Bala V Balachandran (J L Kellogg Distinguished Professor of Accounting & Information Management (emeritus in service), Northwestern University; and Founder, Chairman, and Dean (emeritus) of Great Lakes Institute of Management passed away at Chicago after a brief illness. He was 84.
Born in Pudukottai, Prof Bala (or ‘Uncle Bala’ as he was fondly known) completed his collegiate education at the Annamalai University, Chidambaram, served in the Indian Army briefly before departing to the US to pursue his doctoral studies. From there began an illustrious career as professor, consultant, mentor, author, entrepreneur, life coach and so much more.
He helped recruit the first set of faculty members to IIM Bangalore in the late 60s, set up the Management Department at the MDI at Gurgaon through a joint collaboration with UNDP, Wharton and Kellogg. Working closely with N Chandrababu Naidu, his vision for a one-year-fast-track MBA programme for working professionals was realised with the ISB in 2000 where he was on the Dean-search, faculty and curriculum committees. In 2004, he trained his sights on his native Tamil Nadu to set up Great Lakes Institute of Management which today has another campus at Gurgaon and is one of the best B-schools in the country. He received the fourth highest civilian award — the Padma Shri in 2001 for his contribution to education.
An eminent scholar, full of warmth and joie de vivre , Prof Balachandran lived the life of a true ‘Karma Yogi’ often stressing to his students that to do one’s duty in life was the best accomplishment of all. His life was filled with accomplishments and accolades of the finest kind.
He is survived by his wife, Vasantha Balachandran, sons Dr Sudhakar Balachandran (University of Illinois at Chicago) and Dr Diwakar Balachandran (Anderson Cancer Center at Houston), their wives and grandchildren.