14 Facts About Govindappa Venkataswamy

Govindappa Venkataswamy was the founder and former chairman of Aravind Eye Hospitals.

Govindappa Venkataswamy is best known for developing a high quality, high volume, low-cost service delivery model that has restored sight to millions of people.

Govindappa Venkataswamy trained as an ophthalmologist, and personally performed over 100,000 eye surgeries.

Govindappa Venkataswamy walked two kilometres to school each day and his early lessons were written in sand from the riverbed.

Govindappa Venkataswamy earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry in 1938 from American College, Madurai.

Govindappa Venkataswamy was in medical school when his father died, leaving him the head of the family.

Govindappa Venkataswamy was discharged after contracting a rare form of rheumatoid arthritis.

In 1965, at a conference on rehabilitation for the blind, Govindappa Venkataswamy met Sir John Wilson, founder of the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind.

Govindappa Venkataswamy then led Tamil Nadu's initiative to establish mobile eye camps that took sight-restoring services into rural India.

Govindappa Venkataswamy established a rehabilitation centre for the blind in 1966, and an Ophthalmic Assistants Training program in 1973.

Govindappa Venkataswamy pioneered mobile eye camps with the government, and later implemented this practice at Aravind.

Govindappa Venkataswamy is the founding member of Seva Foundation, that partnered with Aravind in the early years by widening the organisation's access to the latest technology, and skilled volunteers.

Govindappa Venkataswamy lived with his younger brother G Srinivasan and his family.

Govindappa Venkataswamy was a Gandhian and a disciple of the spiritual teachers Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.