Dream come true

His work has not been in vain,as after years of hard work and steady determination,Narayangaon now boasts of a full-fledged eye hospital with the latest amenities and technologies. “On reaching Narayangaon,I started my practice in a shed provided by a well-wisher and one of my closest friends Mohan Thuse. I began serving the poor for free as that was my aim,but I also started collecting funds for building the eye hospital,which was my long-term goal. While collecting funds I came across the elderly of the village who suffered from cataract. Crippled by poverty and bad eyesight,they could not even do their basic chores and these people were made to sit in the cowsheds and were humiliated.

This only strengthened my resolve to work for them.” Dole adds,“I follow the ideals of Dhondo Keshav Karve. The plight of the elderly moved me so much that I began a makeshift eye clinic with the help of some renowned doctors from the city like Dr Sudhir Kale and carried out cataract surgeries on villagers for free. I wanted to instill in them a sense of pride,which they would get after working for themselves and the society.”

The task of building the hospital was as good as scaling a vertical incline with no support. From battling water and electricity shortages,to resisting opposition from various political groups,we braved it all. Eventually money started to pour in and brick by brick the hospital saw the light of the day,” he says.

Named Mohan Thuse Netra Rugnalay after his friend Mohan Thuse who helped him out in his initial days,the hospital boasts of some impressive features.

“Presently,in addition to essential eye care facilities,the hospital also has a mobile van,which we use to carry out free check-ups in the tribal areas near Narayangaon. We conduct around 15 to 17 medical camps annually.

If a patient is diagnosed with cataract then he or she is brought back to the hospital and treated for free. We have treated about 50,000 people in rural areas for cataract till now,” he says.

“As far as my work is concerned,we plan to take up a project on stem cell research. Even though at 81 years I am slowing down a bit but the people involved in my projects and my own determination perk me right up to continue my work with steely determination. A probable reason as to why I have been working even now is the fact that me own surname Dole in Marathi means Eyes. That probably could explain the fact as to why I have an affinity towards serving people and their eyes,” he smiles.