Dr B.K. Krishnaraj Vanavarayar Born in an aristocratic family in the year 1944 in Samathur, a village in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, India, he qualified himself as a barrister and later entered into business. But that apart, he came under the powerful influence of the spiritual masters and the great political leaders of India. The high ideals of Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi had a profound impact on him.

As Chairman of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, an organization committed to preserve and propagate the ancient wisdom of India, he has done yeoman service to spread the glory of India through lectures and cultural programmes. Again as Chairman of Divyodaya, an organization founded to initiate inter-religious dialogue, he has worked for preserving the unique pluralistic culture of India. He was responsible for erecting a life size bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi in his hometown Pollachi, which serves as a symbol of Truth and Non-violence. He was also the first Chairman of KURAL ” the Voice of Coimbatore, formed during 2006 by a group of enlightened citizens to act as a common platform for the various NGOs to give expression to the aspirations of the people of this region.

In the field of education, his contribution has been significant. He is the President of N.G.M. College, Pollachi and Co-Chairman of Kumara guru College of Technology, Coimbatore. He is the member management for “Vanavarayar Institute of Agriculture”. He has served in the management committees of many leading schools and colleges and worked for making values an integral part of the curriculum. In recognition of the good work done in the field of education, he was nominated to the Senate and Syndicate of the Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, which he served with distinction. Currently, he is a Member of its Planning Board.

In appreciation of his Global Perspective and Secular credentials, he was invited by H.H.Pope John Paul II to attend the “Day of Prayer for Peace in the World” held at Vatican, Italy, during January 2002. The speech he made there was widely acclaimed by all the representatives world over and the same was published by Vatican Secretariat.

In appreciation of his social work wedded to the Gandhian ideals, he was awarded the Degree of Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) by Sri Avinashilingam University, Coimbatore, in the year 1999.

Sri Ramakrishna Mission, Coimbatore, in commemoration of their Platinum Jubilee Celebrations, awarded him the “Vivekananda National Award for Excellence” on 2006.