V. Balu

Dr. V. Balu (Venkatraman Balu) (December 6,1928 – September 13,2007) was an internationally known artist from Bangalore, India. He worked with paper collages and had toured the world for the past 25 years promoting Peace through art. His ASK ("Antar Shanti Kala" or the "Art of Inner Peace") initiative had allowed people of different ages and cultures to experience the power of art and the role of each individual in promoting peace. He had also written seven books on peace including works for children.

Since 1982, he has been going round the world, (literally living in a suitcase!) sharing his thoughts on “inner peace” and the “role of individuals in global peace” with individuals and groups. The media in different parts of the world have dubbed his work a “one man global peace mission through art” and “a one man brigade for inner peace”. Places where V.Balu had programs comprise inter alia the Dag Hammerskjold Auditorium of the U.N and the Headquarters of the UNESCO in Paris. He has given peace presentations to different target audiences in Belgium, Berlin, Mexico; Ontario, Montreal & Toronto in Canada; Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide in Australia; Auckland in New Zealand; Colombo in Sri Lanka; Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the UAE; Durban, Johannesburg, Pietermaritzburg and Cape Town in South Africa and several centers in India.

As a writer, he has to his credit popular science articles, spiritual columns and articles in newspapers as well as spiritual books and a book in the lighter vein with his cartoons. Based on interaction with diverse target audiences he has written eight books on “Inner Peace”. Three of these books titled “Sadaa Shanti” (Perpetual Peace), “Shanti Darshan” (Messengers of Peace) and “Shanti Sopana” (Steps to Peace) form part of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Book University series. His book for children “Peace + Children = Peaceful Children” has been translated into Kannada & Telugu and is in school libraries of the Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh States. One of his recent works is for tiny tots (3-5 age group) titled “Peace Lollipops for Tiny Tots”. This is a book of original peace rhymes, made available with CD/cassette of the rhymes set to music.

Honors

* Honorary doctorate from Bangalore University (Jan 2006)
* Key to the City of Ojai, California
* UNESCO Bronze medal
* State award (Rajyothsava) from Karnataka State, India
* Artwork used on covers of leading magazines such as Reader's Digest
* Artwork used on UNICEF greeting cards and calendars

External links

* [http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/may/finearts.asp Deccan Herald article]
* [http://www.balu.info Peace Through Art]