Balkrishna
Balkrishna | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 4, 1972 Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, writer |
| Known for | Co-founder and managing director of Patanjali Ayurved |
Balkrishna (born 4 August 1972) is an Indian entrepreneur, writer, and co-founder as well as managing director of Patanjali Ayurved. According to Forbes, his net worth was estimated at billion in May 2021,[1][2] rising to US$3.6 billion by 2025.[3] He has also been ranked among the top 100 wealthiest individuals in India by Forbes.[4]
Early life
Born on 4 August 1972 in Haridwar, Uttarakhand (previously part of Uttar Pradesh), Balkrishna hails from a family of Nepalese immigrants originating from Syangja, Nepal. He spent his early years in Nepal before moving back to India for education at Khanpur Gurukul in Haryana, where he formed a connection with Ramdev.
Career
On 5 January 1995, Balkrishna, together with Ramdev and Acharya Karamveer, established the Divya Yoga Mandir Trust at the Kripalu Bagh Ashram located in Haridwar. The Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust was created in 2005 and later entrusted in 2022 with overseeing the formation and administration of the Bharatiya Shiksha Board. The following year, they launched Patanjali Ayurved, a company focused on herbal and ayurvedic fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). Initial capital was raised from Ramdev’s supporters, including NRIs Sunita and Sarwan Poddar, while Balkrishna arranged a loan between ₹50–600 million despite not having a personal bank account at that time.
From ₹30 crore in 2012, Patanjali Ayurved’s revenue surged to ₹500 crore by 2015–2016. By March 2020, turnover had grown slightly to ₹9,022.71 crore from ₹8,522.68 crore in FY19. While Ramdev acts as the brand ambassador and public representative promoting products through yoga events and media appearances, Balkrishna holds a 94% ownership stake and operates as managing director. He is widely regarded as Ramdev’s trusted associate.
In 2020, Balkrishna was named among the 50 most influential Indians and featured as India's third-youngest billionaire on the Forbes India Rich List. He is also recognized as the second billionaire of Nepalese descent.
In 2025, he initiated the Patanjali Organic Research Institute aimed at advancing organic agriculture throughout India.
Personal life
Balkrishna lives in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, and has chosen to remain unmarried.
Positions
- Vice Chancellor – Patanjali University, Haridwar
- General Secretary – Divya Yog Mandir (Trust), Haridwar
- General Secretary – Patanjali Yogpeeth (Trust), Haridwar
- General Secretary – Patanjali Research Foundation
- General Secretary – Patanjali Gramodhyog Trust
- Chairman – Patanjali Foods
- Chairman & Managing Director – Patanjali Ayurved Limited, Haridwar
- Chief Editor – Yog Sandesh
- Managing Director – Vedic Broadcasting Ltd.
- Managing Director – Patanjali Food and Herbal Park, Padartha, Haridwar
- General Secretary – Bhartiya Shiksha Board
Awards
- Awarded an honorary Doctor of Literature degree by the Uttarakhand Governor for contributions to Ayurveda and Indian traditional knowledge during Uttarakhand Sanskrit University's tenth convocation.
- Received the Champions of Change award in 2019 recognizing accomplishments in Ayurveda.
- Named among the UNSDG 10 Most Influential People in Healthcare for significant impact on healthcare.
- Honored with the Best Wellness Impact Global Award from CFI.co for exemplary entrepreneurial leadership and consistent business expansion.
- Presented with the Bheeshma Puraskar by Sant Shree Gyaneshwar Gurukul, Pune.
- Earned the AIMA Managing India Award 2018 as "Transformational Business Leader of the Year," conferred by Central Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.
- Conferred with the Shalin Manav Ratna Award – 2018 by Anoopam Mission for contributions toward social welfare and Ayurveda.
- Received an honorary Doctor of Letters (Yoga) degree from S-Vyasa Deemed University acknowledging outstanding achievements in Yoga and Ayurveda.
- Recognized as CNN–News18 Indian of the Year (Business Category) – 2017 for efforts in strengthening societal foundations and promoting Brand India.
- Awarded the Jashn-e-Youngistan Samman for Business Icon of the Year by News 24.
- Honored with the Lokmanya Tilak Award 2017 from Tilak Smarak Trust for advancing Yoga and Ayurveda.
- Received the Bloomberg Special Recognition Award from India Brand Equity Foundation in 2016 for contributions to Ayurveda.
- Presented with the Bharat Gaurav award by Governors of Haryana and Punjab in 2016 acknowledging significant accomplishments in Ayurveda.
Literary Contributions
Acharya Balkrishna has contributed extensively to the fields of yoga and Ayurveda, with over 330 research papers published in both national and international periodicals. He has also authored upwards of 200 books and played a significant role in editing numerous ancient Ayurveda manuscripts that were previously unpublished.
Key Publications
- World Herbal Encyclopedia (spanning 111 volumes)
- Flora of Rashtrapati Bhavan
- Medicinal Plants of Rashtrapati Bhavan
- Flora of Sijusa-Arunachal Pradesh
- Man Ke Manke Part-2
- World Botanical Part-6
- Ayurveda Siddhanta Rahasya
- Ayurveda Jadi-Buti Rahasya
- Bhojan Kutuhalam
- Ayurveda Mahodadhi
- Vichar Kranti
- Vedic Nityakram Vidhi (2010)
- Syllabus of Yoga/Yog Siksha ka Pathyakram (2009)
- Divya Aushadiya Avam Saundriyakaran (2004)
Prominent Books
- 'Secrets of Indian Herbs for Good Health' (2008), published by Divya Prakashan
- 'Jadi Buti Rahasya' (2014), Divya Prakashan
- 'Ayurved Siddhanth Rahasya' (2013), Divya Prakashan
- 'Ayurved Jadi Buti Rahasya'
- 'Upchar Paddhati'
- 'Hansraj-Nidanam', Divya Prakashan
- 'Harmekhala' (2015), Divya Prakashan
- 'Grow with Yoga' (2018), National Book Trust India
- 'Hridaya Deepak Nighantu' (2016), Divya Prakashan
- 'Grihastha Yog Sadhak Ke Gun' (2017)