Acharya Balkrishna

Some Lesser Known Facts About Balkrishna

• His father, Jay Vallabh Subedi was a security officer in an ‘Ashram’ (Hermitage) in Uttarakhand.

• Balkrishna joined Kalwa Gurukul in Haryana. After receiving his primary and secondary education, he travelled across India to study plants and their medicinal values.

  

• In the early 1990s, Balkrishna met Baba Ramdev for the first time at Tripura Yoga Ashram, Kankhal, Haridwar. Gradually, they became fast friends.

• In 1993, Balkrishna along with Baba Ramdev went to the Himalayas near Gangotri, Uttarakhand.

  

• In the 1990s, he along with Baba Ramdev used to sell ‘Chyawanprash’ in Haridwar. He could easily be seen in the streets of Haridwar in those days.

  

• Because of having lots of knowledge of herbs and Ayurveda, many people requested him to sell medicines for common problems. Slowly and steadily, he established an organisation of ayurvedic medicines and treatment.

• In 1995, they (he and Baba Ramdev) established a trust, “Patanjali Divya Yoga Mandir” in Haridwar. They also founded the “Divya Pharmacy,” a unit to manufacture ayurvedic medicines.

  

• On 23 October 2004, he was honoured by the former Indian President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
  with certificates, appreciation letters during a Yoga Camp in the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

  

• In 2006, he and Baba Ramdev founded a consumer goods company, Patanjali Ayurved Limited. Later, the company went on to become the fastest-growing FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) company in the 2010s.

• In 2007, Balkrishna was honoured by the Government of Nepal for his research in Ayurveda and Culture.

• In 2012, Balkrishna was bestowed with the Sujana Shri award by Veeranjaneya Foundation for his marvellous contribution to yoga and herbal plants.

• On 23 February 2014, he was honoured by the then Cheif Minister of Gujarat (Later, Prime Minister of India), Narendra Modi at an Ayurveda Summit held in Gujarat.

  

• Till 2016, he was awarded 13 awards/titles. Some of them are-Bloomberg Special Recognition Award, Felicitation by Canada India Network Society, Felicitation in Nepal’s Cabinet, Bharat Gaurav Award, and many others.

  

• Balkrishna owns 98% stakes in Patanjali Ayurved. The company entered the Hurun India Rich List 2017 with a notable amount of Rs. 25,600 crore. ^[7]Business Today

• His supporters celebrate his birthday as “Jadi Booti Diwas” (Herbs Day).

• Despite being the CEO and MD of Patanjali Ayurveda, he does not take any salary.

• Balkrishna serves as the Chief Editor of a magazine “Yog Sandesh,” which promotes Yoga and Ayurveda. Along with his co-authors, he has written 41 research papers. All of them are related to Ayurveda and Yoga.

  

• In 2018, his company opened a subsidiary named “Patanjali Food and Herbal Park in Uttarakhand.

• On 25 May 2019, the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) named him among the world’s 10 influential people. He was also conferred with the UNSDG Healthcare Award in Geneva, Switzerland.

• In August 2019, he complained of giddiness and chest pain after which he was admitted to AIIMS in Rishikesh. Soon after, he was discharged and recovered completely.