Swargeeya Sri A. Balakrishnan ji President of Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Vivekananda Kendra left his mortal body on 26 August 2026, after prolonged sickness. Though, he was sick, he was still very active, taking full interest in the work in Vivekanandapuram, the headquarters of Vivekananda Kendra and also sending appeals all over the country for the developmental Works that kendra wants to take up. He was part of that vision of Swami Vivekananda of rebuilding new India from mountains and forests which Eknathji translated into action.
"Let New India arise in your place. Let her arise — out of the peasants' cottage, grasping the plough; out of the huts of the fisherman, the cobbler, and the sweeper. Let her spring from the grocer's shop, from beside the oven of the fritter-seller. Let her emanate from the factory, from marts, and from markets. Let her emerge from groves and forests, from hills and mountains..." envisaged Swami Vivekananda. This vision of Swami Vivekananda inspired Eknathji Ranade the founder of Vivekananda Kendra.
Seeing the immense potentiality and simplicity of the people of North-East, Sri Eknathji Ranade decided to start work in North East particularly in Arunachal Pradesh. The Lieutenant Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Shri K A A Raja also was in the search of an organisation which can take up the work in the field of education in Arunachal Pradesh. It was a Divine plan that both of them met in the early phase of Vivekananda Kendra in 1973 when the training of the first batch of Jeevanvratis of Vivekananda Kendra was going on. And they decided to take up the educational work extensively. But there was a difficulty. Arunachal Pradesh was in those days, inaccessible, full of forest, mountains, rivers but no roads, no bridges. Therefore, even to decide where to start the schools, one would have to do survey to decide the proper sites for the schools and for that would have to go from place to place in inaccessible areas where there were no roads and no basic facilities. Thus Eknathji required such a person who was not deterred by any difficulty and was ready to take up any physical work, who demanded no facilities and had unending source of enthusiasm. Sri Eknathji found such person in the very first batch of life workers in A. Balakrishnan.
Really, it must be the God’s will that work in Arunachal Pradesh should take place that is why Sri Eknathji met Sri K A A Raja and Sri Eknathji found right Karyakarta for the work in Arunachal Pradesh in Balakrishnanji in the very first batch of Jeevanvratis.
After his brief service in Air Force, Sri Balakrishnanji joined Vivekananda Kendra. After the initial training of nine months which was given by Eknathji at Kanyakumari for all those who joined Kendra, Shri Balakrishnanji was sent to Arunachal Pradesh, specifically and to Northeast in general. After the training of Jeevanvratis, Eknathji used to post at least 40 % of the Jeevanvratis from each batch to North East.
Eknathji had a very practical and basic thinking in starting the schools. He did not want to start the schools immediately, first he selected candidates who were ready to become teachers in such far off areas where no communications were available. These teachers were first posted in various government schools as teachers. The idea was that they prove their metal by staying in such interior areas, they understand the people there and become one with them. Only then they would become worthy to work in Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalayas. As per the plan, Eknathji had selected many young candidates to join as teachers in far-flung areas.
The very first work assigned to Balakrishnanji was to survey the areas and finalise various locations to start the schools and also to visit all the government schools in those difficult areas where these young men were posted as teachers. It was not an easy job at all.
There were such interior areas in those days that people in those areas had neither seen the railway, nor the bus, but they had seen helicopter as in some difficult times, through helicopter, the food was dropped for them. That’s how they had seen the helicopter but not trains or buses.
The teachers were from different states so unfortunately any news of demise of their parents, would not reach them immediately. The family members would inform the administrative office of Kendra which was earlier in Shillong and then in Dibrugarh. From there the message would be sent to the nearest military camp. From there army would make arrangements to inform the concerned teacher. And that teacher to travel back to his place would take at least few days by travelling by jeep, then by boats, at times by riding elephant, then by bus, then by train etc. Again, no certainty in it. If the water in Brahmaputra changes sometimes they would have to spend night in between two streams on sand.
Balakrishnanji’s work was to keep up the sprit of these Karyakartas and teachers. Once Eknathji got information that one teacher posted in Anini was sick as he had lost his mental balance. Eknathji instructed Balakrishnanji to go to Anini and to bring the teacher to Assam for treatment. Anini was very interior. From Roing one had to walk and climb for seven days to reach Anini. Balakrishnanji went to Anini got the teacher and with local help brought him down to Roing and then to Assam. Such were the difficulties due to inaccessible terrain. Anini was such difficult terrain that only in 2021 Vivekananda Kendra could start Vidyalaya there. Balakrishnanji never hesitated. He could stay anywhere. He could spend nights many times if required, even in between the two streams of Brahmaputra. All this was done smilingly.
With all this initial preparation for three years, Vivekananda Kendra started 7 residential Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalayas in 1977. Within couple of years another five Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalayas were started. Naturally, the work increased manifold. Balakrishnanji, other Jeevanvratis and the teachers worked so hard in those difficult days that strong foundation was laid for more Vidyalayas and Arun Jyoti the multipurpose service project working through five forums.
The responsibilities of Balakrishnanji increased as be became Zonal organise. His travels in difficult areas continued. He must have faced many difficulties but he never narrated them as few others would do. He was always smiling, happy to travel. How could he do that? Balakrishnanji himself shared the secret few times. He had immense faith in Ishvara. His Shraddha in Ishvara was total. He used to say, ‘I have immense faith in Ishvara thus nothing bad can happen. He takes care of me.’ It was that immense faith in him, which made him capable of facing any difficulties whether in personal life or in organisation. His military background had given him the strong constitution. Even when he was sick, his voice would be stentorian and booming.
1981 he was given the responsibility of General Secretary of Vivekananda Kendra. Since then two decades as General Secretary another two decades as All India Vice President and since 2020 as All India President till his demise on 26 August 2026 he was in All India responsibility for 46 years and impacted the work of Vivekananda Kendra an organisation which is now 54 years old.
Balakrishnanji
courageously stood for whatever he thought was right but also had an open mind
to choose at every step. He was a very warm person. Whosoever met him always
remembered his warmth, his kindness, and also his smiling face. He was very
compassionate at times to the fault with all including animals like cows, dogs and
birds. Organisations grow when it has
such Karyakartas at the helm of affairs who are one with the work and who do
not hesitate to take up what is required to be taken up in the context of
changed times. He would sail with the team and with very few exceptions aligned
with their plans. It is this quality of Balakrishnanji, which contributed for
the growth of Vivekananda Kendra as it stands today. He is no more around
physically, but his blessings will continue to help the Kendra to move forward
on its path of Man -Making and Nation-Building as envisaged by Swami
Vivekananda and as translated into action through Vivekananda Kendra by Sri
Eknathji Ranade.
Nivedita Raghunath Bhide
