3. Aravind Pondicherry, Dr. V's Final Creation

"Aravind", meaning lotus,  and statue of Sri Aurobindo,
grace the entrance to Aravind Eye Hospital Pondicherry

Aravind Eye Care System began with a humble hospital in Madurai, in 1976.  The Aravind Eye Hospital at Pondicherry is the 5^th hospital in the Aravind Eye Care System.  Dr. Govinda Venkataswamy (Dr. V) was the founding father of these hospitals.  His post-retirement goal of offering free cataract surgery to the masses became the seed of Aravind.  His determination inspired his youngest sister Dr. Natchiar and her husband Dr. Nam to return from USA to India and take on the same cause.  In their tireless efforts, they would begin surgery at 5am, finish surgery four hours later, and begin seeing patients in the clinic.  Dr. V held steadfast to the writings of Sri Aurobindo, and to the teachings of The Mother (nee Mirra Alfassa).  Black-and-white portraits of these two spiritual leaders adorn the entrance to every Aravind building.  Aravind Eye Hospital Pondicherry was conceived during Dr. V’s spiritual retreat to Sri Aurobino’s Pondicherry ashram.  At the time he was seeking spiritual illumination on transferring authority of the Aravind Eye Care System to his successor.  Instead, he was struck with a passion to build the crowning jewel.  Completed in 2003, Aravind Pondicherry was to be the last hospital construction he would oversee, during his glorious life on earth.

Photo of "The Mother" (left) and Sri Aurobindo
behind the triage desk in the main foyer
of Aravind Eye Hospital Pondicherry

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