Write + Right: Bringing the Heart into the Art of Education
"Education is not merely for earning a living; it must equip the student to live a fuller, meaningful and purpose-driven life. Providing gainful employment is not the only goal of education. The fostering of sterling character and good conduct through education is what the world needs” - Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Education in India is a term that has a broader connotation. Education is considered not just a way to gather knowledge but also a means to enrich one’s thought. It is to the credit of our rich ancient systems that educational opportunities are available at the informal as well as the formal level.
From the third century BC when education was imparted verbally by sages and scholars to the emergence of the gurukul system that fostered a tradition of the teacher-student relationship, from the emergence of madrasas as well as institutions of higher learning in the medieval period to the era when the foundation of modern education was laid in the 18th century, education in India has evolved through the ages until it was declared a basic human right in 1952.
Echoing the ethos of secular learning and the belief that “education is for all”, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba initiated a quiet educational reform that was all-encompassing and holistic.
Starting from the grassroots up, Bhagavan Baba’s concept of education took seed with the National Bal Vikas movement. Shortly thereafter, the Sri Sathya Sai College for Women was inaugurated by Bhagwan at Anantapur in 1968. It was the beginning of a larger movement on the education front and a significant move that answered several needs of the country: quality education beyond geographical barriers, value-based, integrated education and women empowerment. And today, five decades later, the Sai system of education includes weekend SSE classes, fulltime Sai schools in India and abroad and a multiple campus Sai university with the coveted AAA+ rating from the National Assessment and Accreditation Committee of the Government of India. No wonder then, the Sai model of education has educators, policy pundits and parents riveted to its success. Since then, the Sri Sathya Sai System of Education has gone miles and is now taking a big leap towards inclusive education. The Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vahini will use the medium of technology to meet the educational needs of millions of children who remain deprived of this basic right.