Date:25/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/25/stories/2006032519170400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Glowing tributes paid to ophthalmologist

Staff reporter

A corpus fund to help the poor undergo free surgery at Sankara Nethralaya

REMEMBERING A DOCTOR: At the birth centenary celebration of Lt. Col. V. Rangachari, his son R Vedantham (left) in discussion with Sankara Nethralaya Chairman S. S. Badrinath, in Chennai on Friday. — Photo: K. Pichumani

CHENNAI: The family of the noted ophthalmologist, the late V. Rangachari, instituted on Friday a corpus fund to help poor patients get surgery free of cost at Sankara Nethralaya.

At Lt. Col. V. Rangachari's birth centenary celebration, his son R. Vedantham presented a cheque for the fund, which would help a poor patient avail free surgery on his father's birthday every year.

Noted ophthalmologists paid glowing tributes to Dr. Rangachari. He was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Indian Medical Service in 1940.

His bravery in several battles earned him the Military Cross.

"Even after he returned to teaching, his theory classes would be full of anecdotes about wars," recalled ophthalmologist T. R. Swaminathan.

Sankara Nethralaya Chairman S.S. Badrinath said that Dr. Rangachari was a "friend, philosopher and guide." The warmth he showed had Dr. Badrinath often visiting him for inspiration and advice. The doctor was most remembered for his encouraging words to young ophthalmologists.

Dr. N. S. Sundaram said, "Not having many books of my own, I would go to Col. Rangachari's extensive personal library. "He always made sure that I returned the book in 7-10 days, for he believed that a person would not read the book if he were given it for a month."