“I’m Dr. Sudha Kesavaraju, and for the past eight years, I’ve been doing what I can to help those in need. It all started in 2017 when I volunteered at a government school for blind girls. Spending time with them changed my perspective completely. Despite their challenges, they had an incredible spirit, and I realised how much of a difference small acts of care and kindness could make.
Later, I joined a fundraising cycling event for para-athletes, riding from Hyderabad to Tirupati. The support I received from people kept me going, but the real turning point came when my mother asked me to help her childhood friend’s 10-year-old granddaughter, who was battling leukaemia at NIMS.
When I started visiting her in the oncology ward, I saw firsthand the struggles of children undergoing treatment. Most came from families who could barely afford food, let alone medical expenses. I made it a point to visit regularly, bringing small comforts, celebrating birthdays, and doing whatever I could to bring them joy. Soon, the Make-A-Wish Foundation reached out, and I started coordinating wishes for children in the ward.
I also noticed how many of them lacked proper clothes, so I reached out to my friends and family for help. Donations started coming in—clothes, toys, and essentials. I began spending most of my time at the hospital, talking to the children, playing with them, and organising counselling for families. At first, my family was concerned about how much time I was dedicating to this, but over time, they saw how important it was to me and stood by my side.
In 2019, I co-founded Samtrupti Trust to continue this work in a more structured way. I envisioned it as a space where kindness meets action. Over the years, we have expanded our initiatives to provide nutritious meals for paediatric cancer patients and their families, emergency medical assistance, patient accommodation, last rites support for underprivileged families, hospice care for terminally ill children in association with SPARSH, and emotional well-being support for those in distress. What began with 30-40 meals a day has now grown to 150 meals daily.
One of the biggest challenges was the shortage of blood donors for children undergoing treatment. Parents struggled to find donors in time, so I started coordinating blood donations. Over the years, this small effort has helped save many lives, and I continue to assist families in finding donors.
When the pandemic hit, we expanded our work, providing food and essentials to migrant workers and struggling families. It wasn’t easy, but with the help of officials and volunteers, we kept going.
In 2022, Nord Anglia Education Infrastructure donated an ambulance to Samtrupti to help paediatric cancer patients from villages reach NIMS for treatment. Many families couldn’t afford transportation, and critically ill children couldn’t travel by public transport. The service remains free for those in need, with only fuel charges covered by those who can afford it. I personally cover the driver’s salary, while donations help with maintenance. Schools like Oakridge and Chirec International have supported our efforts, even donating a van for food distribution.
In June 2024, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My treatment started in October, and in three months, I was back on my feet, continuing the work that gives me purpose. My recovery only strengthened my determination to keep serving others.
I was bestowed with an honorary doctorate from Washington Digital University, and earlier, Cambridge University recognised my work with another honorary doctorate. But more than awards, what matters to me is knowing that the work we do through Samtrupti is making a difference. I am grateful for my family, friends, and my dedicated staff (though just four in number), who ensure that this work will continue, even in my absence. I believe that even the smallest act of kindness can change someone’s life, and at the end of the day, it’s not about how much we have, but how much we give.”