19 November 2024: Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence, an eminent institution providing free, world-class higher education, is proud to announce the 8th edition of the Sri Sathya Sai Award for Human Excellence. Scheduled for November 23, 2024, at the Sri Sathya Sai Premamrutham Hall in Sathya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli, Karnataka, this year’s awards will honour The Legends—visionaries from the older generation whose lifelong contributions have made the world a better, more compassionate place to live in. Founded by Global Humanitarian and Spiritual Teacher, Sri Madhusudan Sai, the awards celebrate individuals whose wisdom, dedication, and service have left a lasting legacy.
The 2024 edition will feature an inspiring line-up of recipients chosen for their exemplary contributions to society. Sri Madhusudan Sai remarked on the significance of this year’s awards, saying, “The 2024 edition will bring together dignitaries and extraordinary individuals to honour the best of The Legends. The recipients are selected through a rigorous process led by a distinguished jury, ensuring we recognise those who have truly transformed society. The award ceremony will undoubtedly radiate positivity, as we celebrate these remarkable individuals and their contributions to humanity.”
The jury for the awards comprises renowned experts and luminaries, including Prof. J.S. Rajput, former NCERT Director and Educationist; Dr. J. Shashidhara Prasad, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Mysore; Padma Bhushan awardee Dr. Shiv Kumar Sarin; Padma Vibhushan awardee and music maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan; Padma Shri awardee Mrs. Sudha Ragunathan; and legendary cricketer and Padma Bhushan awardee Dr. Sunil Gavaskar. Their collective expertise ensures the awards uphold their legacy of recognizing excellence across diverse fields.
Building on the success of the 2023 edition, themed Rural Upliftment – Women of Excellence, which celebrated women who went beyond their duties to uplift society, the 2024 awards will continue to inspire by spotlighting individuals with profound societal impact. Last year’s recipients included Muktaben Pankajkumar Dagli, a Padma Shri awardee dedicated to empowering the blind and disabled; Kalavati, recognised for building over 400 latrines in Kanpur’s slums to address sanitation challenges; and Renuka Ravindra Kotambkar, honored for her water conservation efforts in Maharashtra’s drought-hit Kotamba village. Other recipients included Bhagyashri Manohar Lekhami for Women and Child Welfare, Mahe Tilat Siddiqui for Unity of Religions, Arati Hiremath for Music and Fine Arts, and Priya Nadkarni for Yoga and Sports.
The Sri Sathya Sai Award for Human Excellence continues to celebrate lives devoted to service and sacrifice, fostering meaningful conversations about societal upliftment. With The Legends as this year’s theme, the 2024 edition promises to be a grand celebration of individuals whose unwavering commitment to humanity has paved the way for a better future.
