Prof. N. Sivakumar

Prof. N. Sivakumar, is the Director, Brindavan campus, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. He was the head of the department, Department of Management & Commerce from 2018-2020. He is the recipient of the Sai Krishna Award for Excellence in Research in 2011. He was the first Ph.D candidate in the Department of Management and was blessed with the doctoral degree in 1995.

Hridaya Brindavan – SAI

On the occasion of the 50th birthday celebrations of Bhagawan in 1975, Brindavan college had published a commemorative volume of experiences of its students. When students prayed to Swami to name the volume, Swami aptly christened it ‘Hridaya Brindavan’. 

On several occasions Swami later explained to the students the great truth about Hridaya Brindavan. “Even if you leave Brindavan after your studies, Hridaya Brindavan will never leave you”. 

Hridaya Brindavan, thus, represents the sacred bonding of every Sai student with their alma mater – SAI. The term SAI in this article has also been used as an acronym to represent:

S – Supreme | A – Alumni | I – Interface

Hridaya Brindavan is the supreme alumni interface that every alumnus must nurture for their own spiritual progress.

‘Supreme’ – Hridaya Brindavan 

Every Sai student can vouch that the time they spent at Brindavan (or any other campus) as a student is the most valuable and memorable time of their life. Recently, an alumnus from the 1970s visited Brindavan after a long time. He recalled the wonderful days he had spent at Brindavan as a student. He then elaborated, “I feel extremely satisfied with my visit. This visit has helped me to revisit those golden days of my life. I could recollect so much of my life at Brindavan – the hostel routine, my activities in the Gokulam, the science classes, the science laboratories, the playgrounds  – everything. Most importantly, I felt Swami enveloping me completely during my visit to Brindavan. I feel blessed and vibrant”. Similarly, several alumni who visited Brindavan during the golden jubilee celebrations in 2019 experienced a direct connection with Swami.

Having lived in the campus as a student, Hridaya Brindavan provides the supreme opportunity for every Sai student to recharge themselves regularly on the ideals laid by our dear Bhagawan. During the Benedictory Discourse on the Convocation Day, 22 November 2002, Swami addressed the students thus:

“Having completed your education, it is time for you to go back to your respective places, take up suitable jobs and serve your parents. Once in a while, you can come here to recharge your batteries. Otherwise, you may forget whatever you have learnt here. Your stay here becomes meaningful only when you practise what you have learnt here”.

Action points for the alumni: 

1. Alumni can take initiatives to plan regular visits to Brindavan campus, batch wise, for reconnecting and recharging. This can be planned on an organised basis for an entire batch rather than individuals or small groups of students planning their visits on their own. 
2. Alumni batches can plan a programme during their visits to Brindavan. This can include visit to Trayee, Bhajan session in Trayee, visit to Divya Smriti Digital Museum, visit to the campus, visit to the Super Specialty hospital and so on.

‘Alumni’ – Hridaya Brindavan 

Hridaya Brindavan facilitates each alumnus to remain a ‘Sai’ student rather than just being an ‘Institute student’. The parent of an alumnus was once blessed with an interview with Bhagawan. Swami started enquiring about the family members of the person. When the parent mentioned about the son who had studied in the Institute, Swami feigned ignorance of knowing him! The parent gave details of the time of study of the student. Swami then commented, “Was he really a ‘Sai’ student? He must have been an ‘Institute’ student”. Being a ‘Sai’ student is much more than being an ‘Institute’ student. Being a ‘Sai’ student means being committed to the ideals of Swami throughout one’s life.

Hridaya Brindavan can help each alumnus to remain a ‘Sai’ student always. Being a ‘Sai’ student means being proud of being associated with the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning and all its campuses.

Action points for the alumni:  

1. Each alumnus must ensure that their study at Brindavan (or any other campus) is clearly highlighted in their profiles. It has been observed that students highlight their several degrees from several institutions, but are reluctant to highlight their study in Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. To be a ‘Sai’ student is an extraordinary blessing which every alumnus must be proud of.
2. Having been blessed with a sacred education at Brindavan, it becomes the responsibility of every alumnus to ensure that the subsequent generations too benefit. Alumni must hold Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning as the first option of study for their own children. This is a true mark of being a ‘Sai’ student.
3. Every alumnus must speak about the Institute and the Sai Education system at every opportunity and stage they get. This could include speaking in Samithis, interacting with students in nearby schools/colleges wherever they live and social media posts. This will spread positive news about the Institute and encourage several students to explore the opportunity of studying in the Institute.

‘Interface’ – Hridaya Brindavan 

Once a teacher was speaking during a Trayee session at Brindavan. That day the teacher opted to speak on the topic of ‘talent’. During the opening remarks of the talk, the teacher said, “Talent is a gift of God”. Swami, who was intently listening to the talk, immediately objected to this sentence. The teacher attempted to explain to Swami and the audience how every person’s talent has been gifted by God. Swami did not seem satisfied with the explanation. The teacher and the audience then prayed to Bhagawan to give the correct explanation. Swami then declared, “Talent is not a gift of God. TALENT IS GOD”.

Hridaya Brindavan provides several opportunities to every alumnus to exhibit the God in them in the form of talents and directly offer them to Swami.

Action points for the alumni: 

1. Alumni can share their knowledge in various subjects with current students in the form of guest lectures in physical or virtual mode.
2. Alumni can share their wonderful experiences with Swami during Thursday moral classes.
3. Alumni can help in providing internship opportunities to current students at their workplace.
4. Alumni can act as mentors for current students and provide them guidance on various fronts.
5. Alumni can come to Brindavan and coach students in games, sports meet items, music, bhajan singing, brass band, artistic activities, dramatics, public speaking and so on.
6. Alumni can offer their work expertise to serve the campus. For example, recently an alumnus used his work expertise to prepare CAD generated layout of the entire Brindavan Campus buildings.

Hridaya Brindavan is thus a sacred bond between every alumnus and the alma mater. Let us pray to our Dear Lord to bless all of us to be near and dear to Him through Hridaya Brindavan.