Dr. Ramaswami Balasubramaniam (Balu) is a development scholar, author,[1] public policy advocate, leadership trainer and activist,known for his pioneering development work with rural and tribal people in Saragur of Heggadadevana kote taluk, near Mysore in Karnataka, India. He founded Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM), a development organization based in Saragur when he was 19. After spending 26 years in development work among rural and tribal people, he pursued academic degrees in leadership, organisational development and public policy. He was the Frank H T Rhodes Professor at Cornell University between 2012 to 2014, and continues to hold academic positions in other universities. His book I, the citizen is a compilation of narratives and reflections of a development activist and was released in 2015 by the Prime Minister's office. He is also the Chairman of Grassroots Research And Advocacy Movement (GRAAM)at Vivekananda Institute for Leadership Development, Mysore.

His quaifications include MPhil in Hospital and Health Systems Management at Birla Institute of Technology and Science and Masters in Public Administration at John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

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