Ma, Me & Mangoes – Episode 30: Rooted Like a Mango Tree, Respected Like a Healer - Dr Sudharshan Ballal
Chinmay Ananda
Financial Educator ◔ Business Storyteller ◑ Author ◕ Helping Non-Finance Managers Master Finance with Ease ◉
It was one of those peaceful evenings on our mango farm. The summer wind was gentle, and Ma and I were sorting through ripe mangoes. One of the mango was slightly blemish. I picked it up and was about to toss it aside.
Ma: No Chinmay, don’t throw it!
Me: Why? it looks damaged.
Ma: Just because it has spots and bruises, it is not useless.
Me: What do you do with it?
Ma: We can use it for making juice or jam. There’s always a way.
Me: (looked up and was smiling) hmm.... that actually reminds me of Dr. Sudarshan Ballal sir
Ma: Who’s that? Another mango expert?
Me (laughing): No, Ma. He’s a doctor. A kidney doctor, one of the best in the word. He is actually the Chairman of Manipal Hospitals. Born in Udupi, close to where you were born and brought up. A simple, humble man who’s respected across the world.
Ma: Most of the people born near my place are all humble and greatly respected.
Me: Of course, of course, of course...
Ma: That sounded sarcastic!
Me: (just nodded my head sideways)
Ma: Hmm... then what does this mango have to do with a kidney doctor?
Me: Well, just like how you don’t discard a mango for a small spot, Dr. Ballal sir believes in looking deeper, seeing value beyond flaws, in people and in systems. I’ve met him several times while hosting events for World Kidney Day, Heart Day, and the MARS ambulance launch. Each time, I come back feeling deeply moved.
Ma: Tell me more. Sounds like someone I’d like to meet given that he comes from Udupi.
Lesson 1: Greatness Doesn’t Forget Its Roots
Despite being globally recognised and trained in the US, Dr. Ballal never cut ties with where he came from. He studied in Manipal, and he’s still actively involved in supporting villages in Udupi. He sponsors health insurance for villagers in Hebri, funds dialysis for the poor, and mentors aspiring doctors.
Me: Ma, you always say that no matter where I go, I must remember my roots. He’s living proof of that.
Ma: True. A tree grows in two directions—upwards towards the sky and downwards into the soil. Without strong roots, it can’t stand tall. And mangoes grown in their native soil always taste better.
Me: Exactly! Just like our farm mangoes.
Lesson 2: Excellence Earns Trust Without Needing a Pedestal
He completed his MD in the US in two years instead of three because his Indian training was so solid, his professors saw his value instantly. And though he never worked in the UK, he was awarded an honorary FRCP. He didn’t chase recognition rather it found him.
Me: Ma, Dr. Ballal’s story reminds me of our best helper - Sidha. He doesn’t talk much. But you trust him with the entire harvest.
Ma: That’s true. He’s reliable, doesn’t wait for instructions, and finishes work quietly. No show-off, only work.
Me: Exactly. Like Dr. Ballal sir. Consistency creates silent credibility.
Lesson 3: Service Is the Real Measure of Success
What moved me most was his deep commitment to service. From setting up ambulance services to providing scholarships, his success is measured not by how many people report to him but by how many lives he’s touched.
Me: In a way, you’re also like that. You may not run a hospital, but you make sure every farm helper eats the same food you do.
Ma: That’s basic humanity! They work hard under the sun. What good is success if you don’t share comfort with those who help you?
Me: Exactly what Dr. Ballal sir would say.
Ma: This doctor sounds like a banyan tree - rooted, giving shade, and silently supporting life. If more people ran their organisations like that, the world would be a better place.”
Key Takeaways for Business Owners and Entrepreneurs
• Stay Rooted, Grow Global: Your beginnings are not something to escape, they are something to honour. Build from them.
• Let Work Speak Louder Than Words: Recognition is not asked for, it is earned. Show up, do the work, and stay humble.
• Serve, Don’t Just Succeed: The true measure of leadership isn’t how high you climb, but how many you lift along the way.
• Build Quiet Trust, Not Flashy Fame: Sustainability comes from trust, and trust comes from being consistent even when no one’s watching.
• Lead with Humanity: Whether it’s a farm or a hospital, leadership rooted in empathy creates organisations that last beyond generations.
#MaMeAndMangoes #LeadershipWisdom #StorytellingWithPurpose #WisdomFromTheSoil #LeadershipLessons #RootedInValues #HealthcareHeroes #NativeStrength #BusinessAnalogies #PurposeDrivenLife #HumilityAndHonor
Behavioral Therapist | Counsellor/Relationship counsellor | Journalist | Student- Master's in Social Work
2moso good to see Dr Ballal. Congratulations Chinmay
Vice President - SAP - Platform - ANZ Operations and Technology Pvt Ltd.,
2moDear Chinmay I wholeheartedly resonate with every word written about Dr. Sudharshan Ballal. For the past 12 years, I have found refuge beneath the vast Banyan tree of his wisdom and care—his unwavering dedication has been my shield, his compassion the force that sustains my life and well-being. As the old saying goes, 'Devaiya Manusha Ropenna'—God manifests in the form of good human beings. And for me, Dr. Ballal is more than just a healer; he transcends divinity itself. 'Vaidhyo Narayana'—for me, he embodies the grace and kindness of the divine."