​Photos: National Balavikas Convention Prashanthi Nilayam

Prasanthi Nilayam: A rare privilege of being ‘Complete Balvikas’ have been conferred upon hundreds of Balavikas students this morning in the third and penultimate session of the ongoing 4th National Balavikas Convention here, in Prasanthi Nilayam.

The session commenced at 0820 hrs with a Band procession that was followed by a procession of Balavikas gurus, students and office bearers escorting the symbolic ‘Wand Of Transformation’, entering the Sai Kulwant Hall. A song of adoration to Mother Gayathri, “Sarvaroga Nivarini Gayathri…” accompanied the procession, sung by all the students in unison.

Gayathri Mantra is an integral part of the Balvikas curriculum. Bringing in auspiciousness to the occasion and to the thousands of blossoming hearts, Bhagawan’s Gayathri Mantra reverberated in the hall for 21 times before the further commencement of the proceedings.

If Bhagawan’s Unconditional Love can be called the Magic Wand, the symbolic ‘Wand Of Transformation’ deserves a special mention. Explaining the significance, Bro Avinam from the State of Sikkim said, “The Love Of Bhagawan is like a Magic Wand” narrating in short how various Balvikas faculties help them to grow and blossom into full potential.

The Scroll of Convocation Pledge was then placed at Bhagawan’s Lotus Feet. Ms Sashi Bala, National Dy Coordinator for Balvikas, then administered the Pledge to the passing out batch of students, who repeated after her.

Delivering the key-note address, speaking on the occasion former All India President of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations Sri V Srinivasan advised the fresh pass-outs to be the ‘Change Agents’ for a bright ‘Sai’ future, working tirelessly for the cause of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations. ‘Sathya Sai Organisation has to be relevant to the needs of the society’, observed Sri Srinivasan enumerating on the role of Balvikas alumni in the mission ahead. Sri Srinivasan expressed hope that Balavikas alumni would bring a quantum change in the Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, making it dynamic and relevant organisation.

Achievement awards for multifarious excellence were given away to scores of outstanding alumni next by Sarvasree K Chakravarthi and Prasad Rao, Managing Trustee and Secretary respectively to the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, for men, and by Smt Kamala Pandya, Dy National Coordinator of All India Balavikas, for women.

Showcasing the path for future, standing testimony to the ‘Eternity’ of Bhagawan, two tiny tots from the I Grade Balvikas were next introduced to the august assembly. The selected ones were Master Atharva and Master Zigmesh Sherpa. Chirping on the occasion, Master Zigmesh said, I like Balvikas because I get darshan of Swami in the Balvikas while get to learn all good things.

A brief musical session by the Karnataka Alumni followed next before a vote of thanks by Kum Aishwarya Mohanraj.

Sri Sivakumar Kannan, an MBA from SSSIHL and a Balvikas alumnus was the Master of Ceremony for the session.