schedule from 5 am. to 10 pm. including sittings for Darshan and bhajans for at least a few hours every day (the Primary school children attending such sessions twice a week) and more than that on special occasions? The answer is obvious. The tight schedule for a meaningful and purposeful daily routine is the answer. Their energies are harnessed to converge on useful activities only. Their minds are not allowed to flit from one object to the other and thus dissipate the god given energy. They have their minds for themselves with no harmful diversions. And what is more important is the Divine energy that they absorb everyday which can transmute even a mediocre into a fine piece of intellectual with added qualities of heart and hand