Vivekananda Kendra president Balakrishnan passes away

All India President of Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Vivekananda Kendra, Kanniyakumari A. Balakrishnan, 88, passed away at 12:05 am on Thursday at a private hospital in Nagercoil, due to age-related ailments.

The body has been kept at Vivekananda Kendra in Kanniyakumari, and last rites will be conducted on Saturday (August 29).

Balakrishnan served as general secretary of Vivekananda Kendra from 1981 to 2001 and its vice-president from 2001 to 2020. He had been serving as its president since 2020.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his ‘X’ account posted that he was deeply saddened by the passing of Balakrishnan.

Prime Minister said Balakrishnan had devoted more than five decades of his life to the ideals of Swami Vivekananda and to serving society. He added that Balakrishnan had worked tirelessly across the country and had a particularly deep association with the northeast. He had played an important role in educational, social and nation-building activities, Mr. Modi noted.

The Prime Minister offered his heartfelt condolences to the entire Vivekananda Kendra family and his admirers.