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Dasari Murali Krishna is an Indian educationist, social entrepreneur, and philanthropist known for his pioneering work in rural education and healthcare in Odisha and Chhattisgarh. He is the founder and chairman of the Vikash Group of Institutions and Krishna Vikash Hospitals, which provide quality education and affordable healthcare across underserved regions. Hailing from a modest background, Murali Krishna has become a symbol of grassroots leadership and institutional innovation, committed to transforming lives through education, social service, and public welfare.

==Early life and education==
Dasari Murali Krishna was born around 1963 in Khandhata village, Bargarh district, Odisha, into a humble Telugu-speaking family originally from Kesavaram, East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. His father, D. Veer Raju, migrated in search of livelihood and worked as a farmer despite being illiterate. Murali Krishna grew up helping with the family dairy business and often delivered milk on a bicycle. His educational journey began at Kosala Residential School in 1979, later attending Panchayat College, Bargarh, to study science.

==Grassroots leadership==
From an early age, Murali Krishna demonstrated initiative and leadership. In his early teens, he and a group of friends collected ₹7,000 to build a culvert in their village, addressing a serious transportation issue. This early act of community service foreshadowed his future as a changemaker.

==Institutional entrepreneurship==
Murali Krishna went on to establish the Vikash Group of Institutions, starting in Bargarh and expanding to cities like Rourkela, Bhilai, Jagdalpur, Visakhapatnam, and Raipur. The institutions offer CBSE-affiliated education, residential schooling, and professional training. Alongside education, he founded Krishna Vikash Hospitals, which offer specialized NICU and cardiology services in western Odisha. Notably, the hospital conducted the region’s first open-heart bypass surgery.

Through his Murali Krishna Foundation, he supports social outreach initiatives, including free cataract surgeries (over 600 per year), health camps, and education for underprivileged children.

==Recognition and roles==
Murali Krishna’s work has earned him several accolades:

Rashtra Bhasha Sevak Samman (Chhattisgarh Government, 2006)

Outstanding Young Indian Award (JCI)

Pakurti Mitra Award (Odisha, Environment Day)

Rajata Falaka Sammanam (KACA, Attabira, 2018)
Subject of a case study at IIM Ghaziabad titled “D. Murali Krishna: A Case Study of Social Entrepreneurship” (2008)
He is affectionately called “Dr. Murali” in public circles, although the title is honorary, and friends jokingly refer to him as “Munna Bhai MBBS.”

==Public service and affiliations==
Murali Krishna served as the president of the Andhra Cultural Association in Attabira and helped initiate a ₹2.5 crore community hall project. He has also been active in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since around 2017, playing a key role in organizing political events, including Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Bargarh. Though considered for a Lok Sabha seat in 2019, he was not nominated.

==Personal life==
He resides in Bargarh with his wife and two sons. His elder son, Vivek Dasari, is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University in Management and Marketing. His younger son is pursuing an MBBS at Sri Ramachandra Medical College in Chennai.

==Philosophy and vision==
Murali Krishna believes that education is the most powerful tool for societal upliftment. Inspired by his father’s struggle and values, he emphasizes that success is possible for anyone through discipline, vision, and perseverance. He continues to inspire youth to become innovators and community leaders.