Sri Sathya Sai Balvikas, Punjab

SSSBV Alumni BenedictionCeremony - 2014

Date : 15-Jan-2014

Version : 1.1

Prepared By: Anupama Karan

Approved By: Minakshi Jhanaji / VK Kapoor

Report on National Annual Convention, All India BV Alumni, Jan 2014, Prashanthi Nilayam.

Aum Sri Sai Ram

The National Annual Convention of All India Bal Vikas Alumni and Group IIIStudents was held at Prashanthi Nilayam in the immediate Divine Presence ofBeloved Bhagawan on 4th and 5th January 2014.

With the Loving Blessings of Bhagwan Baba, about 35 students of Sri Sathya SaiBal Vikas, Punjab got a golden opportunity to be part of this Divine celebration ofJoy of Learning at Prashanthi Nilayam. These students came from the variousdistricts of Punjab including the districts of Batala, Ludhiana, Patti, Pathankot andTarn Taran.

Their participation was facilitated under the guidance of Smt Meenakshi Jhanji -State Education Coordinator, Smt Shalu Walia – State Joint Education Coordinator,Smt Mridula Bharadwaj – State EXAMINATION In-charge, Sri Saajan Sharma –State Education Working Group Coordinator, Punjab.

Sri Saajan Sharma and Sri Pankaj Gupta guided and organized this group ofparticipants across various events of the Convention.

The 2-day Convention was inaugurated in the morning of 4th Jan’14 atPoornachandra Auditorium, Prashanthi Nilayam. This was followed by music, talkand dance presentations by Bal Vikas Alumni from different States. From the Stateof Punjab, the Bhangra dance troupe comprising of Balvikas Students from Batalaperformed a Bhangra dance in the Divine Presence. They were trained and guidedby their Balvikas Guru – Sri Pankaj Gupta from Batala.

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A spirited performer from this group, Sri Munish Sharma performed despite hisserious Kidney ailment. The source of his faith and conviction was his fellowtroupe member Ishanth. Mr. Nimish Pandya, Vice President of Sri Sathya Sai SevaOrganisations, India, was awestruck at the conviction of these Balvikas Students.These boys were one of the samples of ‘stars in the making’ from the BalvikasMovement – which aims towards achievement and glory of the spirit.

A compendium comprising of reflections of journey in Sathya Sai Education wasplaced at Bhagawan’s Lotus Feet by Smt Kamala Pandya next, releasing the same.This compendium echoes the experience of many SSSBV alumni and Gurus, and isbased on the theme ‘Bal Vikas for Loka Vikas. The experiences of Sri RajanSharma from Patti and Group III alumni, Sri Puneet Gupta from Batala, a certifiedBV Diploma holder are also mentioned in this compendium.

The morning session concluded with Aarti to Bhagwan. Smt Shalu Walia wasblessed with the golden chance of performing Aarti to Bhagwan, on this auspiciousoccasion.

In the Evening session of 4th Jan’14, the participants got the opportunity to listen tothe inspirational speeches delivered by their peers, the blossoming buds of BalVikas from different States. This left the participants with a feeling of gratitude toBhagwan, for making them part of His Divine Mission. They also enjoyed theMusic and Dance performance by the Students and Little Masters of Bal Vikas.

The Benediction Ceremony was held on 5th Jan’14.

On this day, the participants had the great opportunity to listen to prolific speakersincluding Sri Nimish Pandya, National Vice President of Sri Sathya SaiOrganisations, the Chief Guest, Dr. Ajinkya Patil, Chairman of DY Group, Dr. SaiKumar, IAS, Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu, PWD, Rama sampath –Senior Balvikas Guru and main contributor to Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas MonthlyMagazine.

Sri Sathyam, an alumnus of SSSBV, Punjab was one of the blessed Alumnispeakers, who presented his speech in the Divine Presence. Beginning with thesloka Twameva Matacha Pita Twameva extolling Bhagawan, Sathyam related howthe Divine Force made him join the Bal Vikas and how his life changed for better,thereafter. He also spoke about how he learnt the concept of Ceiling on Desiresform his Mother, who is also a Bal Vikas Guru. He mentioned that the SSSBV hastaught him to practice ‘Service to Mankind is service to God’. He emphasized that

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passing the examination of Divine Diploma of Bal Vikas is not just to obtain thecertificate, but it helps to ‘pass through the exams of life’. He urged every parent tosend their children to Bal Vikas and spread the light of universal love in their lives.

It was a golden moment for the Group III Bal Vikas Students and those who wererecommended Diploma, to take Benediction pledge in the Divine presence. SmtNita Khanna, Deputy National Coordinator of Bal Vikas administered the pledge tostudents that if admitted to Diploma of Sathya Sai Education, the students willconduct themselves with upright character and righteousness.

11 students of Punjab, coming from the districts of Batala, Ludhiana and Patti, whotook part in the Benediction ceremony, were awarded the Diploma certificates.They received these certificates at Prashanthi Nilayam, in the Divine presence.

About 176 students of Punjab, hailing from districts of Batala, Jalandhar,Gurdaspur, Ludhiana, Patti, Pathankot, Sangroor and Tarn Taran who are qualifiedfor the Diploma degree will be awarded the Diploma Certificates at the State BalVikas Convocation planned to be held in the month of Oct 2014 at Punjab.

The Bhajan singers – Kum. Ishika Walia, Kum. Akshitha Sachdeva, Sri Pundarikand Sri Utkarsh derived immense joy as they sang in the Divine presence,presenting some beautiful convocation songs and bhajans. They were among theselected few from different States, who got this opportunity to do group singing inthe Divine Presence at Sai Kulwant Hall, Prashanthi Nilayam

All the participants were blessed to get group photographs in Divine Sannidhi, atSai Kulwant Hall. They felt blessed to be part of this historic movement and grandcelebration.

Sri Saajan Sharma, one of the selected 24 ‘Outstanding Alumni of SSSBV India’,actively participated in the conference organized for this explicit group at thePrashanthi Digital Studio, Prashanthi Nilayam. He had one-one interaction with SriK. Chakravarthi, Trustee, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust.

Mr. Rajesh Bharadwaj, State Sai School Coordinator from Patti, contributed a sumof INR 42,000/- towards this ceremony.

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The Benediction Ceremony banner was designed by Smt Anupama, a member ofsssbv , Punjab. Banners, Balloons and Albums were offered for the event.

On the whole all the participants of these Divine celebrations have had upliftingexperience. They have been energized, motivated and transformed. They wish toinculcate human values in daily life and work and be a part of Sai’s mission.

All through it is ‘Sai Sankalpa’ at work. We offer our humble Pranams andgratitude to Swami, our Beloved Bhagwan, who out of His immense love has givenus this opportunity to be part of His mission.

Our sincere and special thanks to:

Sri V.K Kapoor, State President, Sathya Sai Seva Organization, Punjab,

Sri Maninder Singh, State Vice-President, Sathya Sai Seva Organization, Punjab,

Sri Rajesh Bharadwaj, State Sai School Coordinator, Punjab

Ms. Pushpa Aggarwal, Ex-Bal Vikas State Education Coordinator, Punjab

Sri P.D Arora - State Education Coordinator, Gents, Punjab

All the SSS Bal Vikas Gurus, Punjab

All the District presidents of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization, Punjab.

Once again humble Pranams and Salutations to Bhagwan!

“Samastha Loka Sukhino Bhavanthu”

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