A medical doctor by profession, Dr. Sudarshan has focused on public health, social work and tribal rights at an early stage. He founded VGKK and Karuna Trust for the sustainable development of tribal and rural poor through rights-based approaches to health, education, livelihood security and biodiversity conservation. He has worked, amongst others, with the Ramakrishna Mission, State and National Governments.

He is a member of numerous national and international committees, including the Independent Commission on Health in India, the National Commission on Population, the NHRC core Group on Health and the Executive Committee of the governmental Janasamkhya Sthiratha Kosh chaired by the Indian Prime Minister. Dr Sudarshan is an Ashoka Fellow; his engagement in the fields of public health and tribal rights has earned him the Rajyothsava State Award in 1984, the Right Livelihood Award in 1994, the Padmashree Award in 2000 and the Vivekananda Medal in 2004.