January 2008 ::: Sathya Sai Baba University:
Is The Sathya Sai Baba University A “Low Academic Underperformer“? A Scathing Response To Serguei Badaev:
Serguei Badaev wrote an article entitled “Sri Sathya Sai University Or All That Glitters Is Not Gold”. Serguei Badaev poorly attempted to argue that Sathya Sai Baba’s prestigious University is a “low academic underperformer” based primarily on three internet websites that contain listings to “Top Universities” and a deceptive smear campaign directed at the NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) and UGC (University Grants Commission).
NAAC, UGC, Sathya Sai University And The Exemplary “A++” Grade:
Serguei Badaev correctly cited a newspaper article written by Dr Hiramalini Seshadri and Dr Seshadri Harihar about Sathya Sai Baba’s Educare program (Ref) and how the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) gave an “A++” grade to the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. Out of thousands of Indian Colleges and Universities, only Sathya Sai Baba’s prestigious University was able to obtain the much coveted “A++” grade in 2002 (the NAAC conducts their accreditations every 5 years). Needless to say, one would not expect the highest grade to be given to a University that is alleged to be a “low academic underperformer”. The UGC also acknowledged Sai Baba’s University as a center for academic excellence. The relevant newspaper article stated (in part):
“The National Assessment and Accreditation Council is an autonomous body of the UGC, based at Bangalore. Colleges have to get the accreditation every five years. While it was stars, it is grades now. There are seven criteria on which they are assessed, like infrastructure, research facilities and teaching methods. There are nine grades: A++, A+, A, B++, B+,B,C++,C+, and C. In Kerala, there is only one college, which has A+, that is, St. Berchman’s College, Changanassery. In India, there is only one college which has A++, that is the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthi Nilayam. Grants from the UGC and recognition for more courses are based on these ranks, apart from the recognition it gets from academic circles all over.” (Reference).
NAAC, Sri Sathya Sai University And Another “A++” Grade In 2007:
Sathya Sai Baba’s University is an NAAC Accredited University In Andhra Pradesh (Ref). Out of 3,632 accredited Colleges and Universities in India only two Institutes received the highest “A++” Grade in 2007:
- Sri Sathya Sai University
- Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research
The complete doc file containing the NAAC’s accreditation results for March 2007 can be found here (which is located on the official naacindia.org website). The following screen-cap shows the results for Andhra Pradesh:
Why Is Sai Baba’s University Not Listed On “Top Universities” Websites?
Although Sai Baba’s University received the highest grade for academic excellence in 2002 and 2007 (each accreditation lasts 5 years), Serguei Badaev attempted to argue that Sai Baba’s University is a “low academic underperformer” because it is not listed on:
http://www.4icu.org/ is a website that lists Universities based solely on web popularity, not academic achievement or quality education. On their “About Us” webpage, 4icu.org explicitly stated (underlines added):
“4icu.org includes 8000 Colleges and Universities ranked by web popularity in 200 countries...Universities and Colleges are sorted by our exclusive 4icu.org Web Popularity Ranking...The aim of this website is to provide an approximate and relative popularity index of world-wide Universities and Colleges based upon the popularity of their website. The ranking is based upon an algorithm including three unbiased and independent web metrics: Google Page Rank, total number of inbound links and Alexa Traffic Rank...We do not, by any means, claim to rank organisations, or their programs, by the quality of education or level of services provided.” (Reference)
Serguei Badaev argued (using the bogus list on 4icu.org) that out of 224 educational bodies in India, the Sri Sathya Sai University was not listed even though there was a listing for the Sri Krishnadevaraya University in Andrah Pradesh (which is located in the same area as Sai Baba’s University). Amusingly, the Sri Krishnadevaraya University is accredited through the NAAC and in 2007 it received the low grade of “four stars” (Ref: Doc File). The grades are (from highest to lowest): A++ • A+ • A • B++ • B+ (aka 5-star) • B (aka 4-star) • C++ (aka 3-star) • C+ (aka 2-star) • C (aka 1-star). Although the Sri Krishnadevaraya University is listed on the 4icu.org website, it ranked considerably lower than the Sathya Sai University on the official NAAC website (which ranks Indian Universities according to their academic excellence, structure and potential).
Therefore, Serguei Badaev’s comical reference to 4icu.org is deceptive and dishonest.
http://www.webometrics.info/ is a website akin to 4icu.org that ranks Universities based solely on web popularity and web activity (See: Ref 01 - Ref 02).
Lastly, Serguei Badaev cited http://www.topuniversities.com and lamented that three Indian Universities (i.e., University of Delhi, IITB and IITD) are listed on their website but Sai Baba’s is not. Needless to say, the topuniversities.com website does not list all of the Universities in the world. As a matter of fact, they openly acknowledged that they left out 9,500 Universities and kept 500 Universities (based on citations per paper as indexed by Thomson ISI database). Topuniversities.com also acknowledged that there are “strong universities” that were not listed on their website due to “perhaps a lack of research publications in English“. Click Here to read about their selection process.
Needless to say, even the Indian Universities that ranked on topuniversities.com (i.e., University of Delhi, IITB and IITD) did not receive an “A++” grade and are not showing as being accredited by the NAAC.
Serguei Badaev And His Attempt To Smear The NAAC:
Attempting to smear the NAAC, Serguei Badaev deceptively cited an article that was published on RadioSai, insinuating that since Prof. V.S. Prasad (Director for the NAAC) gave homage to Sai Baba at Puttaparthi (Ref) he was guilty of some sort of corruption or favoritism.
What Serguei Badaev conveniently forgot to mention was that both the NAAC and UGC were so impressed with Sai Baba’s educational programs and institutions that they chose to conduct a scholarly National Seminar at Puttaparthi on “Promoting Value Education and Ethics”.
This scholarly National Seminar was conducted several months after the NAAC and UGC examined Sai Baba’s University and awarded it the highest grade of “A++”, which was shared by no other University throughout India in 2002. Because the NAAC and UGC felt Sai Baba’s University was unique and distinguished among all other Universities, they decided to hold a National Seminar at Prashanti Nilayam that was attended by Vice Chancellors representing 300 Universities throughout India. That was the reason why Prof. V.S. Prasad was present and spoke at Sai Baba’s Ashram. Prof. V.S. Prasad did not speak and was not presented as a “devotee”. RadioSai reported:
“In the year of its Golden Jubilee celebrations (2002-2003) the University Grants Commission has, among other things, chosen to focus its attention on a review and restructuring of higher education in the country. One of the major issues that has very appropriately been taken up for serious deliberations and subsequently a concrete plan of action, has been the one relating to the introduction of human values and ethics in our higher educational system. The University Grants commission (UGC) has shown wisdom by deciding to begin such deliberations at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL). It is by now widely recoginsed that this institution stands uniquely distinguished for incorporating human values as an integral component of its system of education....The seminar was attended by Prof. Arun Nigavekar, Chairman, UGC, who gave the keynote address in the first business session, Justice Ranganath Misra, formerly Chief Justice of India and Chairman, National Human Rights commission, Justice Malmath, former Chief Justice of Kerala High Court, Prof. V.S. Prasad, Director, National Assessment and Accreditation Council, Vice-Chancellors of 18 reputed universities in India , the present Vice Chancellor of the SSSIHL, Sri S. V. Giri and his predecessor, Prof. G. Venkataraman, senior officials of the UGC and Higher Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Notably, the participating Vice-Chancellors represented women’s universities, universities of distance education, deemed universities, agricultural universities, central and state universities spread across the length and breadth of India.“ (Reference)
Why would a scholarly and well-represented National Seminar be held at a University alleged to be a “low academic underperformer”? I think the answer to this question is abundantly self-evident.
Sri Sathya Sai Institute Recognized By Highest Echelons In India:
It is significant that various high ranking Indian officials and dignitaries have spoken highly of Sai Baba’s Universities. All of the following individuals have publicly praised Sathya Sai Baba’s Universities for their academic excellence and achievements:
- Sri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat (Former Vice President of India)
- Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam (Former President of India)
- Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee (Former Prime Minister of India)
- Rt. Hon. Anerood Jugnauth (Prime Minister of Mauritius)
- Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma (Former President of India)
- Sri P V Narasimha Rao (Former Prime Minister of India)
- Sri R Venkatraman (Former President of India)
In 2003, Sri Y Sivaramakrishnaiah (Principal of the Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School, Prashanthi Nilayam) received the prestigious “National Award for Teachers” from the President of India, Sri A P J Abdul Kalam. In 2005, Sri K R Vedanarayanan (from the Department of Sanskrit, Prashanti Nilayam) received the prestigious “National Award for Teachers” from the President of India, Sri A P J Abdul Kalam (Reference).
Sathya Sai Baba University - In Conclusion:
Therefore, Serguei Badaev’s lamentable article only serves to highlight the fact that Anti-Sai Activists resort to propaganda, rhetoric and deceit to wage their smear campaigns against Sathya Sai Baba.
Serguei Badaev asserted that former followers (of which he is one) have been alleging sexual abuse, corruption and complicity in murders against Sai Baba for many years. All of the allegations against Sai Baba are without factual, credible, verifiable or legal basis. Serguei Badaev stated (with no proof) that Sai Baba escaped “legal investigation” due to the protection of “influential Indian politicians”. Needless to say, Sathya Sai Baba and the Sai Organization have never (ever) been formerly charged with any crime, sexual or otherwise. Alleged victims have not even tried (first-hand) to file a court case or basic police complaint against the Guru in India in the past 10+ years (Ref). Therefore, there are no “influential Indian politicians” protecting Sai Baba from “legal investigations” as there are no “legal investigations” to protect him from!
Serguei Badaev is apparently still attempting to perfect his rhetoric. Fortunately, he is still stuck in the larval stage where his domineering rhetoric still lacks wings to lift it off the ground. But then again, ex-devotees are altogether unconvincing and their sole aim is to influence and incite gullible purveyors of malice and hatred.