Smt. Meenakshi Balakrishnan was born on 25th September, 1934 to Smt. Anasuya Devi and Sri. Rangaswamy Iyer in a small village in Tamil Nadu. She was only a year old when she lost her father. Her mother then moved to Bangalore with both her daughters.
While growing up in Bangalore, Smt. Meenakshi received her early education at Maharashtra Mahila Vidyalaya and later at Maharani's College where she developed a lifelong love for learning.
In 1955, she got married to Mr G. S Balakrishnan, an Officer from the Indian Foreign Services. When her husband was stationed in Geneva, she immersed herself in securing a B.A. from Delhi University in the year 1968.
She later joined her husband and during their stay abroad, she worked at the Education Department of the Indian Embassy in Washington D.C. She later worked for The New York Times in New Delhi as an Assistant to the Bureau Chief. In the year 1972, she worked briefly with Sri. Vikram Sarabhai, the renowned physicist. Her travels and work assignments gave her a deep understanding and respect for diverse cultures and people, which she carried throughout her life.
In 1974, she completed her B. Ed from R. V Teacher’s College, Bangalore. In the year 1975, after the sudden demise of our Founder, Smt. Anasuya Devi (her mother) Smt. Meenakshi Balakrishnan who was an apprentice until now, was catapulted into the role of the Head Mistress of Sri Kumaran Children’s Home (SSLC).
It was while serving as the Principal of the institution that she completed her post-graduation in Political Science from Bangalore University in the year 1977. It was clear that her appetite for learning was insatiable.
She then took on the responsibility of leading Sri Kumaran Children's Home to greater heights by expanding thoughtfully and meaningfully. Beginning with a Pre-university college in the year 1991, she went on to set up an I.C.S.E school in Tata Silk Farm and a C.B.S.E school in Doddakallasandra in the year 1995. Both these schools moved to bigger campuses in Mallasandra in 2009. Not willing to rest on her laurels, she also went on to establish a new C.B.S.E school in Doddakallasandra in 2013.
Being a firm believer in holistic development, she also introduced new programs and facilities such as the Sadhanam Resource Room in schools as early as 1985.
Though a strict disciplinarian, she was also known for her gentle heart that laid emphasis on creating a nurturing environment where students felt loved and supported.
She passed away on October 1st, 2015, after a lifetime of service to education and society. A compassionate leader and an exceptional educator, she leaves behind an inspiring legacy of excellence and service that continues to guide the Kumaran community to this day.
In her honour, October 1st is observed as Seva Day at the Kumaran group of schools to commemorate her passion for making a difference to people’s lives.
