Dr. R. Balasubramaniam

Dr. R. Balasubramaniam, fondly known as Dr. Balu, is a rare blend of visionary leadership, deep humility, and tireless service. A trained medical doctor who chose the path of nation-building over personal ambition, Dr. Balu founded the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM) in 1984. What began as a modest health initiative has, over four decades, transformed into a movement empowering rural and tribal communities across India through health, education, and grassroots development.

With over 30 years of field experience, Dr. Balu brings a rare depth of insight and institutional experience to India’s policy landscape. A Harvard-educated Eisenhower Fellow, he currently serves as a Member at NITI Aayog, India’s premier public policy think tank. His distinguished public service includes serving as a Special Investigator for the Lokpal of India and as a member of the Capacity Building Commission, alongside his contributions to national frameworks spanning governance, tribal welfare, ethics, and anti-corruption.

But his influence doesn’t stop at the grassroots or the corridors of power. As a visiting faculty at global institutions like Cornell University and the Indian Institute of Technologies (IITs), Dr. Balu continues to bridge the worlds of lived experience and academic excellence. His books: I, the Citizen, Voices from the Grassroots, and Leadership Lessons for Daily Living are essential reads for anyone seeking to understand how personal integrity and public leadership can go hand in hand.

Dr. Balu’s life is a masterclass in leadership where service meets strategy, vision meets action, and change begins from within. For young changemakers and policy professionals, his journey is both an invitation and a roadmap- to lead with purpose, humility, and unwavering resolve.