Chennai: A packed hall at Sankara Nethralaya in Nungambakkam buzzed with conversations prompted by fond memories. A year has gone by since Dr S S Badrinath, founder of the eye hospital, passed away at the age of 83 in Chennai following age-related ailments. Friends, colleagues, and family came together to honour the man who turned a 17-bed hospital in a College Road bungalow into a world-class institution of ophthalmological excellence.
Among those paying tribute was Dr P Namperumalsamy, chairman emeritus of Aravind eye care system, and Badrinath's friend. Namperumalsamy recalled Badrinath's fellowship in vitreoretinal services at the Massachusetts eye and ear infirmary, Boston, under Dr Charles L Schepens from 1968 to 1970. During this period, Badrinath cleared prestigious qualifications, including the fellow of the royal college of surgeons (Canada) and the American board examination in ophthalmology. Yet, it was his return to India to apply his expertise that defined his legacy.
He was spiritual too. "Back in 1974, Acharya Jayendra Saraswathi from the Kanchi Mutt inspired Badrinath, both in his spiritual life and his work. He made him realise how important it was to have hospitals in India that were affordable and yet offered top-notch care," Namperumalsamy said.
This vision took shape as Sankara Nethralaya, an institution that introduced photorefractive keratectomy and laser treatments for refractive errors. But beyond technological breakthroughs, it was Badrinath's commitment to accessibility that made his work revolutionary.
"In 1978, my mother's friend who lost an eye in Kathmandu sought his help," recalled senior journalist N Ram. "Badrinath praised the Nepalese doctors for their work but readily offered to assist further. He also treated a political journalist with the same dedication as he did an autorickshaw driver seated beside him," he added.
For those who knew him, such moments defined who he was. To senior consultant (cornea and refractive surgery) Dr Prema Padmanabhan, a former student, Badrinath was an inspiring yet exacting mentor. "His attention to detail and commitment to excellence challenged everyone around him to aim higher and we will continue his legacy," she said.