His father Vasanth Rao
was a building contractor for the
Nizam of Hyderabad. Balaji was born in
1888 in Hyderabad. His father died
early, leaving .behind his wife
Saraswathi, and three small children
who migrated to Mumbai.
After primary
education Balaji joined the J.J School
of Art to learn sculpture. He won the
"Dolly Khurshatjee"
scholarship thus enabling him to
complete his education. Balaji was a
brilliant sculptor and painter,
portraits being his speciality. In
1918 'Thalim's Art Studio' was
established. He won many prestigious
awards, gold medals, and accolades.
The committee for 'Beautification of
Mumbai' choose him to sculpt the
statues. Mumbai is dotted by his
sculpture from Flora Fountain to the
High Court and everywhere else. The
Britishers appreciated his work and
gave him assignments. Balaji was a
highly spiritual, religious,
philosophical and a man of principles.
The Shirdi Sai Baba
Sansthan gave him the humungous task
of sculpting Baba's idol. Meticulously
he got his tools 'made to
