Dr. S S Badrinath (SSB to his team mates), a great Ophthalmologist, founder of Sankara Nethralaya, in Chennai left his mortal body on 21st November 2023 at the age of 83.
He was a student of the Madras Medical College between 1957 and 1962 completing his medical studies in the first attempt and securing the highest marks in ophthalmology in the University Examination. He had his higher studies and internship in prestigious Universities in New York and Boston , USA. He passed the examination for the Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (Canada) and the American Board Examination in Ophthalmology in 1969 and 1970 respectively.
In the meanwhile, Dr. Badrinath met Dr Vasanthi, a board-certified paediatrician and Haematologist in Brooklyn New York in 1966, and married her. Forsaking citizenship and immigration into Canada and USA, the Badrinath returned to India keeping their promise to his Mentor, Dr Charles L Schepens, in March/April 1970, after a seven and half year stay abroad.
From 1970 to 1978, Dr. Badrinath was associated with three well-known hospitals in Chennai. Their family had always been the devotees of Kanchi Sankara Mutt. During this period, he had the privilege of performing cataract surgery to His Holiness His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekerendra Saraswathi Swamigal, the 68th Peetathipathi of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.
In 1975, he was most fortunate to have been ordained to start a medical institution with a missionary spirit by His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal. In 1978 Dr S S Badrinath founded the Medical Research Foundation as ordained by His Holiness Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal. He is currently the president of Medical Research Foundation of which Sankara Nethralaya is the hospital unit, a registered society, a charitable non-profit ophthalmic organization. He is also the Chairman Emeritus of Sankara Nethralaya. Over the next 24 years, he and his colleagues relentlessly pursued the triple objectives of the foundation; 1) quality care at affordable cost, 2) teaching and training of ophthalmologists and paramedical personnel to create an army for combating blindness in India and, 3) research in vision sciences addressing the ophthalmic problems specific to India.
Keeping up their basic objectives as a sacred commitment, the institution, nay the movement, has established to the world that one can achieve success without exploiting the clients (patients in this case). Dr. Badrinath’s achievements and the awards, including the Padmashree (1983) and Padma Bhushan (1999) is a long list. Similar is the case with regard to the success stories, awards, patents and so on so forth of Sankara Nethralaya. Certainly, ‘One man’s penance can save the world ‘. (Maharishi Aurobindo)
While paying our homages to this noble soul, it is his Sangh association which kept him to contribute in the field of Ophthalmology. Here are some anecdotes:
It was an anniversary meeting of Sankara Nethralaya – 1993 or 94 held at Raghavendra Kalyana Mandapam, Chennai. Dr Badrinath shared his experiences in the inaugural address. “In my experience of reading many books as an Ophthalmology student, one book that left me in awe and continues to be is the Sushruta Samhita. It is a marvel to find, how Rishi Sushruta diagnoses and classifies the eye diseases that are mentioned in modern medicine, what kind of treatment is needed, where eye surgery is needed, what instruments should be used and how. Remember there was no microscope even leave alone the modern high-tech tools and machinery! “ Thus Dr. Badrinath admiringly talked for about two minutes about the great rishis of the past. His soulful conviction, study and clarity shone through in his voice.
He further went on to say “ We pass on our grateful appreciations for the rapid spread of awareness and collecting donor pledges through the continuous campaign by RSS movement led by the senior pracharak Shivaramji Joglekar. Shivaramji was honoured with an award at the event. As usual Shivaramji refused to hog the lime light, Swaminatha Sharma, secretary of the ‘Vigil’ a public opinion forum, received the award.
Thus Dr. Badrinath’s and Sankara Nethralaya’s association with Sangh and Seva Bharati , Tamil Nadu continues till date.
Some years later, on Shivaramji’s Satabhisheka Vaibhava day. Dr Badrinath came with his wife. The dhampati bowed down at Shivaramji’s feet and took blessings. When Shivaramji passed away , he came to Chennai Sangh Karyalaya and paid his last respects.
Why all this admiration and respects to Sangh and Shivaramji in particular? The reason is the unique move of motivating the entire family to commit to support of eye donation. When the kutumbh comes together, the eye donation becomes meaningful in times of need, isn’t it? In the very first campaign, during 1990 the Sangh’s Seva Vibhag , Nallor Vattam and ‘Vigil ‘ karyakarthas went door to door, and collected hundreds of donor pledge forms.
Moving on to year 2013. Dr. Badrinath invited RSS Sarchangachalak, Mohan Bhagwat ji to their institution to address their team and honoured him. Thanking the guest speaker for his presence and extending him a warm welcome on behalf of Sankara Nethralaya, Chairman Emeritus Dr SS.Badrinath remarked in jest that it was perhaps the nature of the rather basic questions posed by him to Shri Bhagwat almost 4 years ago that prompted him to make a visit to Sankara Nethralaya and put things in the right perspective. He recalled with gratitude the association of leading lights of the RSS movement like Shri Kasinathan, Shri H.V Seshadri and Shri Sudharshan with the Sankara Nethralaya and their contribution to its growth, highlighting that it was Shri Shivaramji Joglekar a committed member of the RSS who played a critical role in educating the people of the region on the need for eye donation and created awareness on the same and how the seed sowed by him went on to mature as the CU Shah Eye Bank.
An event ‘1000 Eye Donors Families’ Meet’ was conducted in Chennai organized by ‘Swami Vivekananda 150th year Birthday Celebration Committee’ on November 23, 2013. Here in. “Fantastic” that was the seal of approval stamped by Dr. S S Badrinath, the eye surgeon of world renown and Chief of Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai. He was referring to a unique way of obtaining eye donation pledges in thousands by RSS Karyakarthas of Chennai. Over 3000 families were talked into signing the family eye donation pledge. A thousand pledges were handed over to Sankara Nethralaya eye bank at this event.
To conclude, Mananeeya Dattatreya Hosabale ji, Sarkaryavah, RSS in his condolence message states, Dr S. S. Badrinath ji, an eminent and reputed eye-surgeon. “ He established Sankara Nethralaya 45 years ago and the hospital has been rendering great service to thousands of people, even those who come from far eastern parts of India and even neighbourhood countries. He had been associated with RSS for more than 4 decades and cherished his association with Sangh and the Sangh Karyakarthas from Sri Kasinathan to Adaraneeya Shri Shivaramji Joglekar, Shri.H.V. Seshadri, Shri KS Sudarshan ji, Sarsanghchalak Shri Mohan ji Bhagwat and others.
He has been the inspiration for many to start such hospitals in other parts of the country.
I pray the almighty to give strength to the bereaved family to bear the grief and bestow peace on the departed soul. Om Shanti “
Jambunathan
