Mr. Kesavan Namboodiri, a post-graduate in science, with a degree in Master of Yoga has spent several years searching for peace and a mission in life before he landed in Melkote. He was ardent practitioner of Patanjali Yoga, started teaching Yoga as a way of life to a small group of rural youth in and around Melkote. He soon realized that the fruits of spiritual development could be seen only with the economic development of the rural youth in the group. Swami Vivekananda, who had uttered ‘ Service to the poor is the service to the nation and God ' , inspired him.

Mr. Kesavan Namboodiri, built a team of young persons who traveled on foot and bicycles and convinced the youth of neighboring villages about the social and spiritual transformation. The attracted youth formed themselves into different Yuvak mandals and Mahila mandals [small groups of young men and women] and gradually began to approach the various government departments for the assistance. Thus VIKASANA Institute for rural development came into existence in 1984. VIKASANA was inspired by the call of Swami Vivekananda that mere Vedanta will not fill the bellies of the poor and no spiritual development is possible on empty stomachs. Today VIKASANA has made a name all over Karnataka*. VIKASANA has grown by leaps and bounds during the past 24years in different parts of Karnataka and attending to different sectors of rural development.

Institute for Rural and Urban Development is a secular & non-profit organization engaged in activities oriented to promote holistic development of the community since 1984. Motto of our organization is “To be self reliant and to help people become self-reliant”. Our vital object is to act as supportive agencies to assist the community-based organization, to become self-reliant.

VIKASANA is based with Registered and Administration Office at Mandya (District Head Quarters) and field offices at different districts. It is believed in community participation is the major tool for social development. It is playing an optimistic role in promotion of community participation in various forms.

From 2007 we have come to know Marion Gorr and Jon Yaakov Gorr of the Australian organisation Beautiful Silks, who have developed an international supply chain and international product range for us. In respect of the Ph.D thesis of Jon Yaakov Gorr which deals with connecting business and textile students in developed countries to assist in the development of business opportunities for underprivileged rural women of our community, VIKASANA has been proud to honour Jon Yaakov Gorr with the title, Doctor of Philosophy.