Chennai: Management guru Bala V Balachandran, J L Kellogg Distinguished Professor of Accounting and Information Management (emeritus in service), Northwestern University and founder,chairman and dean (emeritus) of Great Lakes Institute of Management, India passed away at Chicago in US after a brief illness. He was 84.
He is survived by his wife, two sons and grand children. A release from Great Lakes Institute of Management here said born in Pudukottai, Prof Bala (or āUncle Balaā 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.
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.
He received the fourth highest civilian award ā the Padma Shri in 2001 for his contribution to education.
Chief Minister M K Stalin and India Cements vice-chairman and MD N Srinivasan among others condoled the death of Bala Balachandran. In his message, Stalin described him as a great educationalist.