Prem Saran Satsangi

Prem Saran Satsangi (Radhasoami)
Prem Saran Satsangi
Born	(1937-03-09) 9 March 1937 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Residence	India
Nationality	Indian
Fields	Consciousness, Quantum Theory, Systems Engineering
Institutions	Indian Institute of Technology Delhi Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi MBM Engineering College Dayalbagh Educational Institute
Alma mater	Banaras Engineering College Michigan State University University of Waterloo Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
Thesis	A physical systems theory modelling frame work generalized for large scale economic system. (1968)
Doctoral advisor	Dr. Jack B. Ellis
Known for	Systems Modelling Applied Systems Research Eastern Philosophy in the Spiritual Traditions Radhasoami Faith
Influences	Revered Mehtaji Maharaj Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Notable awards	National Systems Award 1977 Jacob Gold Medal (1987) Life Time Achievement Award from IIT Roorkee 2008 Distinguished Service Award from IIT Delhi 2011

Prem Saran Satsangi is the Spiritual Leader (the eighth Sant Satguru)^[1] of Radhasoami Faith, Dayalbagh.

Satsangi has applied western scientific techniques to study the consciousness of the sages of the east. He holds the Emeritus Chair from the East of the Integrated East-West Forum at The Science of Consciousness Conferences since 2012.^[2]

He is the chairman of Advisory Committee on Education, Dayalbagh Educational Institute, a think-tank constituted to suggest inter-alia steps necessary for achieving highest levels of excellence in education at all levels.

Birth

Satsangi was born on the campus of Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi on the day of Indian festival Holi on 9 March 1937, to Krishna Kumar, a Professor of Botany at Agriculture College, Banaras Hindu University and Bhakt Saheli.

Education and early career

He studied electrical engineering at the Banaras Engineering College and then studied for a B.Sc. in electrical engineering in the Banaras Engineering College (“BENCO”) and graduated in 1957 before taking a teaching job as temporary tutor.

In 1960 he accepted a scholarship at Michigan State University where the USAID extended his fellowship for Ph.D., but Satsangi declined the offer and returned to India in July 1961. Satsangi got an appointment as Reader in Electrical Engineering at MBM Engineering College and was appointed to the faculty in 1964.

Satsangi thereafter joined the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi,^[3] which was the youngest of IITs created as centers of excellence for higher education. In the initial years he taught basic network theory (analysis and synthesis), control theory and electric traction courses.

He then embarked on the journey to doctoral studies in North America as he was successful in being selected for a Canadian Commonwealth Research Fellowship award. He secured admission as a doctoral candidate at the University of Waterloo with research supervisor Jack B. Ellis who offered the research field of Socio-Economic Systems.

In the summer of 1970 he went to the University of Waterloo as a post doctoral fellow for three months for joint research assignment with the Department of Systems Design Engineering and Man-environment studies. During the period he completed his Ph.D. dissertation in the form of relevant papers. He also attended a short summer course at MIT on transport systems.

Dayalbagh (1993–present)

The final phase that is continuing is being spent primarily at Dayalbagh, the Garden of the Merciful, in Agra.^[4] It is devoted to systemic education and experience related to not only material - energy - information and mind- intellect - emotion but also the science of ultra - spiritual consciousness transcending the one in ancient India and the cognitive science based on recent advances in neurophysiology and cognitive psychology.

The final continuing third phase commenced from 1993. Even before he left IIT Delhi in May 1993 to join the Dayalbagh Educational Institute as its director, he had spent his sabbatical year during 1991-92 there. During the decade of the 1990s he played a leading role in education and research in intelligent systems engineering applications to large and complex systems by invoking state-of-the-art soft computing techniques and published several papers and produced a number of doctoral theses. He held the office of Director of Dayalbagh Educational Institute for almost nine years. His primary duties involved academic administration of this rapidly growing university system although he continued participating in systems science research and practice. His experience at IIT Delhi and systems approach gave him a foundational base for leading the university system in all its three dimensions, viz., academic, administrative and financial.

Spiritual leader

On 18 May 2003, Satsangi was unanimously acclaimed as the 8th Revered Leader of the Radhasoami Faith. The Radhasoami mat or faith derives its name from its original Founder, the Supreme Being, Radhasoami who appeared in this world in human form and designated Himself Sant Sat Guru or perfect Saint or true Guide and Preceptor, and preached holy doctrines to sincere enquirer of Truth for the deliverance of their spirit from the bondage of body and its surroundings, as well as from the pains and pleasures of this world, and for the ultimate admission (of their spirit) into the Holy Presence of the Supreme Being after traversing and breaking through the trammels and impediments in the material spheres.

Under his guidance, a historical initiative was taken by the Radhasoami Satsang Sabha (the governing body of Radhasoami faith), called the Murar declaration ^[5] on 13 June 2010, for forging unity among different Radhasoami Communities. Under his further guidance, a conclave of Religious Leaders of various religious sects had been organized under the name "SPIRCON 2010",^[6] on 14 November 2010, at Dayalbagh Agra, to promote fraternity, amity, and heartfelt love and affection for each other among Satsangis i.e. followers of the different Radhasoami communities. As per Satsangi, the theory of spiritual systems is fully consistent with the latest theory of everything for Physical Universe.

Family

Satsangi married on 11 November 1958 to Ms. Satyavati, and they have two daughters.

Research papers

Satsangi has published 90 research papers (in referred journals) and has attended several National and International Conferences. Satsangi has been one of the major pioneers of Systems Engineering Movement in the country. His major contributions are in the field of Applied Systems Engineering including socio-economic systems such as transportation and energy systems.

References