2011 1 Jan Edition
Prema Bandham ’96
“Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle Ka Nata Koi… Yu Hi Nahi Dil Lubha Ta Koi…”
Prema Bandham – the bond of love between Bhagawan and us has existed probably even before we came physically to Him. However, Prem Bhandam – an opportunity to come home to the Lord, was created by Bhagawan Himself exactly a year ago during last year’s alumni meet.
The batch of 1996 took permission from Bhagawan in March 2010 to come as a class in August. Bhagawan was gracious enough to permit them and blessed them with this message: Sevalo palgonandi, anni gunaaloo
vachi cheratayi (Perform Seva and all virtues will follow). Hence, a lot of Seva activities were planned. The batch renovated the higher secondary school library and improved the computer lab there. Further, a career counselling programme was initiated for the students. Lot of planning was done for the event itself. In fact, Bhagawan Himself enquired on the number of students attending and the preparations.
On the morning of 13 August the registration counter was opened. Slowly all the brothers along with their families started coming into the Ashram. The final count was 220 students along with their families.
An offering of group songs had been planned, but the music boys were apprehensive of the quality of the program – little did they know that it would be the most memorable offering of songs at the Lotus Feet. On the morning of the 14 they were permitted to conduct morning Bhajans. As they assembled again for the second practice session, good news came in that Bhagawan, out of his immense love, had permitted for a private session in the Bhajan hall for all. Everyone was overjoyed and the song practice session now had a renewed vigour – as a private session and close interaction with Bhagawan was all that they wanted. Wasn’t that the very purpose of them gathering in Prashanti Nilayam from across the globe? For the first time families of the alumni also joined in the practice.
It should be noted that they also rehearsed how to make way for Bhagawan if he comes between the lines. Rehearsals were also done for photo sessions to cut down the opportunity for any confusion in the evening. Definite instructions were given about the Dos and Don’ts so that the session would run without any hindrances and becomes truly memorable for all.
Bhagawan pleasantly surprised all by coming earlier at 4.30 pm itself. After the Darshan, He came into the Bhajan hall.
The joy, the expectations, the feelings of the heart – we all know what goes through the mind at such moments, but mere words are insufficient to describe such things. Once inside the hall, He went row after row blessing all and enquiring the names of all the children that were seated on their mothers’ laps. In fact, He appreciated some names. He collected letters from every one. He spoke to a lot of alumni, enquired about their jobs, health, family, and so on. He even spoke to some alumni who had not been able to visit in over 15 years. He went around blessing all for almost thirty minutes.
After that He went to the front of the Bhajan hall and cut the cake that was presented to Him. He also materialised Vibhuti for the alumni who offered the cake. The group songs then commenced. Four songs were offered to Bhagawan. The toughest song Madhura Mohana, which the students had fumbled over during the practice session, came out the best and it was a very emotional moment for Bhagawan and everyone in the hall. Bhagawan was pleased to see even the families joining in singing the songs. Many wives were so happy to have an opportunity to sing in front of Bhagawan. At the end of the three songs they requested Bhagawan to allow them to sing Humko Thumse Pyar Kitna. It was significant since this song was first sung by their batch. One may call it coincidence or providence that the song ended with the line ‘Adiye Prema bandhamu…’. At the beginning of every song, an alumnus went up to Bhagawan and presented Him the lyrics sheet. When Madhura Mohana was being sung, Bhagawan held the boy’s hand for a long time while reading the lyrics. It was a heavenly moment. During this song Bhagawan interacted quite a bit with one other alumnus and his family. Bhagawan also created a chain for him. Someone else from the group presented a small collage of Seva activities being done by alumni individually back home.
There were some from the batch who, for reasons beyond their control, were not able to make it to Parthi. A small visual presentation of these alumni and their families was made – it gave an opportunity for those brothers physically absent to at least come to Bhagawan’s physical presence, albeit just as a photograph. This video was sent to Bhagawan inside earlier and the feedback was that He was very happy to see it. In fact He replayed the clip and saw it again for more than eight minutes! Hence, the presentation was again made to Bhagawan.
Someone was covering the entire session by camera. In between the session, Bhagawan saw him and asked him to show the recording. Bhagavwan saw the recording and ensured that the recording was good so that the boys may carry the memories on the digital medium also. As it was time for Bhajans, Bhagawan instructed all go and sit in front of the dias to participate in the Bhajans. It was heartening to know that Bhagawan had instructed that place be kept for the alumni during the Bhajans. Throughout Bhajans, Bhagawan was looking in their direction and in the direction of the families. At the end of the Bhajan two of the brothers offered Aarthi and a rose to Bhagawan while three brothers got the Prasadam blessed by Bhagawan and started distributing them.
After the Aarthi Bhagawan looked in their direction and said in Telugu, “Bhojanam chesi malli repu randi” (Have dinner and return tomorrow).
Most of the boys didn’t read much into these words – it was a wonderful session that had just concluded. The next day was the 15th of August and many had planned to leave after morning Bhajans or during the day. All were extremely happy to have had a chance to be close to Bhagawan – the trip was a success. The current students had planned a drama in the evening on the occasion of Independence Day. It is not for no reason that is His grace is given adjectives like Immense and Ocean like. On the morning of the 15th , Bhagawan didn’t come for morning Darshan. In the afternoon He sent elders to address the alumni and their families.
During lunch, a very pleasant surprise was served. Bhagawan sent word once again asking the boys to assemble in the Bhajan hall that evening. It was unbelievable! The word was spread immediately and many started making calls to get back the boys who had left. In the afternoon at His residence the Lord too remembered His children. He remarked, “Ee roju birina darshananiku vellutanu. Pillalu vaala kutumbalato vacchinaru. Ee roju andaru vellipotaru” (Today I will go early for Darshan. My children have come along with their families. They will be going away so I want go and see them.)
Bhagawan came out by 4.30pm and after a long round came into the Bhajan hall from the rear. He went up to the front of the hall while blessings all, taking letters, and speaking to a few boys. It was pleasing to know that He spoke to the alumni who had worked to make the meet successful. Bhagawan first asked Prof. G Venkatraman to address all. After a brief talk by him all were wondering what was to follow. Suddenly everyone clapped and all hearts were filled with joy for Bhagawan had decided to speak to the boys. He spoke for nearly ninety minutes! He talked of how to lead an ideal family life – how to be a good mother, good wife, and good husband. He focused especially on the ideal of womanhood. The talk was so full of love and concern that most were moved – many had tears in their eyes. In fact at times Bhagawan Himself was moved. The boys just wanted to remain in that state forever – as a song goes – Make this moment eternal, we don’t ask for more. Bhagawan concluded the discourse with “I bless each and every one of you to lead an ideal, happy, and healthy life”.
After the discourse, an alumnus offered the group’s collective gratitude in the form of a small speech in Telugu. Everyone who understood the meaning of those words was moved to tears. The boy had to cut short his speech since he was overwhelmed with emotion and could not continue. After this,Bhagawan asked for Prasadam to be brought. Usually He touches the vessel from the top. On this occasion He put both his hands inside the vessel and ensured that all packets were blessed. He also asked for the distribution of Vibuthi Prasadam and His photo. Even here He put both His hands inside the basket and blessed all the packets.
The unforgettable trip came to an end… but probably it’s just the beginning for others to seek His Sannidhi and, touched by His Love work recharged as His instruments.
Jai Sai Ram!
SRI SATHYA SAI VIDYA VAHINI
The project
The Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vahini programme, officially inaugurated on Easwaramma Day (6th May 2010), is aimed at integrating values in an innovative way into the school curriculum. The project has a special place in Bhagawan’s mission as He christened the project ‘Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vahini’ – a name from His divine book.
This project seeks to reflect Bhagawan’s guidance through Education in Human Values (EHV) and connect the same to the school curriculum. It makes school education simpler, easier and much more innovative. It will also motivate students as the curriculum will be combined with human values and taught via animations, pictures, and multimedia technologies for grades from 6th to 10th standards in rural schools and semi-urban schools. Subsequently, the Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vahini programme, with EHV embedded into the school curriculum, will form the education system for Standards 1 to 12. Career counselling and vocational guidance will also be important components of the programme.
The alumni form the core team of the programme in India and are involved at every level – regional, state and city. There are over 50 alumni members involved in this divine initiative.
Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vahini programme will be implemented in 11 Sathya Sai Schools in as many states from next academic year & the Alumni would play a crucial role in its implementation as alumni in the following cities are already geared up:- Prashanti Nilayam, Mumbai (Maharashtra), Delhi (NCR), Chandigarh, Yamuna Nagar (Haryana), Shimla and Solan (Himachal Pradesh), Indore and Raipur (Madhya Pradesh), Vishakhapatnam and Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Bangalore and Muddanahalli (Karanataka), Kolkatta (West Bengal), Jamshedur (Jharkhand) and Tuli (Nagaland).
A distinctive highlight about the programme in Tuli (Nagaland) is that despite the absence of any Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samithi in this region, the alumni, with Bhagawan’s immense grace, will be able to implement the programme in this distant town.
The advantage of the Sai organization
The in-depth reach of the Sai organization at the grass-roots level through Seva carried out under various programs such as the SSSVIP (Sri Sathya Sai Village Improvement Program) brings a personal touch with the beneficiaries. This is essential in inculcating values and in ensuring the adoption of this model of education. It is clear through earlier experiments such as the Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow (ACOT) and our own EHV programs that although technology enhancements enable sophisticated teaching models including learner-driven collaboration mechanisms, the role of teachers is no less important. This is true especially in the case of
EHV, a lot of transmission of values happens through teachers who act as role-models by following Bhagawan’s principle of “Be, Do, Tell”. However, technology in value-based education provides enhanced learning with good teaching aids and does not substitute a teacher. So the value of the personal touch of organization members is immense.
The students from content recipient schools that are directly benefitted from this program can become agents of change in their neighbourhoods by actively participating in programmes such as SSSVIP. Another key value that the organization brings is the customization to the local conditions. It is important to address students’ socio-economic conditions to derive the complete benefit from this programme. For instance, some parents may be keen on their children helping make ends meet than in getting the educated. This might be due to their lack of understanding of the value of education or due to poverty. In this case, parent counselling and better employment opportunities through skill-enhancing programs and so on might be important. It is seen that many villages under the SSSVIP program have already gone through substantial changes due to the efforts of the organization and hence are good base for such project.
Workshop at Prashanti Nilayam (October 1-2, 2010):
The workshop was an eye opener for all participants. The two days were filled with technical discussions and presentations. The energy of the participants engulfed the surroundings – some of the participants were ready to forego food and sleep! On the second day, Bhagawan gave advised the participants, giving them a definite direction:
- Concentrate on young children.
- Work in smaller groups
- Make constant progress
Implementation at schools
Hari Uddhav Dhotre School, Pune: This school has been blessed to be the first recipient school of the Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vahini project in Maharashtra. The Go Live Ceremony took place on 15th December 2010.
The classroom in which the first value-based session was to be delivered to the students was spruced up and magnificent photographs of Bhagawan adorned the walls. The classroom was equipped with a computer system and peripherals. The classroom was fully occupied with around 40 students of class VII.
The chief guest, Shri Ramesh Sawant (State President of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation Maharashtra & Goa), initiated the ceremony by lighting the Lamp of Wisdom. The entire team of the Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vahini
Programme, along with trained teachers and EHV experts were present at the session.
The chapter which was taught was ‘Union Government – The Execution and the Judiciary’. Moral values were embedded in the lesson plan and it was seamlessly delivered to the students. EHV experts continuously observed the session.
Bovipalya Village School: This village school was blessed with the implementation of the Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vahini project for its students o n 1 8th D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 0 . S r i B N Narasimhamurthy inaugurated the ceremony by lighting the Lamp of Wisdom. He interacted with all the school teachers and with the village headman. In the afternoon, the project was inaugurated in the school classrooms by Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vahini team for all the school teachers and management.
A call to our brothers
So where can our brothers fit in all of this? Every helping hand takes us a step closer to the dream of living up to Bhagawan’s expectations and deserving the name He has given for this project. This is the time to take a plunge and make a splash!
Let us follow the noble dictum, “Arise, Awake and stop not till the goal is reached”. Keeping Bhagawan’s Vidya Vahini book as our guideline, let us make our Lord’s love flow to every child and to every man across the globe.
This will be our way to show gratitude to our Bhagawan.
