Sankara Eye Hospital looks back on its special bond with Bharat Ratna Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was a very special visitor at Sankara Eye Hospital and over the years had become very supportive of Sankara's work and causes. Sankara Eye Hospital looks back at its close association with the dynamic personality in the past.

Back in the year 2003, Sankara Eye Hospital had the honour and privilege of a visit by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, then the Director of Space Research. It was an enlightening experience meeting a true and dynamic Indian, simple and humble, recollects Dr. RV Ramani, Founder and Managing Trustee, Sankara Eye Hospital, Coimbatore. "He spent 2 hours in the hospital speaking to the free surgical patients from the villages, interacting closely with every one of them, enquiring about their well being. Apart from seeing the Senior Consultants, he made sure that he spoke to the junior staff and the support staff as well", says Dr. Ramani.

Subsequently, he visited our Hospital at Coimbatore twice and each time he gave us a different dimension and perspective of his personality. In the year 2011, on the eve of his 80th birthday, he was with us to celebrate in a different manner. With passion and serenity, he distributed spectacles to 80 students and Intra Ocular Lenses to 80 Community Patients who were waiting for surgery.

Dr. Ramani reminisces, "Once while I was in Delhi, he invited me to the Rashtrapathi Bhavan. I was lead through long corridors only to reach a small library of Dr Kalam, where he was sitting very plainly like a common man on a chair next to a table. The down-to-earth manner in which he conversed with me and his hospitality inspired me to continue with our work at Sankara and contribute to society".

Few months ago, Dr. Ramani received the Ruby Health Care Excellence Award at Mumbai Shanmughanandha Hall from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. "The Award was more significant to me because it was the Bharat Ratna himself who gave the Award. He was very happy that we received the recognition and the way Sankara was working across the Country", says Dr. Ramani. "We will truly miss the gem of our nation", he adds.

Source : Equity Bulls

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