R. Sridhar, founder of Maithri Trust, passed away at the age of 80

R. Sridhar, founder of Maithri Educational and Charitable Trust, T. Nagar, passed away on Friday morning after a brief illness. He was 80 years old. Last rites were held on Friday evening. When he was 18 months old, he contracted polio, which paralyzed his left arm and both legs.

Although he only went to school until the age of eight, he continued to learn through the radio, which helped him travel and stay in one place. The BBC and Deutsche Welle (Voice of Germany) and other channels helped him understand and speak English; and learned some Spanish, German and Hindi. Although confined to a wheelchair, Mr. Sridhar has participated in several Civic Runs and completed the entire 10 km.

Unable to complete his schooling, Mr. Sridhar wanted to help the children study. In 1983, he started Maithri as a trust with a lofty dream and an empty pocket. He was interested in supporting people with disabilities in their educational activities.

Soon his commitment expanded to include children from poor and broken homes. Donations have always gone towards children’s education and their urgent medical expenses, even settling family disputes and helping mothers from broken homes to maintain a dignified livelihood. Mr. Sridhar learned astrology and when people paid for his services, he asked them to donate the fee to Maithri Charities, which recently celebrated its 35th anniversary.

Published – 13 Nov 2026 22:07 IST