I received a power point presentation about the proposed Sri Sri University. It provides some details on what the plans about this university are. As per my conversation they planned to start in 2007 but it is getting delayed and they won’t start in 2007. One of the reason for the delay is that the government of Orissa has not yet passed the private university act. I hope they pass it this session of the assembly.
The university is being started by the Art of Living Foundation. Following is some information about it from its web page.
The Art of Living Foundation was inspired by the programs of spiritual leader and humanitarian His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar that began in 1982. It has been a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational and humanitarian organization in the U.S. since 1989. Accredited as a United Nations Non-Governmental organization in 1996, it is now one of the UN’s largest volunteer-based NGOs. It works in special consultative status with the UN’s Economic and Social Council, participating in a variety of committees and activities relating to health, education, sustainable development, conflict resolution, and disaster relief.
If anyone is interested in helping in the establishment and development of this university, I would be happy to put him/her in touch with the people who are in charge. Please write to me and let me know what kind of help you have in mind.
June 5th, 2007
Following are some pictures from the university site looking at the Kathajodi river.
May 28th, 2007
Sri Sri University is planned to be established in Naraj (Cuttack) near Bhubaneswar, Orissa. It will be established by the Sri Sri Ravishankar Vidya Mandir (SSRVM) Trust, the educational wing of the Art of Living. I am in touch with a couple of people associated with the Sri Sri University project. I have requested them for more information (plans, time lines etc.) on the project. If and when I receive them I will post it here.
So far the only information that is available on this are the ones in the news items about the MOU, and its wikipaedia entry.
May 18th, 2007
Today’s New Indian Express and Samaja report that the higher education department has proposed setting up of an education city around Naraj. As we wrote earlier several universities are coming up in this area. This includes a university by Sri Sri Ravishankar’s Art of Living, Ravenshaw university’s second campus and proposed National Law Institute. The higher education department has identified additional available land in the area and according to the above reports it is recommending that the government reserve this land for additional higher education institutions.
April 26th, 2007
It seems progress is being made in this regard. A prominent leader in one of the top IT company of India is in charge of identifying a Dean for the IT/Computer Science program. I am told that T. N. Sheshan again visited Orissa last week regarding starting the university in August 2007. They are planning to have programs in medicine, sciences, and IT/Computer science, among other topics. The grapevine strongly suggests that the land overlooking Kathjodi near the origin of Kathajodi will be given to this university rather than NISER and NISER is being shown alternative land between Khurda and Jatni.
March 13th, 2007
Picturesque Naraj-Cuttack area where Kathajodi originates from Mahanadi is on the way to become an educational hub. On the Cuttack Island in Abhinav Bidanasi there is a plan for the second campus of Ravenshaw University. On the Naraj side land has been shortlisted for NISER (National Institute of Science Education and Research) as well as the University by Shri Shri Ravishankar.
February 24th, 2007
Update: Sambada’s second report on Sheshan’s visit.
Sambada reports that T. N. Sheshan will be meeting the CM in regards to the proposed Ravishankar University. The meeting could be about the land issue. The proposed Ravishankar University is supposed to cater 15,000 students and be of international standard. The land identified for this university is in Naraj and there is a speculation that the same land is also the top choice of DAE for NISER. Lets hope that a way out is found so that both DAE/NISER and Shri Shri Ravishankar are happy.
January 25th, 2007
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