Penguin will publish The Inner Charioteer by Dr. R. Balasubramaniam (Dr. Balu) in July 2026, a new book that reimagines the Bhagavad Gita as a practical guide to leadership, decision-making and self-governance in the modern world.

Positioned as “the Bhagavad Gita as a leader’s operating manual”, the book argues that one of the central paradoxes of contemporary leadership is that people often rush to manage others before learning to govern themselves. Through the timeless dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna, Dr. Balu explores dilemmas that leaders across sectors routinely encounter, including self-doubt, ethical uncertainty, responsibility, ego, temptation and the pursuit of recognition.

Drawing on more than four decades of experience working with tribal communities in the Western Ghats, engaging in public policy and building institutions, The Inner Charioteer blends ancient wisdom with contemporary leadership challenges. Each chapter combines stories, reflections, provocations and practical tools to help readers navigate difficult decisions while remaining grounded in purpose and values.

The book is aimed at a wide audience, including public figures, corporate executives, educators, activists and anyone seeking to become more inwardly anchored while remaining outwardly accountable.

Dr. R. Balasubramaniam, popularly known as Dr. Balu, is a development practitioner, leadership educator and a full-time Member of NITI Aayog. He is the founder of the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM) and the Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement (GRAAM), organisations that have played a significant role in community-driven development and policy advocacy in India for over four decades.

A physician by training, Dr. Balu holds an MBBS from Mysore Medical College, a Master’s in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, where he was a Mason Fellow, and a PhD in Leadership and Management. He is also a former Frank H. T. Rhodes Professor at Cornell University and has mentored leaders across government, corporate, education and non-profit sectors globally.

He has authored nine books in Kannada and English, including Power Within: The Leadership Legacy of Narendra Modi, I, the Citizen, Voices from the Grassroots and Leadership Lessons for Daily Living.

With The Inner Charioteer, Dr. Balu seeks to present the Bhagavad Gita not as a distant spiritual text, but as a practical framework for ethical leadership and purposeful action in an increasingly complex world.