The certification ceremony of the students completing their Masters in Optometry and Bachelors in Medical Laboratory Technology and Ophthalmic Dispensing at the Sankara Nethralaya Academy, held at the packed to capacity VD Swami Auditorium on the 25^th of January 2020 presented a picture of joy and jubilation.

The event capturing the successful acquisition of knowledge,skills by a set of young men and women and inculcation of the spirit of service in them was captured succinctly as ‘Fruits of a great intent’ by Mrs Akila Ganesan, Registrar, TSNA and Director-Administration Sankara Nethralaya. Observations on the institution in terms of its sterling role in reaching quality, career oriented education to children from the lesser privileged sections of society through fee waivers,scholarships and grants including assistance from its own employees resulting in the creation of a large number of first graduates in socially and economically backward families and 80% of its students being girls, by Professor Ramani, Principal, TSNA, followed by a note on the trail blazing courses introduced year after year including the fact that the TSNA was the only institution to offer the prestigious ‘Fellowship in Ophthalmic Dispensing’ in India and the impressive placement record of students from the previous batches by Dr Anuja Singh Vice-Principal and Mr Senthilkumar, Assistant Professor was a testimony to the quality of the tree from where the day’s fruits had blossomed.

The speakers highlighted that the exposure to a good number of eye screening camps serving the rural poor, including the ‘Sankara Nethralaya Eye Hospital Anjali to the Mahathma’ (SNEHAM-2020) not only exposed the students to various kinds of eye ailments but also inculcated the spirit of service in them.

Addressing the audience Mrs Akila Ganesan, Registrar, TSNA recalled that it was exactly 10 years ago when the dream of Dr SS Badrinath to start an institition offering courses offering high employment potential to the middle and lower income groups was placed before Periyava and today the institution has grown to great heights with the vision and plan of the great Visionary and the divine blessings of Periyava.

Highlighting to the students that Sankara Nethralaya is their home and their academic/professional performance, behavior and acts will reflect on it, Mrs Akila Ganesan used the opportunity to educate and guide them on their varying role and responsibility to their institution,their parents,society at large and to themselves.

The association of renowned professionals like Dr CM Srinivas, Dr Mitra Ghosh and Dr Mythily belonging to reputed institutions like CMC Vellore, Voluntary Health Service and MIOT Hospitals with the TSNA and their contribution to the courses offered was a testimony to the high standards of education offered at the institution.