Shining Stars and Smiling Flowers-3 Technology: The Tool for Compassionate

Many a times, youth say there is no ideal in front of us; they dream and wish for the best. And while grieving or being depressed over what is not with them, they do miss so many inspiring, heart-warming, life nurturing moments in life. While grieving over the long distance between the shining stars and our self, we miss so many beautiful smiling flowers around us. These smiling flowers warm our heart and make our life fragrant. The shining stars are distant and visible only in the night but the fragrant flowers are always around. Let us stop grudging and grumbling and open our eyes to see these smiling flowers in our society. These smiling flowers are strewn liberally on each path. As a Jeevanvrati Karyakarta of Vivekananda Kendra, on my path too, I come across many beautiful smiling flowers, the inspiring, heart touching moments. This series is a garland of such blossoming, smiling flowers.

- Nivedita Raghunath Bhide

Due to susceptibility to Glaucoma, I get my eyes checked every six months in Aravind Eye Hospital Tirunelveli. Dr Ramakrishnan the head of the hospital is expert in Glaucoma and thus the eyes are protected for last 25 years. Glaucoma can be only arrested and not cured. Hence, regular check-up is a must.

If I miss the visit, the hospital gives me a card telling when to come next. Each time I have to check the power of my eyes. However big maybe the crowd of patients waiting, I always see the staff working there giving patient, adequate time to decide whether the number is ok or not.

Every time I go, I see a bigger crowd in each department, more arrangements made for the patients to sit. Yet, the hospital is always crowded. The up gradation of technology and instruments is routinely seen in the hospital. Though it is so crowded the cleanliness is of very high order. But I have seen many such hospitals which have advanced instruments and are very posh and clean but there is something more in Aravind Eye hospital.

Vivekananda Kendra’s Rural Development project conducts regular eye camps in collaboration with Aravind Eye Hospital. Now Aravind Eye Hospital has 7-8 branches in Tamilnadu and Pondicherry. Whenever I narrate to others about the care taken by the hospital for its patients, some tell me, ‘Oh naturally, for you they would be doing.’ I know as I have seen in each visit that it is not only for me but for each patient who visits the hospital, the same care is taken.