Mysore :

As a child M Jadeyegowda first saw Dr H Sudarshan dispense medicines to tribals at Biligiri Ranaga Hills near here. Initially, he stayed away from the doctor. Later, curiosity drew the tribal boy to the doctor. Dr Sudarshan and his Karuna Trust became the biggest influences on his life.

Other than providing medical help, Dr Sudarshan taught children in the tribal parts of Karnataka’s Chamarajnagar district. Jadeyegowda was a reluctant student. Today, he’s an assistant professor at Kodagu’s College of Forestry. “As a kid, I saw the doctor conduct surgeries with minimum facilities,” Jadeyegowda,43, says.

In October 2006, when the Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra (VGKK) — to which Karuna Trust is affiliated — celebrated silver jubilee, Jadeyegowda, MSc, shook hands with President Abdul Kalam. He was one of the six students who had attended the tribal school set up by the NGO 25 years back. Jadeye now heads VGKK and is a trustee of the Karuna Trust. “I’m more comfortable being recognised as a beneficiary,” he says. “Jadeye is a beneficiary of our health and education programmes. That helped him,” Dr Sudarshan says.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Mysore> Silver Jubilee / by H M Aravind, TNN / February 01st, 2013