Sankara Nethralaya joined our nation’s 74th Republic Day celebrations with great enthusiasm and fanfare along with the senior management, consultants, staff, students of Sankara Nethralaya’s various educational institutions and their children at our main campus.

Ms. Sujatha Vishwanath, SWAN (SN Women’s Auxiliary) Trustee warmly welcomed the gathering, and invited the Chief Guest Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, Retired IPS officer and other dignitaries Dr. Girish S. Rao, President, Medical Research Foundation, Dr. T. S. Surendran, Chairman, and Mr. G. Ramachandran, Hony. Secretary & Treasurer, onto the stage. With 4 decades of meritorious service in the Indian Police Service, it was befitting for Dr. Radhakrishnan, the esteemed guest to unfurl the flag, followed by the ceremonial rendering of the National Anthem. He inspected the Guard of Honour presented by the ever vigilant SN’s security personnel accompanied by Mr. Chellasamy I. K., Chief Security Officer.

Introducing the Chief Guest, Dr. T. S. Surendran spoke of his long years of association with him as a Docto, as well as a personal friend. He highlighted his achievements in his long illustrious career to the rapt audience present. Also, he recollected the fond memories of meeting him along with Dr. S. S. Badrinath, when Dr. Radhakrishnan, L

Later, the Chief Guest, Dr. K. Radhakrishnan congratulated Dr. T. S. Surendran on becoming the  Chairman of Sankara Nethralaya and also cherished the  brotherly bond he had shared with him. .  He praised Sankara Nethralaya for its yeomen service for the cause of vision in India on the occasion of  its  74^th Republic Day celebrations.  He recollected how he  knew Dr. Badrinath since his marriage in 1986 as his father-in-law was a close friend of  Dr. S. S. Badrinath himself.  He called SN  as the “Mecca of Eye Treatment in South Asia” and revered how it has become a ‘Mini India’ with  patients coming from all over India and from South Asian countries for treatment.

Further, Dr. K. Radhakrishnan  reiterated that our fundamental rights are guaranteed to every child born in our country.  We also have equal constitutional rights that were a true reflection of our culture and tradition.  He advised everyone to practice equality to one another.

Dr. Nirmala Subramaniam, Emeritus Professor, Dept. of Oculoplasty received the prestigious 40 Years of Service Award from the Chief Guest with the audience giving a standing ovation. The awardee gave credit to Dr. S. S. Badrinath for bringing her into Sankara Nethralaya’s fold and also how she had learnt ophthalmology though her own expertise in the domain of plastic surgery. On this momentous occasion, she made contribution to a fund she had established for the treatment of congenital anomalies in children, which was received by Dr. Girish Rao and Dr. T. S. Surendran.

Other awards for SN employees like, longer periods of service, regular attendance and merit awards for their children were also presented on this joyous occasion.