Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, the sole author of the trust, is the “Dharmadhikari” of Shri Manjunathaswamy temple. Born on November 25, 1948, Dr. Veerendra became the Heggade at the tender age of 20 in the year 1968. Since then Dr. Veerendra Heggade has envisioned different programs for bettering the living environment and took care of millions of visitors flocking to Dharmasthala every year. He used the donations received at the temple for the good of the community and that of the devotees. The village of Dharmasthala was converted into an enthralling tourist resort with facilities to accommodate twenty thousand devotees.
To carry out the various charitable activities ordained on the Heggade, the Dharmadhikari has founded seven trusts. They are:
1. The S.D.M. Education Society (Education)
2. The Janatha Shikshana Saithi (Education)
3. The Dharmothana Trust (Renovation of ancient temples)
4. The Shanthivana Trust (Yoga and Naturopathy)
5. The Medical Trust (Hospitals)
6. The Rural Development and Self-Employment Training Institute (RUDSETI) (Entrepreneurial Training)
7. The SKDRDP (Rural Development)
For his dedicated works, Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade was conferred with honorary Doctorate from Mangalore University, Honorary FRCPS from the fellow of Royal College of Physicians in Glasgow, U.K, as well as the Padmabhushana citation from the Government of India.
On top of promoting an internationally acclaimed dental college, Dr. Heggade has also promoted colleges on Yoga and Naturopathy, an Allopathic medical college, Engineering college, College of Business Administration, Law, Science and the Arts.Dr. Heggade’s first love however remains to be the aspect of rural development.
