Spirituality should be integrated into daily lives, transforming routine actions into meaningful, spiritual practices: Swami Sarvapriyananda

To honour Founder-Chairman Dr Stya Paul, Apeejay Stya and Svran group dedicated Dr Stya Paul Memorial Lecture 2024. The lecture was on — Spiritualizing Life: Swami Vivekananda’s Practical Vedanta. These memorial lectures were initiated in 2014 as a befitting tribute to Dr Stya Paul, who earnestly believed in the power of profound thoughts and dynamic vision. Some of the eminent personalities who gave previous lectures include notable figures like Lord Swraj Paul, a stalwart and renowned parliamentarian, and Shri Kailash Satyarthi, a Nobel Laureate and social activist.

This year, the lecture was delivered by Swami Sarvapriyananda, Minister-in-charge, Vedanta Society, New York, USA. The event unfolded by giving the chief guests – Swami Sarvapriyananda, a Minister and spiritual leader from the Vedanta Society, New York, and Swami Shantatmananda, head, Ramakrishna Mission, Vivekananda Institute of Values, Gurugram, and Mrs Sushma Paul Berlia, Chairman, Apeejay Stya & Svran Group, Chancellor Apeejay Stya University and Chairman, Apeejay Education — a guard of honour followed by tree plantation.

A warm welcome was extended to Mrs Sushma Paul Berlia; Mr Nishant Berlia, Co-Family Business Owner and Core Board Member Apeejay Stya and Svran Group and Pro-Chancellor, Apeejay Stya University; Mr Aditya Berlia, Co-Family Business Owner and Core Board Member of Apeejay Stya and Svran Group and
Pro-Chancellor of Apeejay Stya University; Dr Neha Berlia, Co-Family Business Owner and Core Board Member of Apeejay Stya & Svran Group and
Pro-Chancellor of Apeejay Stya University.

The event began with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the revered chief guests, Mrs Sushma Paul Berlia, Mr Aditya Paul Berlia, Dr Neha Berila, and Mrs Sushma Paul Berlia’s grandchildren — Rivan, Himav, Vivika, Viana, and Madhav, amid the chanting of Om and Shubham Kurutvam Kalyanam by the Apeejay students. The chief guests were then welcomed with the green plantation and requested to be seated on the dais to grace the proceedings of the day. The family then proceeded for jyot prajwalan in front of a photo of Dr Stya Paul. This was followed by a film encapsulating Dr Stya Paul’s life.

Born on October 4, 1919, he surged ahead and faced all the challenges with determination. A brilliant scholar, Dr Stya Paul was a university gold medalist in Mathematics in undivided Punjab. During India’s freedom struggle, he became quite involved as a freedom fighter. As a result of his active participation, he was jailed by the British during the Quit India Movement. Having lost his mother at a very young age, he took up the responsibility of taking care of his entire family and running the family business. Under his inspirational leadership, the Apeejay Stya and Svran Group has become one of the most reputed corporate houses in the country. Dr Stya Paul – an eminent educationist, industrialist, and philanthropist was a leader par excellence and a legend; he was one of the principal architects of India’s emergence as a
self-reliant industrial nation founded on the strength of Indian capability enterprise.

Speaking at the event, Mrs Sushma Paul Berlia began with the famous Kabir doha: Guru Govind Dou Khade, Kake Lagu Paye, Balihaari Guru Aapne, Govind Diyo Bataye. (My God and guru are standing together. Whose feet should I touch?)

“I commence with touching the feet of my guru, my father, Shri Dr Stya Paulji, through whom I have learnt to live life and to know God. I feel incredibly privileged today, because of the spiritual journey that I started through having my father in my life perhaps somewhere took me closer to the culmination through the influence of Swami Sarvapriyanandaji. I can’t bow down to God before I bow down to my father,” Mrs Berlia shared.

“As I sat quietly reflecting, I wondered about our discussion on Dr Stya Paulji — a subject familiar to many of you, perhaps even better understood by some. It’s vital to remember not just who my father was — he achieved extraordinary things in business and established institutions that stand as monuments to his legacy. More importantly, are the footprints that he left behind in the hearts and minds of all those who came in contact with him.

“When he passed away in 2010, I met countless individuals, over the next year, who shared how he had impacted their lives — through scholarships, seed capital, or just a shoulder to lean on or maybe it was just his amazing smile that he had. Many have shared that when they were feeling low, all they needed to do was go and bask in the presence of his (Dr Stya Paul’s) smile,” Mrs Berlia recounted.

The reason why we should remember him (Dr Stya Paul) again and again is the values that he epitomised in his life, Mrs Berlia said. “He was not a saint, but an ordinary man from a humble background who rose to significant heights. His educational journey was tough, growing up in a family that couldn’t afford electricity, and he faced physical challenges from a young age due to polio. Yet, none of this deterred him; his perseverance was evident as he climbed the steps of his school with crutches, aspiring to live fully despite the hardships. My father also participated in the freedom movement, which shaped his fearless nature.

“He was deeply influenced by the writings of Rabindranath Tagore and other luminaries during this time. Although he had the opportunity to enter politics, he chose instead to contribute through business, eventually securing a license for steel manufacturing. His secret to success was simple yet profound — hard work, sincerity, and made choices that reminded him of his core values,” Mrs Berlia said and added that the spiritual dimension of his journey began with his interaction with the Ramakrishna Mission, where a few words from Swami Vivekananda (metamorphic) ignited a spark within him.

“This influence led him to delve deep into the teachings of Swami Vivekananda and Sri Ramakrishna, enriching his life and by extension, mine. It was during one of his visits to Kolkata he happened to meet Swami Ranganathananda. Dr Stya Paul was so enamoured with the lecture, that he went behind the stage to meet him. Swami Ranganathananda said three words: ‘Be a Man’. That broke the barriers of spirituality. Through him (Dr Stya Paul), I had the opportunity to read a lot of books by Swami Vivekananda, read about Sri, Ramakrishna, read the Upanishads and The Gita, and meet Swami Ranganathananda several times,” Mrs Berlia said.

One clear thought, Mrs Berlia said and echoed Swami Vivekananda’s words – Brothers and Sisters – decades back resonates even today. “Brothers and sisters, thank you for being with us but most importantly, how often do we remember that we are ‘truly brothers and sisters’?  In our current times, amidst global and local tensions, it’s crucial to remember the core values taught by all religions — compassion, unity, and humanity – and at the core we are all brothers and sisters. We all face challenges, but how we respond to them defines us. My father’s life exemplified determination, dedication, and discipline — values that I strive to uphold. These are the values that he perpetuated through the institutes that he contributed to. These are the values that we need to enshrine in our hearts,” Mrs Berlia said.

“Let’s remember to embody these values, not just in memory of my father but as a commitment to live as better human beings. As we continue to navigate life’s complexities, let’s keep in mind that we are all interconnected, and by supporting each other, we can overcome any obstacle. Even at the worst of times, we always have a choice, if nothing else we have a choice to remain calm – to be positive. Remember that after darkness, there is light.

“We can keep in mind that there was a human being who apart from all the achievements in his life, he became humbler as he achieved more. The best way to keep his memory alive, we realised would be to remember what he stood for. The only reason why I allowed accolades about me to be read was that it was not a tribute to me but a tribute to my father – a man who made no difference between a boy and a girl. He never allowed me to think that I was in any way less or there was something in the world that I could not try if I wanted,” Mrs Berlia said and shared that she couldn’t conclude her speech without referring to Swami Shantantmaandaji because Dr Stya Paul wanted to ensure that no matter how successful the children are that pass from Apeejay schools and institutes, we believe that we have failed if they were not good human beings first and foremost.

“Values in education and education through values have been very dear to our hearts and cornerstone of whatever we do. Sometimes, we are at our wits’ ends with what is happening around the world, but we persist because we have a lot of like-minded people around us. With the trust of our parents, our dedicated teachers, and our leaders, we have been able to carry forward. It was a resonance shared by Swami Shantatmananda,” Mrs Berlia said.

Before Swami Shantatmananda took the podium, Dr Neha Berlia said, “I am truly delighted to have the privilege to introduce Swami Shantatmanandaji, a distinguished senior member of the Ramakrishna Mission. He brings with him over three decades of invaluable service and expertise in his role as the head of the Vivekananda Institute of Values, Ramakrishna Mission in Gurugram. His background is rooted in financial administration and fund management, nurtured during his extensive tenure at the international headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission in Belur Math. His multifaceted contributions reflect his unwavering dedication to the ideals of service, education, and peace, earning him reverence within the Ramakrishna Mission. May I now request Swami Shantatmanandaji to deliver his address.”

Swami Shantatmananda highlighted his longstanding collaboration with Apeejay Education, emphasising the significant impact of their partnership. “The Awakened and Awakening Citizen’s programme has also been implemented in over 6,500 schools across India, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, training more than 60,000 teachers and reaching over 1.45 million students. The commendable contributions of Apeejay Education, especially, Mrs Sushma Paul Berlia’s significant support and dedication have been crucial in enabling the successful implementation of various educational and social initiatives within their schools, which are noted as some of the best performing in the region,” Swamiji said.

He also mentioned the recent inauguration of a retreat center, situated at a strategic location midway between Uttarkashi at a height of 5,000 feet, which further demonstrates the Apeejay Group’s commitment to supporting significant projects. Swami Shantatmanandaji‘s address was not just a recount of collaborative successes but also an acknowledgment of the profound, ongoing support from Apeejay Education that helps promote educational and spiritual initiatives across India, embodying the spirit of service and communal upliftment.

Before Swami Sarvapriyananda began his lecture, he was introduced by Mr Aditya Paul Berlia, who said: “It is an incredible delight to have the honour of introducing Swamiji, the minister in charge of the Vedanta Society, New York. He embarked on his spiritual journey by joining the revered Ramakrishna Order of Monks as a novice Brahmachari in 1994. With profound dedication and study, he was ordained as a monk by none other than Swami Ranganathanandaji in the year 2004. Before his embrace of the full monastic life, he pursued academic excellence, earning a Master’s in Business Administration from the renowned Xavier Institute of Management in Bhubaneswar.”

Throughout his illustrious journey, Swamiji has held significant roles within the Ramakrishna Mission, serving as Acharya at the Monastic Probationer Training Center at the famous Belur Math in India, and then as the Assistant Minister of the Vedanta Society of Southern California, Mr Aditya Berlia said and added that Swamiji’s commitment to spreading the teachings of the Vedanta Society and all spirituality has taken him across the world, where he has had famous speaking engagements on platforms like TEDx and Google, and at renowned universities such as Harvard.

“Swamiji epitomises humility, wisdom, and dedication, inspiring countless individuals on their spiritual journey. His contribution to the dissemination of Vedanta philosophy and his efforts in promoting interfaith dialogue have been invaluable, leaving an indelible mark on all those who have had the fortune to encounter his teachings. I now invite him to speak,” Mr Aditya Berlia said.

Namaste and good evening, everyone, Swami Sarvapriyananda said. “It’s a pleasure to be here with you all this evening. I’m grateful for the opportunity to speak at the Stya Paul Memorial Lecture, and I thank everyone, especially Swami Shantatmanandaji and Sushmaji (Mrs Sushma Paul Berlia), for making this possible. Today, I reflect on the life of an extraordinary individual, Dr Stya Paul, who, from humble beginnings and facing significant adversities, rose to make substantial contributions as a scholar, activist, industrialist, and philanthropist. His story is a powerful testament to the fact that it is not just the circumstances of our birth but the values we embrace that shape our lives,” Swami Sarvapriyananda said.

Quoting John Milton, Swamiji said: “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.” This brings us to the essence of spirituality and its transformative power. Spirituality is not about disengagement from the world but about deeper engagement with it in a meaningful way. ‘The purpose of spirituality, as I understand it, is to lead us from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, and from death to immortality, echoing the ancient prayers of our tradition. But what does it mean to spiritualise our lives? It means to infuse every action, and every interaction with a deeper purpose and awareness, to see beyond the immediate to the eternal,” he explained.

Swami Vivekananda, Swamiji shared was a great proponent of Vedanta, and emphasised the practical aspects of spirituality. “He taught that spirituality is not for the selected few who retreat from the world; it is for everyone, everywhere. Each of us, in our daily lives, whether we are teachers, parents, or students, has the potential to live a spiritually enriched life. The concept of ‘Karma Yogi’ from The Bhagavad Gita, which teaches us to perform our duties with dedication but without attachment, is particularly illuminative. It guides us to act not for personal gain but as an offering to the greater good, transforming mundane actions into spiritual practice,” he said.

So, how do we implement this in our daily lives? “It starts with small steps — seeing each task as an opportunity to serve, to contribute to something larger than ourselves. Whether checking a passenger at the airport or teaching a classroom full of students, every act can be an act of worship if done with this mindset. I would like to end by saying that spirituality can be as accessible as breathing, as close as our next action. I urge each of you to find that spiritual thread in your life’s fabric and to pull it gently, watching as it brings colour and coherence to the whole. Let us live not just for ourselves but as a beacon of peace and light to others,” Swamiji said.

As a mark of deep gratitude and reverence, Swami Sarvapriyananda and Swami Shantatmananda were presented a memento each – a shawl and green certificates – by Mrs Sushma Paul Berlia, Mr Aditya Berlia, and Dr Neha Berlia.

Giving a vote of thanks on behalf of Mr Nishant Berlia, Mr Aditya Berlia said: “I always relish the opportunity to express gratitude because I firmly believe that all great things start and end with gratitude. Now, I’d like everyone to close their eyes, take a deep breath, and for just a moment, think about three things you’re truly grateful for – it could be anything from today’s lecture to personal achievements,” he said and added as he commits to Artificial Intelligence and a global tour, teaching leaders worldwide, it becomes clear that this technology prompts us to reflect on our humanity, a core tenet of our educational philosophy.

“Our university’s founding documents don’t talk about education merely as a pathway to wealth or careers; they challenge us to embark on a lifelong journey of self-discovery, asking, ‘Who am I?’ I’m deeply thankful for the practical spiritual teachings, that show us how to incorporate these lessons into our daily lives. I remember my first introduction to spirituality through Swami Vivekananda’s works, which I read at a very young age, thanks to my grandfather and mother. This early exposure was crucial, especially for someone who struggled with a stammer. Overcoming this through public speaking was transformative, proving the power of spiritual words,” Mr Aditya Berlia said.

Looking forward, he shared, we face challenges like aging populations and the quest for purpose amid advancing AI. “This universal search for meaning is crucial, and it’s our responsibility to guide others in finding purpose, enriching their lives and ours. Thank you all, especially the teachers and Apeejay family, for your commitment and for making events like this meaningful through your presence and dedication,” Mr Aditya Berlia said. The memorial lecture came to an end with the singing of the National Anthem by the students of Apeejay.