Dr Hanumappa R Sudarshan’s life is a precedence for all things good and great, a tangible illustration of transforming our mundanity towards a deep of purpose, value and inspiration. A name synonymous with hope, compassion and perseverance, Dr Hanumappa Sudarshan has been continually working toward the upliftment of forest dwelling tribes, mainly SOLIGAS, in the Chamarajanagara district of Karnataka.
EFFICACIOUS IMPACT & INVALUABLE TRANSFORMATION
An Indian social worker and a tribal rights activist, Dr Hanumappa has dedicated his life to securing fundamental rights for indigenous peoples in our land. A recipient of the prestigious Right Livelihood Award (1994) , the Padma Shri (2000), Rajyotsava State Award for Social Work (1984), Ashoka Fellow, Mother Teresa Award for Social Justice (2014), Dr Hanumappa, he has created path-breaking impact towards sustainable health, education, livelihood and bio-diversity amongst our tribal fraternity.
Inspired by Swami Vivekananda and advocating Gandhian philosophy, this humanitarian-par-excellence gave up a potential lucrative medical career to work for the upliftment of a marginalized community.
His active career has seen him don many roles from Chairman of the Task Force – Health and Family Welfare organized by Government of Karnataka, Task Force on Public Private Partnership by National Rural Health Commission – Government of India, Institute of Health Management and Research –Bengaluru. Member of Working Group 6 on Macro Economics and Health – World Health Organization and a Steering Group Member of the Planning Commission of Scheduled Tribes in India’s 11th Five Year Plan. He has also been the Vigilance Director for the Karnataka Lokayukta, an ombudsman organisation.
THE OCEAN OF COMPASSION – FOUNDER, DIRECTOR – KARUNA TRUST
For more than three decades, Dr Hanumappa has worked tirelessly to provide access to healthcare across the remotest tribal regions in Karnataka and Arunachal Pradesh. A mission called out as ‘reaching healthcare to the unreached,’ the Trust began to initially respond to the widespread prevalence of leprosy.
The KARUNA TRUST established in 1986 is affiliated to Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra (VGKK) at the B R Hills, Karnataka. The Trust has dedicated and is providing yeoman’s service to primary healthcare, education, sustainable livelihoods, and overall development.
Dr. Sudarshan created a low-cost electrophoresis machine for the treatment of Sickle Cell Anaemia in the Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC). He also developed Dental Healthcare and Cancer Control in the PHC. He diagnosed patients but also trained the tribal girls nurses to enable them with jobs. From health to education, empowerment and livelihood support, he became the visionary to design a comprehensive tribal development programme.
Karuna Trust has served more than 1 million patients and reported health outcomes that are among the highest in India. “Karuna Trust is transforming dysfunctional government primary healthcare centres (PHCs) into professional hubs of ‘last-mile’ healthcare service delivery.
It works through a public-private partnership model: the government invests in upgrading infrastructure and improving the efficiency of the PHCs; Karuna Trust brings healthcare management systems and disruptive health innovations; and village health councils hold PHCs accountable for reporting higher health outcomes and functioning as zero-corruption zones," WEF says. At the same time, Sudarshan has integrated tribal medicine with allopathy at the hospital, his Soliga friends having taught him how to prepare more than 23 unique herbal medicines for various ailments.
The vision of the Trust has been to provide an equitable and integrated model of healthcare, education and livelihood by empowering marginalized people to be independent and live with dignity. It is with his substantial and impactful work that the voices of the tribes have regained an identity, over the years.
Dr Sudarshan was appalled to see the condition of tribals, when he began seeding his work. They suffered exploitation, poverty, lack of access to fundamental and basic needs like education, food, shelter and more. They were also alienated from mainstream society and marginalized. They need a strong bridge and gateway to walk back into mainstream, as viable means of livelihood and sustenance was in the so-called ‘modern and urbane set ups.’
He initially set up his clinic in a small thatched hut, barely 8 ft long and 6 ft wide, with an examination table in one corner and a kitchen in another. The now flourishing Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra was thus born with one assistant, G. Mallesh, and wild elephants for company, it is said.
Despite their rich cultural heritage, enriched functional social and family structures, tribal groups in India have been systematically marginalised and are almost non-existent in most parts of the country.
He innovated with sustainable models so they could get access to proper medical facilities, while also lending support for gaining education, livelihood, and skill enhancement. Within this inclusive vision of collective tribal development, he believed and emphasized the importance of preserving their local ecosystems. A harmonious amalgamation of traditional techniques and scientific practices ensured that the tribal population was also able to protect their sacred ancestral land, which was getting increasingly threatened due to extreme urbanization and unscrupulous encroachments.
He has put great focus also on education for tribals. In the school, children are taught about nature, trees and about tribal lore and festivals. "In my school, I have children who can identify 240 species of trees by name," says Sudarshan. They have a special textbook written in their own dialect and based on the concept that tribals do not need early knowledge of aeroplanes, trains or machines.
To empower and ensure the vision is translated and tangibly impacts the lives of tribals, the Trust focused on developing dedicated professionals that enables holistic development through innovative, replicable and sustainable models for the people. For close to three decades, in liaison with the Karnataka Government, Dr Hanumappa has successfully catered to remote, tribal and insurgency-prone areas with a genuine compassion to change the lives. Over the years, his work, his model and approach of tribal development is inspiring other leaders and workers, across the country.
Through his conscious acts of rehabilitation and development, he has ensured that the tribals have a dignified and simultaneously, a pragmatic access to livelihood, sustenance and also self-development. His focus has also been to ensure that the core cultural fabric, the language, art and music, customs, practices are retained within the tribal ecosystem. This is perhaps, his most critical and valuable contributions to the tribal communities.
“I BELIEVE EACH HUMAN BEING HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE, TO TRANSFORM ONE’S OWN ATTITUDE, NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT THE SITUATION.” – The Dalai Lama, Spiritual Leader
BEYOND BOUNDARIES – SPREADING WINGS
Dr Hanumappa has also founded the distinguished VIVEKANANDA GIRIJANA KALYANA KENDRA, popularly established as VGKK. Sustainable development of tribal people through rights-based approach to health, education, livelihood, security and bio-diversity conservation has been its key focus zone.
The Kendra has aided tribal peoples across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, Orissa, Meghalaya and Andaman-Nicobar Island. The organization works towards holistic development of the tribal community, while also enhancing their access as available in urbanized economies. With the continued efforts of the Kendra, tribal peoples are employed almost close to 300 days a year as a result of employment from Karnataka Forest Department.
“The so-called civilized society has a lot to learn from the tribals.” (As quoted in Right Livelihood).
CO-EXISTING AND ENRICHING LIFE WITH TRIBAL PEOPLES
A common thread in all his initiatives and perseverant spirit, lies a deep respect for the indigenous people. His vision and efforts over the years, have successfully established a fine balance between building new models for sustenance while also retaining the core essence of their native culture and wisdom. The cultural dimension, the ethnic fabric and core, the native wisdom and the traditional ethos of the tribes have been retained by this effervescent leader. They have also succeeded in fostering a spirit of self-organization and management.
“VISION WITHOUT ACTION IS MERELY A DREAM; ACTION WITHOUT VISION IS MERELY PASSING TIME; BUT VISION AND ACTION CAN TOGETHER CHANGE THE WORLD.” – SUDHA MURTHY, Indian educator, author and philanthropist – INFOSYS FOUNDATION
This endearing philanthropist and change maker have dedicated his life towards the cause of holistic development and upliftment of the Tribes, and over the years has created a measurable, phenomenal and colossal impact in positive transformation of their lives. A determination and a promise to save the tribes, develop their lives, enable enrichment of their culture and build a long-term sustainable model, Dr Hanumappa is indeed a living legend.
Dr Hanumappa R Sudarshan’s life is a precedence for all things good and great, a tangible illustration of transforming our mundanity towards a deep of purpose, value and inspiration. A name synonymous with hope, compassion and perseverance, Dr Hanumappa Sudarshan has been continually working toward the upliftment of forest dwelling tribes, mainly SOLIGAS, in the Chamarajanagara district of Karnataka.
EFFICACIOUS IMPACT & INVALUABLE TRANSFORMATION
An Indian social worker and a tribal rights activist, Dr Hanumappa has dedicated his life to securing fundamental rights for indigenous peoples in our land. A recipient of the prestigious Right Livelihood Award (1994) , the Padma Shri (2000), Rajyotsava State Award for Social Work (1984), Ashoka Fellow, Mother Teresa Award for Social Justice (2014), Dr Hanumappa, he has created path-breaking impact towards sustainable health, education, livelihood and bio-diversity amongst our tribal fraternity.
Inspired by Swami Vivekananda and advocating Gandhian philosophy, this humanitarian-par-excellence gave up a potential lucrative medical career to work for the upliftment of a marginalized community.
His active career has seen him don many roles from Chairman of the Task Force – Health and Family Welfare organized by Government of Karnataka, Task Force on Public Private Partnership by National Rural Health Commission – Government of India, Institute of Health Management and Research –Bengaluru. Member of Working Group 6 on Macro Economics and Health – World Health Organization and a Steering Group Member of the Planning Commission of Scheduled Tribes in India’s 11th Five Year Plan. He has also been the Vigilance Director for the Karnataka Lokayukta, an ombudsman organisation.
THE OCEAN OF COMPASSION – FOUNDER, DIRECTOR – KARUNA TRUST
For more than three decades, Dr Hanumappa has worked tirelessly to provide access to healthcare across the remotest tribal regions in Karnataka and Arunachal Pradesh. A mission called out as ‘reaching healthcare to the unreached,’ the Trust began to initially respond to the widespread prevalence of leprosy.
The KARUNA TRUST established in 1986 is affiliated to Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra (VGKK) at the B R Hills, Karnataka. The Trust has dedicated and is providing yeoman’s service to primary healthcare, education, sustainable livelihoods, and overall development.
Dr. Sudarshan created a low-cost electrophoresis machine for the treatment of Sickle Cell Anaemia in the Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC). He also developed Dental Healthcare and Cancer Control in the PHC. He diagnosed patients but also trained the tribal girls nurses to enable them with jobs. From health to education, empowerment and livelihood support, he became the visionary to design a comprehensive tribal development programme.
Karuna Trust has served more than 1 million patients and reported health outcomes that are among the highest in India. “Karuna Trust is transforming dysfunctional government primary healthcare centres (PHCs) into professional hubs of ‘last-mile’ healthcare service delivery.
It works through a public-private partnership model: the government invests in upgrading infrastructure and improving the efficiency of the PHCs; Karuna Trust brings healthcare management systems and disruptive health innovations; and village health councils hold PHCs accountable for reporting higher health outcomes and functioning as zero-corruption zones," WEF says. At the same time, Sudarshan has integrated tribal medicine with allopathy at the hospital, his Soliga friends having taught him how to prepare more than 23 unique herbal medicines for various ailments.
The vision of the Trust has been to provide an equitable and integrated model of healthcare, education and livelihood by empowering marginalized people to be independent and live with dignity. It is with his substantial and impactful work that the voices of the tribes have regained an identity, over the years.
Dr Sudarshan was appalled to see the condition of tribals, when he began seeding his work. They suffered exploitation, poverty, lack of access to fundamental and basic needs like education, food, shelter and more. They were also alienated from mainstream society and marginalized. They need a strong bridge and gateway to walk back into mainstream, as viable means of livelihood and sustenance was in the so-called ‘modern and urbane set ups.’
He initially set up his clinic in a small thatched hut, barely 8 ft long and 6 ft wide, with an examination table in one corner and a kitchen in another. The now flourishing Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra was thus born with one assistant, G. Mallesh, and wild elephants for company, it is said.
Despite their rich cultural heritage, enriched functional social and family structures, tribal groups in India have been systematically marginalised and are almost non-existent in most parts of the country.
He innovated with sustainable models so they could get access to proper medical facilities, while also lending support for gaining education, livelihood, and skill enhancement. Within this inclusive vision of collective tribal development, he believed and emphasized the importance of preserving their local ecosystems. A harmonious amalgamation of traditional techniques and scientific practices ensured that the tribal population was also able to protect their sacred ancestral land, which was getting increasingly threatened due to extreme urbanization and unscrupulous encroachments.
He has put great focus also on education for tribals. In the school, children are taught about nature, trees and about tribal lore and festivals. "In my school, I have children who can identify 240 species of trees by name," says Sudarshan. They have a special textbook written in their own dialect and based on the concept that tribals do not need early knowledge of aeroplanes, trains or machines.
To empower and ensure the vision is translated and tangibly impacts the lives of tribals, the Trust focused on developing dedicated professionals that enables holistic development through innovative, replicable and sustainable models for the people. For close to three decades, in liaison with the Karnataka Government, Dr Hanumappa has successfully catered to remote, tribal and insurgency-prone areas with a genuine compassion to change the lives. Over the years, his work, his model and approach of tribal development is inspiring other leaders and workers, across the country.
Through his conscious acts of rehabilitation and development, he has ensured that the tribals have a dignified and simultaneously, a pragmatic access to livelihood, sustenance and also self-development. His focus has also been to ensure that the core cultural fabric, the language, art and music, customs, practices are retained within the tribal ecosystem. This is perhaps, his most critical and valuable contributions to the tribal communities.
“I BELIEVE EACH HUMAN BEING HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE, TO TRANSFORM ONE’S OWN ATTITUDE, NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT THE SITUATION.” – The Dalai Lama, Spiritual Leader
BEYOND BOUNDARIES – SPREADING WINGS
Dr Hanumappa has also founded the distinguished VIVEKANANDA GIRIJANA KALYANA KENDRA, popularly established as VGKK. Sustainable development of tribal people through rights-based approach to health, education, livelihood, security and bio-diversity conservation has been its key focus zone.
The Kendra has aided tribal peoples across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, Orissa, Meghalaya and Andaman-Nicobar Island. The organization works towards holistic development of the tribal community, while also enhancing their access as available in urbanized economies. With the continued efforts of the Kendra, tribal peoples are employed almost close to 300 days a year as a result of employment from Karnataka Forest Department.
“The so-called civilized society has a lot to learn from the tribals.” (As quoted in Right Livelihood).
CO-EXISTING AND ENRICHING LIFE WITH TRIBAL PEOPLES
A common thread in all his initiatives and perseverant spirit, lies a deep respect for the indigenous people. His vision and efforts over the years, have successfully established a fine balance between building new models for sustenance while also retaining the core essence of their native culture and wisdom. The cultural dimension, the ethnic fabric and core, the native wisdom and the traditional ethos of the tribes have been retained by this effervescent leader. They have also succeeded in fostering a spirit of self-organization and management.
“VISION WITHOUT ACTION IS MERELY A DREAM; ACTION WITHOUT VISION IS MERELY PASSING TIME; BUT VISION AND ACTION CAN TOGETHER CHANGE THE WORLD.” – SUDHA MURTHY, Indian educator, author and philanthropist – INFOSYS FOUNDATION
This endearing philanthropist and change maker have dedicated his life towards the cause of holistic development and upliftment of the Tribes, and over the years has created a measurable, phenomenal and colossal impact in positive transformation of their lives. A determination and a promise to save the tribes, develop their lives, enable enrichment of their culture and build a long-term sustainable model, Dr Hanumappa is indeed a living legend.