Dr Tatyarao Pundlikrao Lahane, 50 Professor and Head Department of Ophthalmology, Grant Medical College & Sir J.J. Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, has following outstanding career in the field of medicine and devotion to the mankind.

Born as a poor farmer’s son in a village in Latur District, Maharashtra, he self-educated himself under the scheme “earn while you learn”. Having faced difficulties in childhood he sympathized with the poor.

Failed kidneys and deteriorating health brought him to Mumbai in 1994 for treatment. However this was a boon in disguise for the crippled Department of Ophthalmology at Grant Medical College Mumbai. Inspite of being on dialysis he slowly started building the department brick by brick. He started working full time very soon after the kidney transplant in 1995. Inspite of being on life-support medicine since then he has not taken a single day’s leave. He continues to work 12 to 14 hours a day. His single-handed dedication, determination and hard work since then have made the Department of Ophthalmology the best in Maharashtra today.

Over and above his duties his work includes: -

1) Pioneer of advanced, state of the art cataract surgery by Phacoemulsification in Government and Municipal hospitals in Maharashtra. The quality of eye surgeries performed by him is by the best technique with the best technology in the world today. The poor can now avail of these surgeries at No cost. (In private surgery costs Rs.15, 000 to 50000)

2) Pioneer of advanced Phacoemulsification and Small Incision Cataract Surgery in eye camps in Rural and Tribal Maharashtra. It has changed the face of camp surgeries. Immediate rehabilitation and excellent results has reduced burden on economy and community.

3) Pioneer of Result oriented Stitch less Cataract Surgery and Phacoemulsification in Leprosy patients in Maharashtra. In the last 6 years he has operated 1007 leprosy patients at Hon. Baba Amte’s Ashram Anandwan. (The Highest number in the world.) Previous technique of cataract surgery had 35% complication rate. His innovative research with use of advanced technique has reduced complications to 0 %.

4) His involvement for walfare of Tribal community: -
He travels to remote areas all over Mahrashtra to create awareness about eye care. He has surveyed and operated approx. 3000 Tribal patients from Thane, Palghar, Jwahar, Mochada, Dahanu, Dhule and Chandrapur . He is performing Eye camps since Six years on the eve of birthday of Hon Sharadraoji Pawar for Leprosy patients and tribal at Anandvan, Baba Amte’s Ashram. During his visits he trains local eye surgeons in advanced surgeries. 12 such camps and workshop are conducted in different parts of Maharashtra annually.

5) Highest performance in Maharashtra
The department of Ophthalmology is brought into State of Art Status.
In 1994 when he joined only 600 surgeries were performed, now it has increased to 19000 surgeries per year. All state of Art surgeries like Phaco-emulsification, Sutureless Cataract surgery, Keratoplasty, all types of Lasers, Retinal Detachment surgery, Angiography, sonography and others are performed with expert hand and totally free for poor patients. Thus under his leadership this department is FIRST in the State of Maharashtra for National Programme for control of blindness.

6) Research, Academics and Training.
a) He has published a number of research articles in Indian and International journals.
b) He has read more than fifty research papers in National and International conferences
c) He has conducted more than 50 instruction courses and live demonstrations of advanced surgeries all over India.
d) He is completely involved in training post-graduate doctors, Medical officers, Ophthalmologists from all over India and Nurses

7) Health Education for community.
a) He has written series of articles in Loksatta and Maharashtra Times
b) He has been invited for various programmes on eye care on television and Radio.
c) He has actively encouraged Eye Donation through various media.
He has performed 81 000 surgeries and treated more than 6, 00.000 patients so far. Mankind continues to benefit from this devoted ‘Karmyogi’ who as dedicated his bonus life to the service of humanity