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Eye Camp in Varsana
by Deena Bandhu das

The devotees from Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Mumbai completed a very successful eye camp in service to the Brijabasis in Varsana from 24th to 27th December. Almost 250 eye operations were performed, and by Radharani's arrangement there, despite the large number of operations, there were no complications for any patient.

I arrived on 24th with Sarvabhauma, my co-director for National Communications in India. Although they had just arrived the evening before, everything was set up and running just like clockwork. I was totally amazed at the efficiency and precision with which everything was running. Everything was being done with the utmost cleanliness. Sarva and myself were required to have surgeon caps and small plastic booties to enter the operation theater. There, we saw about four operations going on simultaneously with very modern equipment that had been brought from Mumbai in a special van.

Everything was going on under the administration of Vaisnava Seva Prabhu and Visvarupa Prabhu. Of course many other doctors and devotees were there, but they will have to accept my apologies for not being mentioned since we didn't stay very long as we were on our way to the inauguration of the Historic Kurukshetra to Vrindavan Rathayatra. It was very inspiring, though, to see all the doctors and nurses with tilak.

As NCO, Sarva had coordinated with Rupa Raghunatha's Vrindavan Food For Life, and they were on hand to serve deshi ghee prasadam to all the patients for the four days of the camp.

As soon as you entered the premises of a very clean dharmshala with marble floors that were very easy to keep clean, there was a small tent with Srila Prabhupada's Murti. Nearby, there was a small pandal with a live kirtan going on as long as the operations were taking place. On being discharged every patient received one of Prabhupada's books.

Sarvabhauma had also remembered that there was one eye surgeon in Yamunanagar who used to visit the Chowpatty temple when he was in medical school in Mumbai. Sarva informed him about the eye camp, so he came with two other surgeons from Yamunanagar. They arrived just in time. The team had a plan of doing 200 operations, but there was an overwhelming response from the Brijabasis. They vowed not to turn anyone down, but they were totally wiped out. Then Dr. Vivek Talwar arrived with his team, and they took over. They operated from 6:30 pm till 1:30 am, while the Bhaktivedanta Hospital crew rested.

Dr. Talwar was very impressed by the arrangements and told me later that even up till 1:30 in the morning, the kirtan was going on. He and his team were very happy to take part in this Brijabasi seva.

© CHAKRA 01 February 2002