Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence hosted Vice-Chancellors from across India
Revolutionising the Higher Education Sector by Humanising its Approach
Sathya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli | 08 & 09 July 2025
50 Vice-Chancellors from leading Indian Universities across 15 Indian States gathered for a confluence that was organised by Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence at a remote village, which has gained global acclaim in the small town of Chikkaballapur in Karnataka. Sathya Sai Grama at Muddenahalli village, which is about 30 minutes from the Bangalore International Airport, is an international hub, that shines like a star in a cloudy sky, giving light and love to millions of people from around the world, through its humanitarian services of Nutrition, Education, and Healthcare that are offered completely free of charge to all.
Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence is in fact one of its many shoots that offers the fruit of true education at the higher education level, completely free of charge to its students. True education is defined by this University as that which caters not only to the intellectual growth of students, but also to their mental, emotional, and more importantly their spiritual growth. Thus, the University is founded on the principles of imparting holistic education that caters to the body, mind and soul of every student, only to make them brilliant, competent and compassionate—all at the same time.
It is in this context that the University organises several conferences and events at the national and international levels to galvanize collective momentum to achieve common goals. With an objective of improving the quality of higher education by infusing and strengthening the ‘Values-Based Education’ component in them, the University organised an All India Vice-Chancellors Conference in February 2025 on the theme ‘Values-Based Education in the Indian Context’ under the guidance of its Founder Chancellor, Sri Madhusudan Sai. The conference attracted university leaders from 18 States, including 44 Vice-Chancellors from 50 Universities. Buoyed with the positive feedback and deep appreciation for this Conference from the participants, the University continued its efforts towards revolutionizing the higher education system of the country by launching the second edition of All India Vice-Chancellors Conference that was held on 08 and 09 July 2025, with the theme ‘Humane Education for a Better World.’
An education that not just loads the mind with information, but also nurtures the heart with compassion is the need of the hour. Humans are meant to be humane in the first place, before pursuing progress high up the ladder of achievements and advancements. It is imperative to pause and ponder over this, especially at the crucial junction of higher education, so that the providers of higher education are able to contribute to a better world through its students, who will be sources of strength, character, nobility, respect, kindness and compassion.
This second edition of the All-India Vice-Chancellors Conference 2025 forged a powerful confluence of academic leadership who contributed to the think tank of humane education for creating a better world.
‘Sri Sathya Sai Bharath Samskriti Samman’, a ceremony to honour the vedic tradition of India was held as part of the Inaugural Session of the Conference. The Samman chose the best vedic student, the ideal vedic teacher, and the best vedic pāthaśālā or gurukulam across the country, and awarded them with a cash prize, citation and medal, in an effort to encourage vedic learning and foster vedic culture.
The Best Vedic Student Award was conferred upon Ved Murti Durgesh Mukund Dhase from Pune, Maharashtra. A dedicated scholar of the Samaveda – Ranayani Shakha, Durgesh has mastered rare Vedic recitations and received accolades from prestigious institutions like Sringeri Sharada Peetham and Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. The award was presented by Venerable Niwathapa Thero.
The Best Vedic Teacher Award was presented to Professor Ganesh Ishwar Bhat, Head of the Department of Advaita Vedanta at the Rajiv Gandhi Campus of Central Sanskrit University, Sringeri. A distinguished scholar and guide to doctoral students, Prof. Bhat has made significant contributions to Vedantic studies and Sanskrit literature. The award was handed over by Prof. Rajasekharan Pillai.
The Best Vedic Institution Award was bestowed upon Veda Vijnana Gurukulam, Chennenahalli, Karnataka, founded by Prof. Ramachandra Bhat. Known for its blend of traditional Vedic education and contemporary learning, the Gurukulam is deeply committed to discipline, devotion, and community outreach.
Another notable feature of the session was the announcement of the BHU Scholarships under the University's collaboration with Banaras Hindu University and the Bharath Adhyayan Kendra. Through this MoU signed in 2022, 100 students from BHU receive an annual scholarship of Rs. 25,000 each to support their Indic studies. A heartfelt video from the beneficiaries was played, and Dr. Sadashiv Dwivedi from BHU collected the scholarship certificates from Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai on behalf of the students.
The session also witnessed the formal release of a pioneering publication titled “Humane Quotient (HUQ)”, authored by Prof. Thotathri Venu Gopal and Sai Krishna Rachiraju. This book introduces a psychometric self-assessment tool to evaluate eight key human values—Selflessness, Empathy, Integrity, Acceptance, Responsibility, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity. It offers a unique framework to understand the evolution of care from personal well-being to universal compassion.
Handapangoda Niwathapa Thero, a Buddhist Monk who is renowned for his teachings of Theravada Buddhism, particularly in Sri Lanka, attended the event and addressed the Vice-Chancellors thus: “Dear Vice-Chancellors, you are navigating the world for your students. You have dedicated your life to students and their life. While you have trained so many students, it will make a big difference if you can look at inculcating values and righteousness in them, to create a better world. The youngsters of today are educated, but they are vexed and frustrated. It is only through inculcating values and teaching them humaneness that we can add value to their lives. When Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai met me at Sri Lanka, I felt it was a divine call because we had the same purpose and that is to awaken the world to the ideal of ‘vasudhaiva kuṭumbakam.’ This message will pass through you, the educators, to our children. I am here to help Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai achieve this goal.”
Dr V N Rajasekharan Pillai, the Vice-Chancellor of Somaiya Vidyavihar University said, “The Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence is where I see humane excellence, and not just human excellence. Today’s education is imparting knowledge and skills to the students, but they must also teach them how to apply the knowledge and skills to the society. Learning includes the process of unlearning too. Unlearning means to give up all prejudices. It is only through humane education, that we can achieve human excellence.”
Sri Madhusudan Sai, the Founder Chancellor of the Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence said, “At the Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence, education is not just for living, but it is for life. It is a journey within, and not without. Character is the end goal of education – it is the ability to do the right thing always – both in good and bad situations. We are in a very poignant moment where it is time to think if we can realign to embrace humane education? Contextualising education to humanise education is very important. He is truly educated who has the heart of Buddha (compassion), the head of Shankara (brilliance), and the hands of Janaka (serving the society). May we work together, flow together and reach together to humanise and divinise education.”
