National Acclaim Rooted in Values: How a Sai Alumnus Earned India’s Top Teaching Award
With deep gratitude to Bhagawan, I fondly recall my years at the Sri Sathya Sai Educational Institutions — both school and the institute — and how the lessons learned therein remain the cornerstones of my professional and personal life. Long after graduation, the values, guiding principles, and discipline cultivated then continue to shape my decisions, relationships, and aspirations. I’m certain I speak for many alumni when I say this becomes even more evident as we view life in the rearview mirror.
Rooting Expertise in Values
As a researcher and academician, I’ve come to realize that while technical expertise is essential, it is not sufficient by itself. A career built on values, empathy, and purpose is what stands the test of time. At our alma mater, this principle wasn’t just taught — it was lived. Swami’s teachings, interwoven into every aspect of campus life, constantly reminded us that academic excellence must be paired with character. This idea has remained central in my own life, influencing how I approach academic tasks like teaching, mentoring, or collaboration.
Human Side of Professional Growth
“Man management is My subject.”
Swami often said these words. While I didn’t fully grasp their depth then — especially not being from a management background — I understand their universal relevance now. Growth in any profession depends as much on how we relate to people as it does on how well we perform. Success in any field, including academia, thrives when combined with empathy for subordinates, harmony with peers, and a balance of humility and self-confidence when engaging with superiors. These were not abstract lessons at SSSIHL — one was made to imbibe these every day.
Our Beacons
The teachers at the Sai institutions are always a constant source of inspiration, blending commitment to academic excellence with deep moral responsibility. They lead by example, combining technical competence with values of love, sacrifice, and service. It is humbling when they gleefully continue to cheer the successes of each alumnus as their own. They stand as living proofs of Swami’s vision that education is not merely the transmission of knowledge, but the cultivation of minds and hearts.
Balancing Multiple Roles
Finally, success in any profession is not about doing one thing well but balancing multiple facets — sometimes ones that conflict — and bringing them together meaningfully. In my experience in academia, this can include diverse tasks such as pedagogy, ideation, mentoring, and communication. Be it the Sports Meets, Vedam, speeches in Bhagawan’s presence, music, or hostel service activities, SSSIHL’s emphasis on all-round development equipped us with the scaffolds — some tangible, some even intangible — to handle diverse roles effectively.
Studying at the Sai institutions was not merely a chapter in my education — it was the foundation. For this, I remain eternally grateful to Swami and to the teachers — their influence continues to shape how I live, serve, and grow each day.
– Prof. Vineeth N. Balasubramanian, IIT Hyderabad
Alumnus, SSSHSS (1994-96) and SSSIHL (1996-2003)
(Brother Vineeth is one of the two professors from Hyderabad and among 21 faculty nationwide selected for the National Award to Teachers (NAT). The award recognizes excellence in teaching, innovation, outreach, and research impact.)