President Murmu to preside over 2nd convocation of Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence

Press Release, Jun 30, 2023, 7:47 PM IST

Image credit: PTI / File

Chikkaballapura: President of India Droupadi Murmu will preside over the second convocation of Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence here on  July 3 in the presence of Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai, the Founder of the University, the varsity said in an announcement on Friday.

The varsity provides higher education completely free of charge to rural, underserved, and below-the-poverty-line, first-generation literates.

Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai said in a statement: “It’s a proud moment for us that, Smt. Droupadi Murmu – The Hon’ble President of India, would be coming to Sri Sathya Sai University (in Chikkaballapur district, near Bengaluru) for our annual convocation on 03 July. The Hon’ble President would be conferring honorary doctorates to six eminent Indians who have been contributing to the process of nation-building for the last many decades.”

“Sixty-six percent of graduates who would be awarded their degrees this year come from below-the-line (BPL) families, and fifty-two percent are rural youths,” the Founder said, adding that “The presence of the Hon’ble President for the convocation, who rose to India’s highest constitutional office despite coming from a humble background, would be the most inspiring for the graduating students.”

President Murmu, herself a first-generation literate, started her life journey in a small tribal village in Odisha. She crossed many obstacles, and with the help of her resolve, she became the first daughter of her village to go to college.

President Murmu will also confer honorary doctorates on six eminent Indians who have excelled in their fields and contributed to nation-building to the best of their capacities, including Prof Ajay K Sood – Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India (Science and Technology); Ganakalabhushana Vidwan Dr R K Padmanabha – renowned Carnatic music vocalist (Music and Art); Mr Pullela Gopichand – Chief National Coach of the Indian Badminton Team (Sports and Fitness); Dr Pratima Murthy – Director of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Healthcare); Vedic Scholar and Padma Shri Awardee Prof Vijay Shankar Shukla – Faculty, Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts for Education (Education), and Padma Shri Awardee Mrs Tulsi Gowda – Indian Environmentalist (Social Service and Philanthropy).