About Us
Dr Sanjeev Kulkarni is a medical professional, educator, and long-time practitioner of natural living based in Dharwad. Trained as a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, he has served the community for decades through his medical practice at Tavargeri Nursing Home.
Beyond medicine, his life’s work spans education, ecology, spirituality, and literature. He is the Founder and President of Baala Balaga School, an alternative learning initiative rooted in the values of curiosity, simplicity, and social responsibility. He also serves as President of the Gandhi Peace Foundation, Dharwad, and Swayamdeep Zen Centre, Dharwad, and as Vice President of Karnataka Vidyavardhak Sangh, Dharwad.
Since 1997, Dr Kulkarni has been engaged in natural farming at Suman Sangam Forest Farm, seeing the land as both a teacher and a shared responsibility. His work here reflects a long-term commitment to biodiversity, ecological balance, and learning through practice rather than extraction.
A writer and translator, his published works include poetry, reflections on swadeshi and ecology, writings on meditation, and translations of Zen texts, Rumi’s poetry, and Marathi literature into Kannada. His interests include farming, education, spirituality, ecology, literature, yoga, and meditation.
Dr Kulkarni’s life is also marked by quiet acts of service, including 124 voluntary blood donations to date and arrangements for body donation to KMC Hubballi, reflecting his belief in giving back beyond one’s lifetime.
At Suman Sangam, he sees himself not as an owner, but as a caretaker and co-learner, shaped as much by the land as he has helped shape it.
Our Philosophy
Suman Sangam is a living forest farm shaped by a quiet commitment to ecological care, biodiversity, and a way of life that honours simplicity. Here, the land is not managed against nature but in conversation with it. Guided by the principles of natural farming and permaculture, every path, plant, and season becomes part of an ongoing dialogue — a reminder that care, patience, and observation are as important as action.
This is not a commercial resort designed for speed or convenience. It is a working landscape where the rhythms of soil, rain, and growth take precedence over schedules. Facilities are intentionally simple, inviting visitors to soften their pace, participate in everyday activities, and rediscover a more mindful relationship with their surroundings. Comfort here comes less from amenities and more from presence — from waking to birdsong, walking under trees, and allowing time to stretch naturally.
We believe that meaningful experiences arise through involvement and gentle effort. Whether it is walking the land with curiosity, tending to small tasks, sharing stories in community, or adapting to a quieter and less structured rhythm, each moment offers an invitation to engage fully. In this shared space, learning is not delivered — it unfolds through participation, reflection, and lived experience.
Suman Sangam is sustained through trust and collective care. There are no fixed tariffs, only a circle of giving that carries the space forward. Your stay is made possible by those who contributed before you, and in your own time, you are invited to offer what feels fair and within your means. This gesture supports the land, its stewardship, and the welcoming of future visitors — keeping the space accessible and rooted in mutual responsibility.
Above all, Suman Sangam welcomes those who feel drawn to live gently, even if only for a while — people who value respect for nature, shared community, and conscious living. It is a place to slow down, to listen, and to remember that belonging often begins with attention, gratitude, and care.