This year, the Shanti Mandir Eye Camp was held in an old palace in Landhaura, which is located near the town of Roorkhee. The location was magnificent and for our purposes, offered ample room for examining the patients. The palace itself is not often open to people who are poor; the spacious, grand rooms usually hold only aristocrats and those considered the elite of society.
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Rang
Mahal - the Palace, Landhaura Eye Camp Sept. 2003 |
When Gurudev arrived, he was escorted to a very large hall known as “Panch Dwar” which means 5 doors. At one time, this was the hall where the ministers and British royals held their elegant parties. On the day of the Shanti Mandir sponsored Eye Camp, the same room was filled to capacity with patients in need of care, their eyes beaming with hope, patiently waiting their turn.
Various organizers from the Ganga Mata Eye Hospital, Roorke Pensioners Association, the local MLA Kumar Pranav Singh, (the heir to Rangmahal and next of the dynasty of the erstwhile Rani of Landhaura) gathered for the opening ceremonies. Garlands were offered to various people and eloquent speeches were made in praise of the humanitarian undertaking and selfless seva offered by so many. It was wonderful to see how, throughout the decorous event, everyone was honored for their generous spirit and benevolent efforts to see the Eye Camp happen. The entire, global team responsible for the success of this project is of course remarkable. On this day, seeing many of the individuals together for the event itself; the doctors, local organizers and Gurudev was a moving experience.
Gurudev spoke regarding doing good work for society together with the
spiritual work and thus bringing India forward. He said, “In India
we have all come from a village. It becomes our duty not to just run to
big cities, but also to develop the villages with sanitation etc. and
make them habitable places still.”
The people in this
village have gathered because of cataracts or eye related disease. The
generosity which allows these procedures and operations to happen is appreciated
at every level. We felt a special gratitude that day for the single individual
from New Delhi who graciously donated 108 operations.
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Patients
being taken to hospital |
At this camp 650 people were examined and 120 IOL surgeries were performed.
We are blessed to have this relationship with the GMCEH and the Pensioners
Association. The exceptional service they offer to those, who in many
ways are less fortunate, is extremely admirable. We are grateful for the
affiliation and together look forward to increasing the number of camps
as our resources grow.
As we continue to participate in these camps and see the benefits and aid being administered, the longing and inspiration to offer more increases. There is no end to how much can be done here. Ideas are developing pertaining to what more humanitarian works we can commit to.
It was remarkable to see the group of people from Shanti Mandir who were inspired to take 1½ days off from work, travel to Haridwar (5 hours) and spend the following day, September 17, volunteering their services through the eye camp. Prasad was distributed to everyone who came to the camp.
Shanti Mandir is deeply grateful to all the donors whose heart-felt generosity allows us to continue with this project. Previously, we have organized one camp a year. We have determined to begin offering two camps each year. We pray that the resources for this great work continue to flow so that even more can be accomplished in the future.
We will be traveling
to Australia in November and look forward to placing yet another order
for the IOL’s.
May all Beings Be Content
and Mr. Gupta offer gratitude
Eye Camp Sept. 2003
