Balkrishna

This article is about the businessman. For other uses, see Balkrishna (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with Bala Krishna.

Acharya Balkrishna
Born (1972-08-04) 4 August 1972 (age 52)
Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India
NationalityIndian[1][2]
Occupation(s)Ayurvedacharya, businessman
Known forPatanjali Ayurved
TitleMD/CEO, Patanjali Ayurved
Websiteacharyabalkrishna.com

Balkrishna (known as Acharya Balkrishna,[3] born 4 August 1972) is an Indian billionaire businessman and chairman of the consumer goods company Patanjali Ayurved. He was reported by Forbes to have a net worth of US$2.3 billion as of May 2021.[3][4][5][6] According to Ashish Kumar of Arya Samaj, Balkrishna has successfully established and managed a global business without a formal education.[7]

As per Forbes list of India’s 100 richest tycoons, dated 9 October 2024, Acharya Balkrishna is ranked 77th with a net worth of $4 billion.[8]

Early life

Balkrishna was born on 4 August 1972 in Haridwar, Uttarakhand (then Uttar Pradesh), to Nepalese immigrants, Sumitra Devi and Jay Vallabh Subedi originating from Syangja, Nepal.[2][1] He spent his childhood in Nepal. He returned to India and studied at Khanpur Gurukul in Haryana, where he met Ramdev.[2]

Career

On 5 January 1995,[9] Balkrishna, Ramdev, and Acharya Karamveer founded Divya Yoga Mandir Trust which was set up at the Kripalu Bagh Ashram in Haridwar.[9][10] This was followed in 2005 by the establishment of the Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust, which was given responsibility in 2022 for the establishment and management of the Bharatiya Shiksha Board.[11][12] In 2006, they founded Patanjali Ayurved,[13] a fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company involved in the manufacturing and trading of FMCG, herbal, and ayurvedic products.[14][citation needed] Followers of Ramdev, NRIs Sunita and Sarwan Poddar, helped kick-start the business with a loan. According to Balkrishna, he had taken out a ₹50–600 million loan at a time when he had never held a personal bank account in his name.[15] In 2012, the company posted a turnover of ₹4.5 billion (US$54 million) which by 2015–2016 had risen to ₹50 billion (US$600 million).[16] Patanjali Ayurved's revenue from operations increased marginally to ₹9,022.71 crore in the year up to 31 March 2020. Revenue stood at about ₹8,522.68 crore in FY19.[17]

While Ramdev does not hold a stake in Patanjali Ayurved, he is the face of the firm and endorses its products to his followers across his yoga camps and television programmes.[16] Balkrishna owns 94% of the company and serves as its managing director.[18][5] He is a close aide of Ramdev.[19] Acharya Balkrishna listed in India's 50 most influential personalities 2020.[20] He was reported India's third-youngest billionaire by Forbes India Rich List 2020.[21] He is also second billionaire of Nepalese origin.[22]


In March 2024, Balkrishna filed an unconditional apology before the Supreme Court for airing misleading advertisements on medicinal cures.

Personal life

Balkrishna lives in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, and is unmarried.[4]

Posts

  • General secretary, Divya Yog Mandir (Trust)[23]
  • General secretary, Patanjali Yogpeeth (Trust)[23]
  • Managing director, Patanjali Ayurved Limited[24]
  • Vice chancellor, Patanjali University[25]
  • General secretary, Patanjali Gramodhyog Trust[26]
  • Chief editor, Yog Sandesh[27]
  • General secretary, Patanjali Research Foundation[28]

Awards

  • Acharya Balkrishna was awarded the honorary Doctor of Literature degree by the Governor for the protection of Ayurveda and Indian knowledge tradition at the 10th convocation ceremony, Uttarakhand Sanskrit University.[29]
  • Balkrishna was awarded the Champions of Change award in 2019, for his work in the field of Ayurveda.[30][31]
  • Acharya Balkrishna was awarded the "UNSDG 10 Most Influential People in Healthcare Award", for his work in the healthcare sector.[32]
  • Acharya Balkrishna received "Best Wellness Impact Global Award" from the CFI.co.[33]
  • Acharya Balkrishna honoured with "Bheeshma Puraskar" by Sant Shree Gyaneshwar Gurukul, Pune.[34]
  • Acharya Balkrishna was awarded AIMA Managing India Award 2018 for the "Transformational Business Leader of the Year" by Central Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.[35]
  • Acharya Balkrishna was awarded "Shalin Manav Ratna Award – 2018" By Anoopam Mission for his contribution towards social welfare and Ayurveda.[36]
  • Acharya Balkrishna honoured with "Degree of Doctor of letter (Yoga) (Honoris Causa)" by S-Vyasa Deemed University Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana for outstanding work done in the field of Yoga and Ayurveda.[37]
  • Acharya Balkrishna was awarded "Indian of the Year Business Category – 2017" for his contribution to the country to strengthen the foundation of society and helping in building Brand India in the process; by CNN-News on 30 November 2017[38]
  • Acharya Balkrishna was awarded with "Jashn-e-Youngistan Samman for Business Icon of the Year" by News 24.[39]
  • Acharya Balkrishna was honoured with the "Lokmanya Tilak Award 2017" by Tilak Smarak Trust on 1 August 2017 for his contribution towards the promotion of Yoga & Ayurveda[40]
  • Acharya Balkrishna Ji awarded with "Bloomberg Special Recognition Award" by the India Brand Equity Foundation on 22 March 2016 for outstanding contribution in the field of Ayurveda.[41]
  • Acharya Balkrishna, was bestowed with the "Bharat Gaurav" award by Kaptan Singh Solanki, Governor of Haryana and Punjab in recognition of his amazing work in the field of Ayurveda at a programme organised by the Indian International Friendship Society at New Delhi in 2016.[42]

Literary career

Acharya Balkrishna has published more than 330 research articles in various national and international journals and has authored more than 200 books on yoga and Ayurveda and edited many unpublished ancient Ayurveda manuscripts. [43]

  • World Herbal Encyclopedia (111 Volumes)[44]
  • Flora of Rashtrapati Bhavan[44]
  • Medicinal Plants of Rashtrapati Bhavan[44]
  • Flora of Sijusa-Arunachal Pradesh[44]
  • Man Ke Manke Part-2[44]
  • World Botanical Part-6[44]
  • Ayurveda Siddhanta Rahasya[45]
  • Ayurveda Jadi-Buti Rahasya[45]
  • Bhojan Kutuhalam[45]
  • Ayurveda Mahodadhi[45]
  • Vichar Kranti[45]
  • Acharya, Balkrishna (2010). Vedic Nityakram Vidhi. Divya Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-89235-55-0.
  • Acharya, Balkrishna (2009). Syllabus of Yoga/Yog Siksha ka Pathyakram. Divya Prakashan. ISBN 978-93-85721-60-1.
  • Acharya, Balkrishna (2004). Divya Aushadiya Avam Saundriyakaran. Divya Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-89235-05-5.

References

  1. ^ a b "Nepal followers celebrate Ramdev Aid Acharya Balkrishna's birthday with pomp". www.daijiworld.com. 4 August 2011. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "बाबा रामदेव से कम नहीं है आचार्य बालकृष्ण का रुतबा अरबपतियों की लिस्ट में है शामिल; ऐसी है लाइफस्टाइल". jansatta.com (in Hindi). 8 January 2021. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b "A Billionaire With Fake Degrees And Passport - This Is Patanjali's CEO Acharya Balkrishna". indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Forbes profile: Acharya Balkrishna". Forbes. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Billionaire Baba: What makes Patanjali's Acharya Balkrishna one of India's richest". The Economic Times. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  6. ^ "How Acharya Balkrishna built a multi-crore company - Billionaire Baba". The Economic Times. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  7. ^ "आचार्य जी गुरुकुलीय परम्परा के गौरव हैं". Hindustan. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  8. ^ "India's 100 Richest".
  9. ^ a b Gandhi, A. K. (1 January 2021). The Rise and Rise of Baba Ramdev and Patanjali. Prabhat Prakashan.
  10. ^ Sarbacker, Stuart Ray (2014). "Swami Ramdev: Modern Yoga Revolutionary". In Singleton, Mark; Goldberg, Ellen (eds.). Gurus of Modern Yoga. Oxford University Press USA. ISBN 978-0-19-993872-8.
  11. ^ "establishment of Bharatiya Shiksha Board]". Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  12. ^ "responsibility for Bharitiya Shishka Board handed over to Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust". Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Billionaire Baba: What makes Patanjali's Acharya Balkrishna one of India's richest". The Economic Times. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  14. ^ "Ramdev turns his Ayurved enterprise into an FMCG empire". Business Standard. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  15. ^ "The man who owns 94% of Patanjali Ayurved". The Times of India.
  16. ^ a b Singh, Kanishka (14 September 2016). "How our craze for Patanjali made Ramdev aide Acharya Balkrishna one of the wealthiest Indians". The Indian Express. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  17. ^ "Patanjali revenue up marginally in FY20, net profit rises 22%". Financial Express.
  18. ^ "Should Patanjali's Dizzying Growth Worry the Competition?". The Wire. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  19. ^ "Ramdev's close aide and Patanjali CEO Acharya Balakrishna now worth Rs 25,600 crore". DNA. 14 September 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  20. ^ "India's 50 most influential personalities 2020". Yahoo News.
  21. ^ "Forbes India Rich List 2020: These are India's youngest billionaires". CNBC TV 18.
  22. ^ "Baba Ramdev's Patanjali CEO Acharya Balkrishna's alleged Nepal connection faces Twitter ire, #BoycottPatanjali trends". Newsd.in. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  23. ^ a b "Ramdev turns his Ayurved enterprise into an FMCG empire". Business Standard.
  24. ^ "Acharya Balkrishna receives 'UNSDG 10 Most Influential People in Healthcare Award". The New Indian Express.
  25. ^ http://dainiktribuneonline.com/2013/02/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF-%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3-%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BF-%E0%A4%B5/ [dead link‍]
  26. ^ "संग्रहीत प्रति". Archived from the original on 21 November 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  27. ^ "संग्रहीत प्रति". Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  28. ^ "संग्रहीत प्रति". Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  29. ^ "Scholars should promote and strengthen Sanskrit: Lt-Gen Singh". GarhwalPost.
  30. ^ Pioneer, The. "Acharya Balkrishna receives Champions of Change Award". The Pioneer.
  31. ^ "आचार्य बालकृष्ण को 'चैंपियंस ऑफ चेंज' अवार्ड, पूर्व राष्ट्रपति प्रणव मुखर्जी ने किया सम्मानित". Amar Ujala.
  32. ^ "Acharya Balkrishna receives UNSDG 10 Most Influential People in Healthcare Award". Business Standard.
  33. ^ "Acharya Balkrishna (Patanjali Ayurved): Best Wellness Impact Global 2019". cfi.co.
  34. ^ "आचार्य बालकृष्ण भीष्म पुरस्कार से सम्मानित". Hindustan Hindi News.
  35. ^ "आचार्य बालकृष्ण बन गए 'बिजनेस लीडर', मिला एक और अवॉर्ड". अमर उजाला.
  36. ^ "आचार्य बालकृष्ण शालीन मानवरत्न पुरस्कार से सम्मानित". Hindustan Hindi News.
  37. ^ "आचार्य बालकृष्ण के नाम जुड़ी एक और उपलब्धि, इस काम के लिए डी.लिट की उपाधि से हुआ सम्मान". अमर उजाला Hindi News.
  38. ^ "CNN-News18 Indian of the Year – Indian of the Year in Business – Acharya Balkrishna". news18.
  39. ^ "News 24 honours man who scares MNCs – Acharya Balkrishna". न्यूज़२४.
  40. ^ "आचार्य बालकृष्ण लोकमान्य तिलक अवार्ड से सम्मानित". Hindustan Hindi News.
  41. ^ "PATANJALI AYURVED LIMITED". IBEF : India Brand Equity Foundation.
  42. ^ "Haryana Guv presents Balkrishna 'Bharat Gaurav' award". The Pioneer.
  43. ^ Bhaskar, RN (9 August 2020). "Clinical trials for Ayurvedic cure of COVID-19 are underway, says Patanjali's Acharya Balkrishna". The Free Press Journal. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  44. ^ a b c d e f "Acharya Balkrishna's birthday celebrated as Herbs Day in Patanjali". TheStatesman.
  45. ^ a b c d e "आचार्य बालकृष्ण: धर्म व संस्कृति, आधुनिक, विश्व विख्यात, योग आर्युवेदाचार्य". panchjanya.