On the occasion of his birthday, Acharya Balkrishna Ji, the quiet force behind Patanjali’s global success, sat down with Richa Jain Kalra for a heart-to-heart that traced not just a business story, but a lifelong commitment to Ayurveda. It was more than just a conversation; it was a reflection of decades spent learning from nature, honoring India’s ancient knowledge systems, and reshaping the way the world views holistic health.Many years ago, when Patanjali was still a common man, Balkrishna Ji was thoroughly entrenched in the life of jadibootis, medicinal plants which are the very foundation of Ayurvedic medicine. His memories since childhood are laden with forests, roots, folk wisdom, and a quiet curiosity about how nature possesses solutions to so many human woes.
CREDIT: TOI LIFESTYLE DESK
During the interview, he revealed something that truly reflected the core of his purpose. He stated, “We never conceived Patanjali as a business. It was never about trade. Our objective has always been to reach yoga and Ayurveda to each home in the country. We are even planning to start a university. Whether one is in a village or a far-flung region, if one needs medicine, one must be able to get it with ease—from where one is.”It’s this vision that has guided all that Patanjali does today. It’s more than a company, it has become a movement, a reminder of India’s ancient heritage and its profound applicability in the modern age. And it was not easy to do any of it. Bringing back ancient texts, making ancient herbs accessible once more, building trust in Ayurveda on a national level, and establishing a health-first culture in millions of households—it required faith, determination, and an abiding sense of service.To Balkrishna Ji, Ayurveda was never a commodity. It was, and still is, a living, breathing culture that needed to be made available. Through Patanjali, he has managed to transform it into something everyone can relate to. Be it personal care or nutrition, preventive health or chronic care, Patanjali has established a bridge connecting ancient wisdom and the fast-paced world today.As the conversation drew to a close, it was clear that Acharya Balkrishna Ji’s journey is not just about growing a company. It is about restoring faith in a system that once thrived in every Indian home. On his birthday, as he was honored not only as a visionary but as a custodian of heritage, the message was loud and clear—real healing is simple, natural, and rooted in purpose.
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