Kannada Balaga was started in 1960 under the guidance of Shri C.S.S.Shetty with the help of Professor M.Mariyappa Bhat, Dr G.R.Bhat, B.K.Sarvothama Rao, K.S.S.Bhat, H.K.:Lakshmana Rao, Shrimathi Shantarao and others.

 Today Kannada Balaga has carved out a special niche for itself in the Chennai market with its unique annual programme of “Kannada Janapada Geethe Competition” which is running now in the 30 th year. It has also been conducting the K.N. Manjunath Memorial Cricket tournament every year for the last 15 years in which all Kannada Sangha’s of Chennai take part.

Kannada Balaga has also been one of the few Sanghas to publish a Kannada periodical regularly, and “Lahari” as it is aptly named has been successful in promoting Kannada writing amongst the Kannadigas in Chennai and elsewhere.

From the year 2002 onwards, Kannada Balaga has decided to expand its activities and undertake select "Social Service" activities under the " Lahari" programme. Under the new Socio-Cultural framework for the organization, programmes which provide Companionship, Compassion and Care to the neglected senior citizens would be a priority.

 Kannada Balaga is also the first and the only association in Chennai which maintains a website www.kannadabalaga.org.

Presently Smt Sudha Kesari Prasad and Mr Subhash Chandra are the President the Secretary of the association respectively.

Kannada Balaga will hereafter continue its activities under the name  Kannada Balaga (Socio-Cultural  Association) as per the decision of the members in the EGM held on September 7, 2003

The details of the members of the Executive Committee can be found here.