Memorial for Dr. Bala V. Balachandran to come up at Great Lakes Institute of Management
In honour of Padma Shri Dr. Bala V. Balachandran, founder, chairman of the Board, and Dean Emeritus of Great Lakes Institute of Management in Chennai, a memorial will be built on campus.
The announcement was made today at Great Lakes Institute on Founder’s Day by late Dr Bala’s son, Professor Sudhakar Balachandran, Director of MBA Graduate Studies & Associate Professor of Accounting at the University of Illinois, Chicago, in the presence of Shri Vasantha Balachandran, Dr. Suresh Ramanathan, Dean, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, and Gautam Lakhamraju, Chief Operating Officer, Great Lakes Institute of Management. To mark the event, a video detailing his inspiring life path was released, and trees were planted.
“The location might become a place of contemplation for a lot of people,” Dr. Sudhakar added. Dr. Bala’s principles will be shown during the memorial.” He also recalled Dr. Bala’s words. “My father always told me to have a vision and the confidence to carry it out.”
Mohan Lakhamraju, Founder and CEO of Great Learning and Chairman of Great Lakes Institute of Management, recalled his relationship with Dr. Bala, saying, “I began out as a business partner for him 11 years ago.” But as time passed, our bond grew, and he finally became my mentor, adviser, and family member. He was constantly full of joy, enthusiasm, and optimism.”
“I met Dr Bala three years ago,” said Dr Suresh Ramanathan, Dean of the Great Lakes Institute of Management. He had given me his full support, and he kept his word by mentoring and guiding me through the adventure. People like him are uncommon, particularly in the way he empathises and immerses himself in your life. Dr. Bala’s dream will continue on and remain powerful.”
Professor Bala V. Balachandran was born on July 5, 1937, and died on September 28, 2021, in Chicago, following a brief illness. Northwestern University’s A J L Kellogg Distinguished Professor of Accounting and Information Management (emeritus in service) briefly served in the Indian Army before moving to the United States to pursue his doctoral studies. From then, my great career as a Professor, Consultant, Mentor, Author, Entrepreneur, Life Coach, and many other things began. In 2004, he founded the Great Lakes Institute of Management, which now has a campus in Gurgaon and is regarded as one of the greatest business schools in the country. In 2001, he got the fourth highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri, for his contributions to education.
His memorial site is envisioned as a partially closed and partially open structure, and it is scheduled to be built near the resource centre, which is located in a peaceful region on the Great Lakes campus. His entire life journey, from humble beginnings to how he built Great Lakes Institute of Management, as well as his contributions to the country and business management education, will be displayed in an appealing manner so that students, staff, faculty, corporate, and other visitors can be inspired.
The video, which was released today, concisely encapsulates all of Professor Bala’s professional achievements, from his days as a student to his time in the army, to his time as an established researcher and teacher in the United States, to his return to India and the establishment of the Great Lakes Institute of Management.
READ ALSO: OMRON Healthcare introduces high-quality medical molecular sieve Oxygen concentrator
