A spiritual leader, humanitarian and social reformer, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai is the founder of the One World One Family (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam) Mission, a global service initiative focused on nutrition, free education and healthcare. Over the past decade, he has spearheaded the creation of a network of free schools, hospitals and nutrition programmes that today serve millions of beneficiaries in India and several other countries. Under his leadership, the mission has established India’s first free rural medical college and expanded the Annapoorna Morning Nutrition Programme to reach over 10 million children daily. His work is guided by the belief that access to quality education, healthcare and nutrition is a fundamental human right rather than a privilege. Edited excerpts:What made you shift from being a successful investment banker to a spiritual mentor and somebody who is deeply involved in large-scale philanthropy?I never viewed it as a career shift; service has always been my life’s underlying purpose. Initially, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba guided me to work in the corporate world, and I followed that path sincerely. Looking back, I see that phase as preparation rather than a destination. Investment banking taught me discipline, governance, strategy and financial stewardship – invaluable lessons that seamlessly support our global humanitarian projects today. Following Baba’s passing, I felt a natural, profound calling to dedicate myself entirely to his core message: Love All, Serve All. What began as a personal commitment to return to my original passion for social service gradually scaled into a global mission.Many people assume philanthropy is simply about giving away resources. However, I believe it is about recognising that our lives find their greatest meaning when they become useful to others. When you experience the joy of transforming lives, service ceases to feel like a sacrifice – it simply becomes a way of life.What made you specially focus on healthcare, nutrition and education which have become the three pillars of your work?Universal healthcare, nutrition and education form the very foundation of human development. They are deeply interconnected: a child who is hungry cannot learn, a person who is unwell cannot contribute productively, and a society without education cannot progress sustainably.Historically, India recognised these essentials as collective responsibilities. Through systems like the Gurukulas and community temples, education was free and value-based, food was shared with all, and healthcare was viewed as an act of service. Over time, however, we began to commoditise these basic needs, making access increasingly dependent on personal wealth.Our Mission is simply to ensure that no one is denied these fundamental rights due to financial barriers. When healthcare is compassionate, nutrition is accessible and education is value-based, we do more than just help individuals survive – we create responsible citizens who will go on to build a selfless, harmonious society and strengthen the nation as a whole.“One World One Family” is an ambitious idea. How do you translate such a philosophical concept into measurable action on the ground?Many people view ‘One World One Family’ as a philosophical ideal, but I see it as a practical necessity. The challenges facing humanity today, such as poverty, healthcare inequality and social division, cannot be solved in isolation. They require a profound sense of shared responsibility.We translate this concept into measurable action by building a selfless society through tangible initiatives. The philosophy becomes real when internationally acclaimed doctors volunteer at our free hospitals simply because serving others brings them genuine joy. It materialises through our value-based education system, which empowers underprivileged students, and through our Morning Nutrition Programme, which ensures children are nourished, attentive and ready to learn.