Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the passing away of A. Balakrishnan, who served as the All India President of Vivekananda Kendra. Mr Modi recalled Balakrishnan’s remarkable contribution to society, noting that he devoted more than five decades of his life to the ideals of Swami Vivekananda and to the service of the nation. Mr Modi said, he had a particularly deep association with the Northeast and played an important role in educational, social and nation-building activities.