The International Conference on ‘Strengthening Values in Education’ was organised at Prasanthi Nilayam by the Institute of Sathya Sai Education Thailand between 25^th and 29^th September, 2000. Baba lit the lamps in Sai Kulwant Hall and inaugurated the Conference on 25^th at 3.30 pm. The Institute students and the students of Sathya Sai Schools of Zambia, Thailand and Nepal recited Vedic prayers. Dr. Art Ong Jumsai, Director, Institute of Sathya Sai Education, Thailand, welcomed the delegates. Dr. Michael Goldstein President, Sathya Sai Education in Human Values Foundation, gave a brief speech.

Baba then delivered His Inaugural Message. He blessed the delegates with two special Discourses on 26^th and 30^th in Sai Kulwant Hall. On 26^th evening, in the Divine Presence in Poornachandra Auditorium, a unique cultural orchestra group named “Symphony of Unity and Love (SOUL),” gave a presentation. The singers from Singapore, Malaysia, Latin America, France, and U.S.A. presented a music concert on 28^th evening in the Divine Presence. The Valedictory Function of the Conference was held in Sai Kulwant Hall, on 29^th, at 7.20 am. Dr. Jumsai expressed gratitude to Baba for His Blessings and Guidance. After that, Ms. Himela Bahadur Singh from Canada, Mr. Tom Scoville from U.S.A. and Dr. Roger Packham from Australia, presented the summary of the deliberation of the Conference. Dr. A. Parasuramen of Mauritius read out the Prasanthi Nilayam Declaration. Baba then delivered His Valedictory Address and clarified the questions asked by some of the delegates.

The Second World Youth Conference was held at Prasanthi Nilayam between 18^th and 21^st November, 1999. 7,000 youth from India and 63 overseas countries participated. Baba lit the lamps amidst Vedic chants in Sai Kulwant Hall and inaugurated the conference at 3.00 pm, on 18^th afternoon. Sri V. Srinivasan welcomed the delegates and explained the theme of the conference “The Role of Youth in the Divine Mission”. Mr. Billy Fong from Malaysia spoke about the service activities done by the youth in Malaysia. Baba materialised a gold chain for him. Sri Vijay Menon from Kerala and Ms. Pooja Sharma from Himachal Pradesh gave short speeches. Baba then delivered His Inaugural Address. On 20^th evening, the overseas delegates presented a cultural programme in Poornachandra Auditorium titled “The Millennium Challenge”. In this presentation, 221 youth from 63 countries participated. Baba showered His love on the cast after the performance.

On 21^st afternoon, Baba granted Darshan in Sai Kulwant Hall at 2.45 pm. The Valedictory function of the conference and the celebration of Education in Human Values Day were held that afternoon. The programme commenced with Vedic chants. Sri Indulal Shah spoke about the importance of human values. Sri J. Jagadeesan presented the recommendation of the overseas devotees to Baba. Sri V. Srinivasan placed the recommendations of the Indian delegates. Dr. Jumsai presented a report to Baba about the working of EHV and establishment of Sathya Sai Schools all over the world. Baba then awarded the diplomas to the teachers who had completed their training courses in value education. Sri S. V. Giri, Vice Chancellor, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, addressed the delegates. Baba then delivered His Valedictory Message for more than 100 minutes.

Sri Sathya Sai World Youth Conference was held at Prasanthi Nilayam from 16^th to 18^th July, 1997. Over 2,000 delegates from 66 countries and 10,000 delegates from India participated in the Conference. Baba lit the lamps in the Sai Kulwant Hall and inaugurated the Conference on 16^th morning after the March Past by the representatives from all the participating countries. Baba then delivered His Inaugural Address. On the 17^th evening, He addressed the delegates in Poornachandra Auditorium. A musical programme was presented by the Indian devotees in the Divine presence. Baba delivered His Valedictory Message in Sai Kulwant Hall on 18^th morning. In the evening a musical programme based on human values was presented by the 15 world regions. Each of them presented one song.

On 19^th July, Baba blessed the youth delegates with a special Discourse in Poornachandra Auditorium, covering a wide ground indicating the spiritual basis on which a new harmonious and cooperative world should be organised. The devotees from Bengal presented a drama based on the life of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda that evening. Baba blessed all the artists. The conference concluded with Mangala Aarati.

The Third International Symposium on Cardiovascular Diseases was held in the Sri Sathya Sai Institute Auditorium at Prasanthi Nilayam on 16^th December 1995. Baba arrived at the Auditorium for the inaugural function accompanied by Dr. Karan Singh, former Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, and Dr. Bajaj, Member of the Planning Commission and President of the National Board of Examinations. Dr. Karan Singh lit the lamps to mark the inauguration of the Symposium and delivered his inaugural address. After a speech by Dr. Bajaj, Baba delivered His Address. He gave a clarion call to the medical fraternity to fulfil their primary duty, providing medical care to the poor. The Valedictory Function on 18^th December was presided over by Sri A. R. Antulay, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare. He commended the unique services rendered by Baba’s Super Speciality Hospital, which is unparalleled in the world. Baba then delivered His Valedictory Discourse.

On 18^th November, 1995, the Prime Minister of India, Sri P. V. Narasimha Rao inaugurated the Sri Sathya Sai Drinking Water Project for the Anantapur town in Poornachandra Auditorium. Sri K. R. Prasad, Member, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, welcomed the gathering. Sri Chakravarthy and Sri Kondal Rao gave the details of the project. Sri Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, thanked Baba for His gesture in blessing 800 drought prone villages with drinking water in a short time. Baba then gave His Discourse in which He expressed His view that all rivers should be made national property. The function concluded with the National Anthem. In the afternoon Baba inaugurated in Sai Kulwant Hall, the Sixth World Conference of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations. The All India President, Sri Sathyanarayana, and Dr. Goldstein presented the activity reports of the Organisation at the Lotus Feet.

On 21^st evening, the Valedictory Session of the Sixth World Conference was held in the Divine Presence. Justice Bhagwati, Mr. Leonardo Gutter of Argentina and Dr. Goldstein addressed the delegates. Prior to Baba’s Valedictory Message, Sri Jagadeesan of Malaysia addressed the gathering.

Baba inaugurated a National Conference of Bal Vikas Gurus in Sai Ramesh Hall on 3^rd July 1994, at Brindavan. His Presence at the Conference and His Discourse were a great inspiration to the Gurus.

Silver Jubilee Conference of the Sri Sathya Sai Bal VikasJuly 17 – 21, 1994

Baba inaugurated a three-day Conference at Brindavan on 17^th July 1994, on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of the Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas. He arrived at Sai Ramesh Hall in a procession accompanied by Sri Arjun Singh, Union Minister, and Sri Khurshed Alam Khan, Governor of Karnataka, at 8.20 am. The All India President of Sri Sathya Sai Organisation, Sri G. V. Sathyanarayana, welcomed the gathering. Smt. Sarla Shah described the progress of the Bal Vikas Movement since its inception in 1969.

Baba released the Silver Jubilee Souvenir issue of the Bal Vikas Magazine. Sri Khurshed Khan and Sri Arjun Singh addressed the gathering. Baba then blessed the congregation with His Inaugural Address. On 21^st July afternoon, Baba arrived at Sai Ramesh Hall accompanied by Sri Veerappa Moily, Chief Minister of Karnataka, and Sri Mallikarjun, Minister of State for Defence. Major General Mahadevan, Smt. Gita Ghosh, and the Chief Minister addressed the delegates. Thereafter, Baba delivered His Valedictory Address. He declared that the Bal Vikas Gurus who had come to participate in the conference were the guests of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust. Hence any money collected from them should be refunded.

The Second International Cardiac Symposium was held in the Sri Sathya Sai Institute Auditorium at Prasanthi Nilayam from 21^st to 23^rd January, 1994. Many leading surgeons from U.S.A., U.K., France, Spain, Israel, Italy, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, and India presented papers of very high standard. Baba lit the sacred lamp and Dr. A. N. Safaya, Director of the Institute, delivered the welcome address. Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, President of India, inaugurated the symposium and gave his inaugural address.

After Baba’s Discourse, Dr. Subramaniam, surgeon from Florida, gave a talk. Baba presented him with a silver memento. The Symposium concluded on 23^rd, with Baba’s Valedictory Discourse. He visited the dining room and personally spoke with all the delegates, both on the inaugural day as well as the concluding day.

Baba inaugurated at Prasanthi Nilayam, the Fifth World Conference of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, on 19^th November, 1990. Over 50,000 delegates from all states of India and 90 overseas countries participated in the conference. Baba addressed the conference on the 20^th and 21^st. At the Valedictory Session, Sri Indulal Shah, Chairman, World Council and Sri Sathyanarayana presented the report of the Conference.

• The Conference reiterated that adherence to the Divine Charter; the 9-Point Code of Conduct; and the Rules and Regulations of the Organisation is the sure way for the development of the organisation.
• It was resolved to establish a Samithi or Bhajana Mandali in those Areas / Districts which did not have any.
• It was also decided to improve Sevadal and Bal-Vikas Programmes and to conduct as many Training Programmes as possible.

First International Symposium on Cardiac Diseases, February 6 – 7, 1993

Baba addressed the First International Symposium on Cardiac Diseases held under the auspices of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences at the Institute Auditorium on 6^th and 7^th February, 1993. He advised the medical professionals to undertake an integral approach to the problem of human health and disease.

A National Conference of All India Active Workers of Sai Organisation was held at Prasanthi Nilayam between the 19^th and the 21^st of November, 1987. 12,000 active workers from all states of India participated in this Conference. Baba inaugurated the Conference in Poornachandra Auditorium on 19^th November and gave His Inaugural Address. On 21^st November He blessed the delegates with His Valedictory Message.

Baba inaugurated in Poornachandra Auditorium on 17^th November 1985, the Fourth World Conference of Sri Sathya Sai Organisations. Baba arrived at the Auditorium in a procession led by a Veda chanting group. He lit the lamp and the proceedings commenced. Over 13,000 delegates representing 46 countries participated in this conference. Sri N. Kasturi welcomed the delegates. Sri Indulal Shah, Chairman, World Council, gave the review of the work done by the Organisation worldwide in the past 20 years. Sri V. Srinivasan, Vice Chairman of the World Council, also addressed the delegates before Baba’s Inaugural Address.

A reception for Baba was organised in Hill View Stadium on 19^th November by the delegates. The devotees associated with Baba for two or three decades offered their felicitations on this occasion. They were, Sri R. V. P. Rayaningar, Sri G. K. Damodar Rao, Smt. Kamala Sarathi, Sri M. M. Pinge, Mr. Wee Lin from Singapore, Miss Anima Mukherjee, Sister Chiyuka Tusiyuma from Japan, Sri Sanjeev Chowdhury, Mr. Robert Bozzani from America, and Mr. Jagadeesan from Malaysia. The World Council honoured with mementos five octogenarian devotees who had served Baba in various capacities. Sri N. Kasturi, Sri N. S. Krishnappa, Dr. B. Sitarama, Smt. T. Krishnamma, and Smt. Konamma, were the blessed devotees to receive the mementos from Baba personally on this occasion.

Baba arrived in the Hill View Stadium on 20^th morning, in a procession led by the Institute students chanting Vedic hymns. He blessed the gathering with His Darshan and performed the ceremony of ‘Go-danam’ (gifting of cows). He gifted away 60 cows along with calves and a bucket for milking the cow to the 60 chosen recipients from 60 villages.

The Valedictory Session of the Conference was held in the Hill View Stadium on 21^st morning. Baba in His Address mentioned 10 directives to be followed and practised by the members of the Organisation and other devotees.