ITANAGAR, SEP 3:
Arunachal Pradesh Education, RWD and Tourism Minister PD Sona joined dignitaries and representatives from various organisations in paying floral tribute to former Vivekananda Kendra and Vivekananda Rock Memorial president A. Balakrishnan at a Shradhanjali Sabha held here to honour his memory.
Addressing the gathering, Sona said he was there to pay his deep respect to a remarkable personality whose life was dedicated to service, education and nation-building.
Recalling Balakrishnan’s contribution to the education sector in Arunachal Pradesh through the Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya (VKV) movement, Sona said his dedicated work touched countless lives and helped nurture generations with the values of discipline, character and service to society.
“His ideals and legacy will continue to guide and inspire us,” Sona said.
Among those who paid tribute were Arunachal Pradesh Vivekananda Trust president Dr Joram Begi, Vivekananda Kendra Prant Pramukh Pai Dawe, Vivekananda Trust Education Secretary Suhata Nayak, Assistant Organising Secretary Priyanka Gupta, VKV Alumni Association chairman Dr Mingam Pertin, IFCSAP General Secretary Maya Murtem, RSS Prant Sanghatak Nido Saktar and IFS Ranphoa Ngowa.
Several officers, public leaders, social workers, parents and teaching faculty from VKV schools in the Capital Complex also attended the ceremony.
Balakrishnan is remembered for his pioneering contribution to expanding education in remote parts of Arunachal Pradesh and the Northeast. He joined Vivekananda Kendra as a Jeevanvrati (life-worker) in 1973 under its founder Eknathji Ranade after serving in the Indian Air Force. He subsequently served as General Secretary from 1981 to 2001, Vice-President from 2001 to 2020 and All India President from 2020 until his death in 2026.
His contribution was particularly significant in Arunachal Pradesh, where he helped establish and expand the VKV movement in difficult-to-reach areas at a time when road connectivity was limited. At the request of the state government, the first VKVs in the state were opened at Sher and Balijan in 1977.
The VKV network has since expanded to 44 schools across Arunachal Pradesh, providing formal education in remote and tribal areas.
The 44th VKV, at Tato in Shi-Yomi district, was recently approved and made functional. Tato falls in the assembly constituency represented by Minister PD Sona.
