Lucknow University
Lucknow University
Balakrishnan moved to Lucknow University to pursue higher studies. For the first time he moved out of his familiar surroundings in Kerala. Life seemed to expand its horizons as he met people from other cultural zones. He lived in Butler Hostel and wrote to his mother in Malayalam on February 26, 1941. This is the earliest letter preserved in Chinmaya Archives.
Sri P.K.S. Kutty writes about his memory of Balan of those days in his book Years of Laughter: Reminiscences of a Cartoonist.
It was here that he formed his deep friendship with Narendra Shroff, whose demise marked a turning point in his life and opened the gates of spiritual commitment.
St. Thomas College
From 1937 to 1939, Balakrishnan pursued his undergraduate studies in St. Thomas College, Thrissur.
A picture of the page from the Admissions Register at St. Thomas College showing the entry for Balakrishna Menon.
The certificate from St. Thomas College stating that Balakrishna Menon did his B.A there from 1937 to 1939.
Vivekodayam Boys High School
Vivekodayam Boys’ High School
Balakrishnan studied in the Vivekodayam Boys’ High School, Thrissur. He had the highest respect for the Headmaster. When a new wing of the school was made, the building was dedicated to Gurudev and named Chinmaya Block. Pujya Gurudev laid the foundation stone of the building on November 24, 1975.
During one of his visits to the school, Gurudev met his own teacher, who had imparted basic education to him, and immediately prostrated to him and touched his feet. This shows his innate humility, deep respect for teachers and the great value he attached to education.
Gurudev conducted a jnana yajna in Thrissur in 1974 and took the opportunity to pay a visit to his old school and wrote in the Visitors’ Book. The school brought out a souvenir to mark its Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in 1977 and Pujya Gurudev gave a message.
Sri Rama Varma High School
Sri Rama Varma High School
Balakrishnan got his primary education up to the fifth standard in Sri Rama Varma High School in Ernakulam. His aunt Aniyathi, known as Kutty Paru Amma, supervised his homework with strict discipline and helped him mould his handwriting with her tireless efforts.
