Brother Nirbhay Lumde (B.A. Political Science (1995 – 98) at Prashanti Nilayam campus), is a seasoned professional in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) sector, having headed the CSR and sustainability initiatives at several organizations such as CGI Asia Pacific, Fidelity Investments and Landmark Group. He has also worked extensively in the non-profit sector, serving for more than six years as a program coordinator at the Azim Premji Foundation.

Most of Nirbhay’s work focuses on gender equality, climate change and building sustainable models of living. He also works to promote computer-aided learning and entrepreneurship in rural areas.

Nirbhay’s journey had a humble start. Born in a small town on the border of Maharashtra and Telangana, he is the second of three children. He was born with a physical handicap that had to be corrected surgically. He studied in a Telugu medium school and was raised in a family that spoke Marathi and Telugu. Growing up, Nirbhay considered himself an underdog. He was not physically strong, was soft-spoken and sensitive. However, he worked hard and did well in his studies.

Nirbhay wasn’t very familiar with Swami before he joined SSSIHL. He had never travelled outside his hometown, and all he knew of Sri Sathya Sai Baba was from a photo that he had of Swami and a book he had read on the Sathya Sai education model. Intrigued, and feeling an irresistible pull toward Swami, he decided apply for Swami’s college. His lack of fluency in English turned out to be a hurdle. But once the Lord beckons, there is nothing in the world that can stop a bhakta.

A spiritually-inclined doctor helped Nirbhay write his application essay. Nirbhay travelled to Parthi for his entrance exam, the first time he was travelling outside his hometown. He still marvels at how he cleared the exam despite his poor knowledge of English.

His education at the institute started in May 1995 with the summer course at Whitefield. It was here that Nirbhay, travelling from Parthi with barely any money in his pocket, had his first darshan of his beloved Swami. Thus began a sojourn that transformed Nirbhay and built him for life. Over the next three years during his B.A., Nirbhay was prompted to ponder deeply about the meaning of life, and the true purpose of education. He was a voracious reader and devoured all the books he could lay his hands on. He set up the hostel library of the Senior Boys Hostel from scratch and ran it for three years. Despite joining the Institute with poor English skills, Nirbhay had resolved that by the time he graduated from college, he would be proficient enough to deliver a talk in front of Swami. And being the persevering underdog since his boyhood, achieve the goal he did.

Nirbhay was blessed with much proximity and many interactions with the Lord during his three years. These were moments that gave him the much-needed strength and solace over a stellar career that he was to build in serving others.

After B.A., Nirbhay completed his M.A. in Political Science from the University of Hyderabad and M.Phil from IIT Bombay (for which a 17-member panel interviewed him) – all of them on scholarships. He credits his brilliant academic qualifications to Swami’s grace. Upon graduating, Nirbhay realized that Swami never let him pay for an education, no matter where he went. He was fired up with a resolution to serve society and give back in all he did. This sense of purpose served him as a guiding light throughout his career.

His first job was with the AC Nielsen Group, which involved working in Aanganvadi centres, travelling and working at the grass root level. He was then handpicked by the Azim Premji Foundation, where he spent 6 years running the Computer Aided Learning Program in rural areas. After spending years carrying out service activities in rural areas, primarily in education, CSR and sustainable space, Nirbhay moved to Bangalore for a stint with Intel. He is now heading the Corporate Social Responsibility- Asia Pacific division at CGI. He also heads the employee volunteering initiative.

His CEO once quipped, “I’m the second most famous person in the Asia Pacific region. Everybody loves Nirbhay Lumde.”

He has earned several accolades throughout his career and was recently the recipient of the Net Zero Transition Leadership award by the Union Minister for Agriculture. He was known as the Life Saviour Officer during Covid, helping innumerable people with timely hospitalisations and oxygen supply.

He has put Swami and seva first in everything he does and finds this the purpose and mission in his life. Nirbhay lives Swami’s values and feels Swami guiding him every day. He often hears how among crowds, he stands different, and this is because the values he learned at SSSIHL are ingrained in his daily life.

He works for something larger than himself and says his goal is to build a sustainable model of living that outlives him.

Team Vidyulekha wishes Nirbhay all the very best for his future endeavours.