My education, career and pursuit of agriculture were all made possible by the financial support and timely help of family elders, benefactors and selfless colleagues. It was they who helped me reach where I am today and for that I am deeply grateful. I have tried to emulate the goodness shown to me by others and, in turn, endeavour to pass it on. Therefore, the spirit of giving has been a constant in my life. I believe that giving awakens the joy within my soul. I am also conscious that what remains of one’s life here on earth is what determines one’s legacy.
My philanthropic work and spiritual journey started with the idea of empowering people who come seeking help. It began as a charitable fund for healthcare, education and enabling others to earn a decent livelihood. My initial efforts were informal and without plan, but later, together with members of my family, I founded the Kottaram Charities Trust to widen our reach and scale up as an organisation.
Over the years, during government service in the Medical College & Hospitals, Thiruvananthapuram, University of Kerala Health Centre, and later as a volunteer for NGOs, development foundations and charity organisations, I experienced first-hand the struggles of the marginalised poor, rural folk, and the elderly. My empathy was sharpened by the painful fact that I was a privileged minority while so many of my brethren strugged to make a decent and dignified living.
Kottaram Charities Trust, registered in 2017, today comes to the aid of deserving individuals and institutions and other NGOs, carries out programmes befitting my experience as a medical teacher, consulting physician, farmer and philanthropist, and sponsors projects at the initiative of the Trustees who are equipped with multi-disciplinary experience. As our collective experience and resources grow, we continue to evolve and address key needs of prospective beneficiaries and sister organisations by providing financial support and/or professional skills, procuring resources, contributing to disaster relief, promoting self-employment and offering mentorship. We aim to make a positive difference to lives of beneficiaries and empower people by creating opportunities for socio-economic advancement, learn new life-skills and cultural development.
If you believe in giving back to society — as you should — Kottaram Charities Trust will serve as an inspiration for you to join the movement of concerned citizens, good samaritans and social entrepreneurs. Collectively, we can achieve our mission in upliftment of the downtrodden.
Sincerely,
Dr. K. V. Krishna Das
