Empowering India from afar: Sri Madhusudan Sai's call to the diaspora

Sai described how his efforts focus on three main areas of service: nutrition, education, and healthcare. / Facebook

Sri Madhusudan Sai's journey is a remarkable story of service to humanity. As a spiritual leader, he has founded and developed one of the world's largest networks of cardiac care hospitals specifically targeting congenital heart disease (CHD), with five facilities in India and others in Fiji and Sri Lanka, plus an upcoming center in the United States. 

His mission, operating under the banner of the Sri Madhusudan Sai Global Humanitarian Mission, reflects the philosophy of "One World One Family" (OWOF) — a sentiment drawn from the Sanskrit phrase "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," meaning that all living beings and things come from a single divine source.

In an exclusive interview with New India Abroad, Sai spoke candidly about his life's work, his approach to creating sustainable impact in underprivileged communities, and the vital role the Indian diaspora plays in supporting his mission.

When asked for an overview of his work, Sai described how his efforts focus on three main areas of service: nutrition, education, and healthcare, in addition to livelihoods, environmental sustainability, and other areas.

Nutrition, according to Sai, is an essential area for India, where his organization feeds about 10 million children across 100,000 government schools through a program called Annapurna. The SaiShow initiative provides a fortified millet-based drink to improve health outcomes. “The impact has been tremendous in terms of children’s health, school attendance, and academic outcomes,” he noted.

On  education, Sai shared that his foundation has built 28 campuses in India and one in Nigeria, providing free residential education from primary school to Ph.D. level for over 3,500 students, 60 percent of whom are girls. "The world’s first free medical college, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also runs as part of this initiative," Sai highlighted with pride, emphasizing that the education is entirely free for students, many of whom come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

But the journey doesn’t stop at graduation. Sai's organization employs graduates as teachers, administrators, and healthcare professionals, reinvesting in their communities. "In the last decade, we've hired over 200 alumni across our institutions," he said, noting that his mission’s self-sustaining model encourages local talent to work and grow within their rural communities.

Healthcare, his third service area, confronts one of India’s biggest disparities — access to quality medical care. Sai's five pediatric heart hospitals perform over 30 surgeries and interventions daily for children with CHD, all free of charge. "The urban-rural healthcare gap is stark," he said, explaining that while most of India’s population lives in rural areas, the healthcare infrastructure remains largely urban-centric. His facilities bridge this gap with a full range of services, from preventive to tertiary care, benefiting more than 2.2 million patients over the past decade. "We see about 2,500 outpatients daily," Sai shared, underscoring the scale of his mission.

On his current visit to San Francisco, Sai acknowledged the vital role played by the diaspora. "We have a large support base in the Bay Area, particularly through our California-based foundation, One World One Family. Our local supporters, many of whom are Indian expats, have been integral to our efforts. They participate in our mission, some even from non-Indian backgrounds, drawn by the humanitarian aspect of our work," he said. Sai visits the region twice a year, gathering support and raising awareness for the causes he champions.

Despite the progress, Sai is candid about the challenges his organization faces, particularly in rural areas. "Delivering a tertiary care hospital to rural India has unique challenges, from staffing specialists to educating rural patients about their health,” he said. Similarly, his nutrition initiatives must reach far-flung areas early in the morning — no small feat, given India's diverse geography and infrastructure. For education, Sai shared that girls, especially, are often withdrawn from school by their families for financial reasons or because of cultural expectations. To address this, his organization offers stipends directly to parents, helping encourage continued education. "The parents save this money for their daughter's future, and in turn, these girls go on to achieve incredible things," he added, proudly recounting stories of students who went on to complete postgraduate studies and find employment within their communities.

Discussing government cooperation, Sai acknowledged that both central and state administrations have been supportive of his mission. “We have partnered with several state governments to implement nutrition programs at schools,” he explained, noting that the government often provides partial funding, which his organization matches with contributions from corporate and philanthropic sources. His team also trains local government school teachers and healthcare workers to improve outcomes in rural communities.

Sai’s message for the Indian diaspora was clear and passionate. "Indian expats have been a tremendous support, but there’s always more to be done,” he said, encouraging those abroad to engage further with his initiatives. He believes that, beyond financial support, the diaspora's involvement speaks to India’s cultural and spiritual influence. “Many of our supporters may not have a direct connection to India, yet they support us deeply, motivated by humanitarian ideals,” he observed.

Finally, reflecting on India’s potential as envisioned by Prime Minister Modi — a developed nation by 2047 — Sai shared his own vision. "I see an India where every child is in school, no one goes hungry, every girl has an opportunity, and all have access to quality healthcare," he concluded, stressing that his focus remains on tangible impact over economic measures.

"Ultimately, my goal is an India where everyone can live with dignity and purpose," Sri Madhusudan Sai said, leaving us with a vision both inspiring and rooted in centuries-old principles of compassion and unity. His journey serves as a powerful example of how selfless service can transcend borders, uniting communities around the world in the pursuit of a shared humanity.