One Chapatti and a Determination: Ramesh Kasondra and Gram Vikas Trust
Ramesh Kasondra
The question this story follows:
“When a man who survived on one chapatti a day devotes his entire professional life to ending poverty — what does it cost him, and how does a grassroots trust outlast its founder?”
Born into drought and poverty in Gujarat, Ramesh Kasondra became a civil engineer, then gave up a career to build Gram Vikas Trust — 25 years of serving the community that once barely fed him.
Ramesh Kasondra was born on 7 December 1963 in Motibanugar, a drought-prone village in Gujarat, into a farming family with nothing to spare. When he was four years old, his father died. His mother worked as a daily wage labourer. Some days, he and his siblings ate only once. A single chapatti with water.
He excelled in school despite borrowed books. A village elder, Monabhai, paid for his 8th-standard fees with personal savings. Ramesh stood first in his class in 8th, 9th, and 10th standards. He earned a civil engineering diploma at Tolani Polytechnic, sleeping on pedestrian walkways his first nights near campus. He graduated with distinction in 1984 and walked straight to his benefactors to hand them the certificate.
In 1985 he joined AKRSP and spent 14 years on rural development across tribal Gujarat. From his monthly salary, he had been quietly sponsoring children's education since 1989. In 2001, he formalised this into Gram Vikas Trust — with his own home as the first office and his own savings as the first budget. Twenty-five years later, GVT runs programmes in education, women's empowerment, health, agriculture, and livelihood development.
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Episode 1: Ramesh Kasondra — One Chapatti, One Dream
Ramesh Kasondra was born on 7 December 1963 into a farming family in the small village of Motibanugar, Gujarat — a drought-prone region where the land gave little and debt came easily. When he was four years old, his father died, leaving the family with no income. His mother worked as a daily wage labourer. Some days, he and his siblings ate only once. A single chapatti with water.
Ramesh excelled in school despite borrowed books and absent resources. A village elder, Mr Monabhai, used his personal savings to pay for Ramesh's 8th-standard fees, uniform, and study materials. Ramesh stood first in his class in 8th, 9th, and 10th standards, passing his 10th board in 1980 with 78%.
To pursue a Diploma in Civil Engineering at Tolani Polytechnic College, Adipur, Ramesh left his village. With no hostel money, he spent his first nights sleeping on pedestrian walkways near campus. He graduated with distinction in Civil Engineering in 1984 — and walked straight to Mr Monabhai and Mr Kanani to hand them the certificate.
In 1985, Ramesh joined the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme. Over 14 years he rose to Programme Organiser and completed rural development projects across tribal and drought-affected Gujarat. From his monthly salary, he had been quietly sponsoring children's education since 1989.
By 2001, with 58 children sponsored, he established Gram Vikas Trust — with his own home as the first office, his own savings as the first budget. Twenty-five years later, GVT runs programmes across education, women's empowerment, health, agriculture, and livelihood development. "I grew up in poverty, and today my life is devoted to the poor. I want them to live with dignity."