Mayaram Surjan Foundation was set up in 1995 as a Public Trust in the memory of Mayaram Surjan - veteran Journalist, littereteur and activist. He was an ardent votary of the basic values enshrined in the constitution of India-namely democracy, socialism & secularism. His career as a journalist, his writings & his active participation in social movements were all dedicated towards creating a society based upon these principles. MSF was formed to carry forward his mission.

MSF made an appropriate beginning by inviting Dr. S.C. Dube, eminent sociologist and a friend for over five decades to deliver the first Mayaram Surjan Memorial Lecture on 29th March 1995. In the initial years MSF had set modest goals for itself - Public lectures, publication of literary books by upcoming writers, journalism fellowship, programmes for school students on art & literature etc.

However, the scenerio changed with the formation of the Chhattisgarh State on 1st November 2000. In the new state, MSF became more & more involved in policy interventions - mainly relating to culture, environment & sustainable development, and in research, analysis & documentation of public issues. An opportunity to collaborate with National Foundation for India (NFI) in mid - 2004 motivated MSF to expand its scope & work more actively in certain areas.