Sri Madiyala Narayana Bhat

In the land of Alike, a town in the south-western part of Karnataka, there sprang up a self-illuminous germination soaked in spirituality and the passion to serve humanity, Sri Madiyal Narayana Bhat. Kindled by Gandhian philosophy and patriotism on one side, and lofty philosophical sensitivity on the other side, he was an epitome of spirituality in thought, word and deed.

The purity and sincerity of his spirit for serving his countrymen was so much so that, he himself transformed into a magnet attracting multitudes of youth to tread the noble path of service to humanity. With a sense of urgency to embark on good work, Loka Seva Vrinda was formed in the year 1960 under the direct guidance of Sri Madiyal Narayan Bhat along with his band of ardent commandos of service. He was popularly known to be the revered Mentor for many of his followers.

The depth of Narayana Bhat’s spiritual hunger and the steady burning flame in him to serve the country only deepened and shone forth with added luminescence, upon his encounter with Sri Sathya Sai Baba in the year 1962. Narayan Bhat nurtured an aspiration to set up free Schools all over Karnataka that would impart values-based education. He planted the seeds in Alike in 1963 and that expanded to Sathya Sai Vihar Campus, Sharada Vihar Campus, Vani Vihar Campus and Sri Sathya Sai Mandira – Madiyala. His efforts to spread values-based education further came up as schools at Muddenahalli in the Chikkaballapura district of Karnataka.

Sri Narayana Bhat had a grand vision for the emancipation of his countrymen. He wanted to build a missionary organisation under the name of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. On the 6th January 1976, Sri Narayan Bhat along with with some of his loyal servitors submitted to Baba the desire to offer Loka Seva Vrinda along with its group of educational institutions to him. Baba lovingly accepted. Only Baba knew, at that time, the grand plan that he concocted for the Loka Seva Educational Institutions. A good seed has to yield good fruits!

Today, there are about 37 Institutions, 23 Campuses spread across 17 Districts in the South Indian state of Karnataka, one district in the South Indian state of Telangana and one district of Tamil Nadu.