Dr. Balu Natarajan: Balancing Mind, Body, Spirit and Seva

Spend a day (I have spent many) with Dr. Balu Natarajan, and you’ll quickly realize he’s impossible to pin down. Is he an active clinician or a healthcare administrator? Indian or American? Into ELA or STEM? For-profit or non-profit? To all of these, he’d just say “yes.”

Balu, who grew up and lives in Chicago, truly inspires by his commitment to “Dharma”, the moral and ethical responsibilities an individual should follow according to Hinduism. He credits it for his personal growth and achievements.

At 13, Balu made history by winning the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 1985, becoming the first Indian American to do so. His victory paved the way for other Indian Americans, who have dominated the competition ever since. His own sons, Atman and Advaith, have competed on the national stage too. Balu’s win, a big deal for the Indian American community, blazed the trail. What a legacy!

That was only the beginning. He invests and follows through on his commitment to the Indian American community. He’s driven. He’s passionate. He gets it done. Over the past 35 years, he’s founded or led next generation groups at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago, the American Association of Physicians from India’s Students and Residents Section, and the North South Foundation.

In his volunteer role as CEO of the North South Foundation, he mentors top students and funds education for underserved kids in both India and the U.S. He expects not just educational excellence but also empathy and social entrepreneurship.

“We always get back more than we give. Let’s teach our kids that early on,” he says.

Angela Duckworth’s talks on grit and spelling bees perfectly describe Balu. Now in his 50s, he runs faster than he did in his 20s, showing that we can keep getting better with age.

“My wife Meenakshi and I meditate together consistently,” he says. “Work hard, play hard, pray hard, and give back. That’s the best way I know to keep everything in balance. Life as an Indian American has been great in these United States.”

He continues an amazing journey, and we are all left with the question: What’s next, Balu?