Even at the age of 81, when most have retired, Mr. Suresh Harilal Soni remains deeply committed to serving humanity. The 2025 Padma Shri recipient has spent over fifty years dedicated to improving the lives of society’s most overlooked members. His decades of humanitarian work support people battling leprosy, individuals with various mental and physical disabilities, and underprivileged children.

While sharing his inspiration for dedicating his life to serving leprosy-affected persons in a telephonic conversation with The HULAHUL Times, Mr. Suresh Harilal Soni described that when he was in 10^th standard, one of his class teachers told him, “God has made us human beings; therefore, we must work for other human beings.” This lesson became the guiding star which navigated him to the path of service. Along with that, he mentioned that his parents were one of the biggest inspirations for him to spark a light of selfless devotion towards humanity.

Born in 1944, in Gujarat, Mr. Suresh was a bright student. He passed MSc in Mathematics with First Class, First Division, breaking the record of Baroda University. Later on, he joined the teaching profession and became a lecturer at Baroda University itself. However, soon he realized that this was not the work of his choice, and he wanted to serve the society. So, he gave up his noble job of teaching and embraced the world of compassion and love.

Recollecting the memories of his first meeting with the leprosy patients, Mr. Suresh explained how emotional the experience was and how miserable the condition of the patients was. He told us that in 1970, there was a government hospital in Baroda where his friend’s relative used to work. During his visit to that hospital, he met with the leprosy patients, and one of them mentioned that though the government was training them with skills so that they could get employed, however, there was a scarcity of jobs, and consequently, they were forced to beg. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any other alternative but to beg. Moreover, many of them were not treated well, and some of them even died. This whole episode left an indelible mark on his soul, and he made a quiet, deep promise to work for the welfare of those who suffer from the disease.

He elaborated that there were two leprosy colonies In Baroda. He went there and saw the pathetic condition of those affected with leprosy. He began assisting them medically, giving medicines, injections, dressing wounds, and helping them get rid of begging by providing vocational training like spinning and weaving of khadi.

It was delightful to know that when he left his teaching profession for the welfare of others, he did not come across any challenges of that nature. And he added that his wife supported him throughout the journey.

As time passed, he devoted his life completely towards the welfare of leprosy-affected people. And one fine day, an industrialist visited the colony, and they both started working collaboratively. They asked the government for land in order to provide necessary supportive conditions to the patients of Leprosy, to treat them and make favorable arrangements for them. Many patients joined, including female patients and children who were not affected with leprosy but did not have access to education. The government granted them a piece of land about 15 km away from Baroda. Hence, they shifted around 200 people there and then started a school and a hospital as well. Unfortunately, both of them had difference of opinions, and Mr. Suresh had to leave that organization.

It was a challenging phase as he was left with no money. But he did not give up and never lost hope. And with the grace of God, The Sahyog Kushthayagna Trust was established in 1988, when Mr. Ramubhai Patel, a local farmer, decided to give 31 acres of land to Mr. Suresh. They moved to this site with 20 leprosy-affected people and 6 children. This became the stepping stone to the foundation of Sahyog Village.

What started as a grounded initiative gradually developed into Sahyog Village, a dynamic residential campus. And, today it serves as home to more than one thousand individuals, providing shelter and specialized care for some of the most marginalized members of society: people with leprosy, adults with mental health disorders including schizophrenia, the physically disabled, people who are HIV positive, and underprivileged children.

The village has well-maintained infrastructure, including a 45-bed hospital, a primary government school, vocational training programs, cultural activities, and a remarkably inclusive temple that displays the religious symbols of all religions in the world, and 32 images of inspirational personalities.

The trust helps in providing livelihood and a dignified life to its residents through various means. Mr. Suresh mentioned that there are in total 1,034 residents; out of these, 60 people are engaged in the kitchen, cooking meals for everyone. Additionally, there are mentally challenged people who find it difficult to understand anything, and their special care is to be taken; this work is also done by the residents. Some of them are trained for hospital work as well.

Discussing the care-giving work for the people with mental disabilities particularly, Mr. Suresh stated that it is a very difficult job. Sometimes they are not easy to discipline, and even try to run away; however, they are improving gradually. He also remarked that even though they are mentally challenged, they are highly intelligent people.

While talking about the children in the village, Mr. Suresh told us that there are two hostels where the children stay. And they have proper staff to take care of the children. There is a primary government school on the premises, and bus facilities are available for those who study in high school. And all the facilities are provided without charging even a single penny.

While reflecting on the initial days of the Sahyog Kushthayagna Trust, Mr. Suresh explained that the first group of those 20 leprosy-affected people and six children was very cooperative and humble. They showered love on Mr. Suresh and his supporters and said that “this is our organization, and if we do not receive donations, we will beg and first feed you and then we will feed ourselves if anything is left.”

Mr. Suresh also shared a story of one of his residents. He explained that there was a mentally challenged girl who was brought to the ashram by the police department. She was unaware of everything, and when she came, she was seven months pregnant or so. They took her to the hospital in Himmatnagar, and she delivered a boy, but she had no idea of it. Today, the boy is 20 years old and resides in the village; however, both of them do not know each other.

When asked about the awareness programs that the organization is carrying out, Mr. Suresh replied that his organization is doing a lot of things to annihilate stigma about leprosy, spreading awareness about its early symptoms, and urging people that they don’t have to leave their homes. Many students come to the village for four or five months, particularly to learn about mental disability and schizophrenia. Many nursing, Ayurveda, and homeopathy students come to learn about leprosy and its treatment.

Mr. Suresh Harilaal Soni told us that among all his awards, the closest to his heart is Padma Shri. And he shared with us that his experience of receiving this prestigious award was very joyful. Knowing the fact that Mr. Suresh cannot stand or walk, the central government officers helped him a lot and took utmost care of him. He found this gesture really comforting and supporting.

In his message to the youth who are ready to dedicate their lives for a social cause, Mr. Suresh reiterated his master’s teaching: “Since God has made us human beings, we must do something for other human beings.”

Mr. Suresh Harilal Soni’s five decades of service resemble a simple, yet powerful, truth that the value of life is found in compassion for others. Through Sahyog Village, he hasn’t just built structures but a powerful legacy of love and compassion. His enduring mission, rooted in the simple teaching that human beings must serve one another, continues to offer hope and dignity to the marginalized and remains a guiding light for future generations dedicated to social change.