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Ambassador of goodwill
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Research scientist and consultant Dr. Bala V. Balachandran was recently honoured by the Rotary Club of Madras Southwest for his work in the field of business management.
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At the For The Sake Of Honour award function... promoting excellence.
The Rotary Club of Madras Southwest conferred For The Sake of Honour award on the research scientist and consultant Padmashri Dr. Bala V. Balachandran on November 22 at the Madras Cricket Club, Chepauk. Rotary Clubs are organisations of business and professional leaders providing humanitarian service, while encouraging high ethical standards in all vocations.
Many Indians have distinguished themselves in alien soil. But only a few have chosen to give back something enduring to their country. Dr. Balachandran, a professor of accounting and management at the J. L. Kellogg University, Illinois, U.S., is the brain behind the recently established Indian Business School at Hyderabad. Consultant to major Indian companies as well as to the Governments of Israel, Peru and Malaysia, and to the U.S. Air Force, he is also an advisor to the Planning Commission and the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
The function began with the welcome address of Rotarian president Mr. Naresh M. Mehta, who gave a quick resume of the Rotary movement. Founded by Paul Harris in Chicago in 1905, the Rotary movement supports humanitarian projects all over the world. The weekly meetings initiated by the founder "rotated" among the offices of the members, providing the new service club with its name. Every Rotarian is expected to bring the same competence, skill, enthusiasm and commitment to the business of mankind. Rotary has done exceptional service in numerous avenues, particularly in area of health care by concentrating on the eradication of polio, world over. They also focus on vocational service and honour people who have distinguished themselves through selfless service to society.
Every year, a non-Rotarian is chosen to receive this prestigious award. In the previous years, this award from Rotary Southwest was conferred on Sivaji Ganesan, Harry Miller, S. Vidyakar and others, who have made exceptional contributions to their chosen professions.
Past district governor Mr. Ganghadaran also reaffirmed Rotary's commitment to service and the need for offering one's time, talent and resources for society. He also commended the good work the club has been doing by its involvement with Matri Mandir, an organisation for mentally challenged children.
The citation was read and handed over by the chief guest, Mr. N. Srinivasan (vice-chairman and managing director, the India Cements Ltd.) to Dr. Balachandran, whose acceptance speech was made with characteristic simplicity.
Dr. Balachandran wore his knowledge and degrees lightly and with humility, which goes traditionally hand in hand with true wisdom. He traced the beginning of liberalisation in India from 1991, when the climate became propitious for business.
He recalled that the first business conference he had arranged in the U.S. was a trendsetter in more ways than one. He had been attempting to promote better relations between U.S. and India by arranging for students from Kellogg's to come to India. Dr. Bala perceives that the present interaction augurs well for the future of United States and India.
Guest of honour, Mr. Mahindra of Godrej Sara Lee Ltd, felicitated Dr. Bala. Mr. N. Srinivasan spoke on the challenges of globalisation in the context of the Indian economy. He stressed upon the need to achieve world-class standards in order to succeed.
He observed that in the late 1960s it would have been impossible to envisage a business climate of this nature. The government must have policies that will attract investments in the future. He concluded on a positive note that we have the capacity to succeed provided we shed our complacency.
The evening came to an end with the customary vote of thanks followed by fellowship and dinner hosted by the club.
PREMA SRINIVASAN
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