Bhubaneswar: Former Odisha cadre IAS officer R. Balakrishnan has been appointed as the Director of the International Institute of Tamil Studies by the Government of Tamil Nadu. A seasoned administrator and scholar, Balakrishnan has played a key role in governance and literary research.
Widely recognized for his contributions to Tamil studies, Balakrishnan is the author of “Journey of a Civilization: Indus to Vaigai,” a critically acclaimed book exploring Tamil history and its links to ancient civilizations. His appointment is expected to bring new energy to research on Tamil language and culture, according to an official statement from the Tamil Nadu government.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin extended his congratulations, emphasizing Balakrishnan’s scholarly achievements. The former IAS officer, during his meeting with the CM, presented a rare first printed edition of the Thirukkural, published in 1812. Stalin later shared on social media that Balakrishnan had cleared the civil services exam in Tamil and had expanded the scope of Tamil research beyond Tamil Nadu and even outside India.
Reflecting on Balakrishnan’s appointment, CM Stalin wrote: “With great joy, I congratulate him on his appointment as the head of the World Tamil Research Institute. May his work excel and reveal many new pages of ancient Tamil history to the world!”
Before assuming this role, Balakrishnan served in various key positions in Odisha, retiring as the Development Commissioner. Post-retirement, he continued as Principal Advisor (Special Initiatives) with the rank of Chief Secretary during Naveen Patnaik’s tenure as Chief Minister. His expertise in governance and historical research is expected to make a significant impact on Tamil linguistic and cultural studies at the institute.
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