Dr. Hanumappa Sudarshan Reddy is a Padma Shri Award (2000) recipient and a renowned social worker who has dedicated his life for the upliftment of forest tribes, mainly Soligas in Southern Karnataka. In 1994, he was awarded Right Livelihood Award, also known as Alternative Nobel Prize, for showing how tribal cultures can contribute to a process that secures the basic rights and fundamental needs of indigenous people and conserve their environment. In 1980, as an Integrated Tribal Development Project, Dr. Sudarshan started the Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra (VGKK) and in 1986, Dr. Sudarshan founded Karuna Trust, affiliated to VGKK, involved with Integrated Rural Development in Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh and Orissa. Dr. Sudarshan has held many prominent positions during his career, and has many recognitions and awards to his name. Inspired by Gandhian principles and Swami Vivekananda’s ideals, Dr. Sudarshan, a hero of the tribals, is an inspirational figure of commitment and humility.