Genesis of SATHI
Where compassion became a movement
Every meaningful journey begins with a moment that changes everything. For Pramod Kulkarni, an alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, that defining moment arrived unexpectedly not in a boardroom or classroom, but on the crowded platform of a railway station. Though he had built a successful professional career, his heart had always been drawn to the struggles of vulnerable children. On that ordinary day, he witnessed a scene that would alter the course of his life forever.
Among the bustling crowd were several children begging simply to survive. One small child had managed to gather a few leftovers from discarded food. As Pramod watched, the child did something extraordinary. Before taking a single bite, the child lovingly shared the food with a younger sibling. It was a simple act but one filled with profound love. In that fleeting moment, Pramod saw far more than poverty. He saw resilience in the face of despair, selflessness amid deprivation, and an unspoken longing not merely for food, but for dignity, security, and a chance to live like every other child.
He could not walk away. He gathered the children and took them to a safe place away from the chaos of the station. There, with food, care, and patient conversation, he began to understand their lives. The children came from a remote, inaccessible village where families struggled under the crushing weight of poverty. Education was beyond reach. Opportunities were almost non-existent. Hunger, neglect, and uncertainty had become part of everyday life.
Determined to give them, even for a few hours, the joy every child deserves, Pramod took them to the banks of the mighty Krishna River. With a smile, he simply said, “Go… play.” What followed was unforgettable. The children ran towards the flowing waters with boundless excitement. They laughed without restraint, splashed each other, danced, shouted with joy, and played as though they had discovered an entirely new world. For those precious moments, there was no hunger, no fear, no burden of survival. They were simply children. Watching them, Pramod realized something deeply moving: childhood had never truly belonged to them until that day. As evening approached, he gently told them it was time to return home. The children looked at him with pleading eyes. “No… we don’t want to go back.” Those few innocent words carried unimaginable pain. They were not asking for comfort or luxury. They were asking for love. For safety, for someone who cared and for a place where they could dream without fear. Their voices echoed in Pramod’s heart long after the day had ended. He realized that these children represented thousands of others living in remote and marginalized community’s children silently waiting for protection, opportunity, education, dignity, and hope. Yet he also understood that compassion alone was not enough. Any lasting solution needed wisdom, collective effort, and a deep understanding of child development and community realities.
Moved by what he had witnessed, Pramod reached out to a group of deeply respected individuals who shared his concern for vulnerable children and communities. Among them were Mr. Basavaraj Shali (Secretary-cum-Executive Director of SATHI), Dr. Shekar Seshadri (Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist of NIMHANS, Bangalore) and Fr. George Kollashany (Founder of Don Bosco). Together, they reflected on the children’s experiences, the harsh realities of their villages, and the urgent need for a return to their families instead of institutionalized for care and protection. It was realized that the families were the best place for the child’s growth.
Their discussions gave shape to a shared vision, a vision rooted in compassion, dignity, justice, and sustainable change. From those heartfelt conversations, dedicated efforts, and collective commitment, SATHI was born.
The name SATHI, meaning a trusted companion, reflects its very soul, a companion who walks beside children, families, and communities through their most difficult journeys, offering protection, hope, and opportunity. Since its inception, SATHI has worked tirelessly to create safe spaces where children are protected, to strengthen families so they can nurture their children with dignity, to empower communities through education and livelihood initiatives, and to ensure that every child has access to care, learning, health, and opportunities to flourish. What began with one child’s selfless act of sharing a few morsels of food has grown into a movement that continues to transform countless lives.
Today, SATHI stands as a testament to a simple yet powerful truth: One moment of compassion can become the beginning of a lifetime of change. Because every child deserves more than survival. Every child deserves love. Every child deserves dignity. And above all, Every child deserves a childhood. That is the Genesis of SATHI.
Founded in 1992 and formally registered as a Society in 1997 in Karnataka, SATHI has grown from a small initiative into a national child protection organisation headquartered in Bengaluru. Over the past three decades, SATHI has worked in more than 45 locations with collaboration with local NGOs to propagating the concept of “Home Placement” (Restoration with their biological family) across 14 states, reaching over 1.42 lakh vulnerable children. What was once considered an unconventional approach has today become an integral part of India’s child protection framework, with family reunification and home placement now widely recognised as a best practice.
The spirit that inspired SATHI more than three decades ago continues to guide every step of our journey. We believe that every child deserves more than survival they deserve a childhood filled with love, protection, education, and opportunity. That belief continues to inspire us to rescue, protect, rehabilitate, and empower children, while strengthening families and communities to ensure that no child is left behind.