The  Sri Sathya Sai (junior) College for women, Anantapur was inaugurated on 22nd July 1968 and the new college building was inaugurated on 8th July 1971.

While laying the foundation of the Anantapur college Bhagawan declared “ My Sankalpa (plan of action) is to provide the youth with an education which, while cultivating their intelligence, will also purify their impulses and emotions and equip them with the physical and mental disciplines needed for drawing upon the springs of calmness and joy that lie in their own hearts. Their higher natures will have to be fostered and encouraged to blossom, by means of study, prayer, and sadhana, contacts with the sages, saints, and spiritual heroes and heroines of their land, and to place them on the path of self-confidence, self-satisfaction, self-sacrifice, and self-knowledge.

Bhagawan’s aim in starting a women’s college first, in the chain of educational institutions founded by Him, was to emphasise that, if a woman is educated, the entire family benefits from her knowledge and wisdom. She plays an important role in moulding the future generations of the family into responsible citizens.

This college was the first step as part of the larger vision of Bhagawan for values-based integral education at Under graduate and Post graduate levels, aiming to foster inner transformation in students through a holistic approach that integrates ethics and values into every aspect of learning.

July 1968:  Inauguration of the first Sri Sathya Sai College, Anantapur. The education minister of the state of Andhra Pradesh Sri T V Raghavulu was the guest who spoke before Bhagawan’s discourse. (Source: Sathya Sai with Students Blog)

July 1971:  Inauguration of the new college building. Sri VV Giri, President of India is seated to the left of Bhagawan along with Mrs VV Giri. The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Sri Brahmananda Reddy is to the right of Swami. On the extreme left of the picture is Sri PV Narasimha Rao. Prof V K Gokak is seen delivering the welcome address.

Presidential Address in the Divine Presence. Swami highlighted during his discourse that the day chosen was significant as it was a Guruvaar (Thursday) on a Guru Purnima

1973-74 : Drama on Shabari which Swami would often recall

1975: Anantapur Band performing in the Poornachandra Auditorium

1975: UGC seminar program at Anantapur. Band girls played music to escort Swami

1975: Drama entitled “Sambhavami Yuge Yuge” staged in the Divine presence

For the play Sambhavami Yuge Yuge, Swami directed one of the girls to play the role of Kaka Dikshit, the Shirdi Sai devotee. In the final scene on Sathya Sai Avatar, two women and three children spoke about Swami’s Avatar and concluded by saying “ Let us go and have His darshan”. Just then, Swami walked up onto stage, spoke briefly, accepted the aarti and left. He was actually a character in the play!

The young boys are children of faculty members.

November 1975. It marked the first occasion for the Anantapur brass band. Once the skin of the drum tore. Swami asked the girls “What are you going to do now? How will you play?” The disappointed girls had no answer to His question. Swami smiled and instructed someone to immediately get it repaired from Bangalore and have it available in time the next day

1979: Swami interacts with staff after completing His darshans.

1979: Summer Course Group Picture with Bhagawan

1980s: Group Photo with the ‘Food Committee’ of the hostel

1981:  First Academic Council meeting of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. The seed sown in 1968 with the first college at Anantapur transforms into a deemed University 

1982: Divine visit to the Anantapur campus. He declares in the Bhagavatha Vahini that more than Dharma Sansthapana, the purpose of the avatar is to interact with the devoted & give them opportunities to be in His presence

Attention to details & expressing gratitude to all is a key attribute of Bhagawan which all managers and leaders can emulate. He did not just establish educational institutions. He would regularly visit the kitchen to inspect the quality & hygiene.

He was very particular that the gratitude is expressed to the workers in the hostels & colleges

1985: Swami gave interviews in Prasanthi Nilayam to the outgoing batches. Seen in the interview room are students from streams of English, Philosophy and Political Science groups

1986-88 As divine providence would have it, for two years there was a B.Ed. Program for sisters in the Brindavan Campus. Given the serene settings of the Brindavan ashram, sisters got many opportunities to have Bhagawan’s direct guidance & grace. Couple of images from those years with the fortunate batch

1993 & 1996: Summer Courses at Brindavan

1990s: It was customary for the outgoing batch to get the final graduating blessings from Bhagawan. He would speak to the students giving them guidance on how to face challenges in life that lie ahead. Students would do various personal Sadhana, group prayer sessions & service activities to please Bhagawan to please Swami before this memorable day.  

1996: Jan 1 Sports Meet

1998: Ladies day performance by the Anantapur Brass Band. The year 2025 marks 50 years of this band which first performed on the 50th Birthday in Nov 1975

2003: Sports meet offering to Bhagawan

2009: Jan 11 Sports meet – Swami with the Anantapur Brass band

2010: Bhagawan’s blessings for the Anantapur sisters.

In His 2002 Sankranti Discourse, while praising the efforts and performance of the sisters during the sports meet Bhagawan remarked  “It is twelve years since I visited Anantapur, yet they are working with steadfastness and devotion with the conviction that Swami is always with them. Their devotion and sincerity will certainly yield rich rewards…There is a result for every action, but one has to wait for the appropriate time.”