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Remembering Lakshmi Karthikeyan

It is with a heavy heart that Sankara Eye Foundation, USA shares the passing of our beloved staff member, Lakshmi Karthikeyan. Lakshmi passed away on April 11, 2026, after a brief battle with illness. A week before her passing, she was in the office — full of her usual good cheer and quiet grace. Today, we grieve a loss that feels impossible to put into words.

The Three Angels of Sankara

There is a special kind of dedication that is intentionally quiet. It is dignified and doesn't seek applause or recognition. It doesn't stop when the hours grow long or the work grows hard and weary. It simply continues — steadfast, purposeful, and full of love. At Sankara, this kind of dedication has been embodied by three people – Kala, Sheila, and Lakshmi.

Anupama Venkatesh

The Sankara Eye Foundation family deeply mourns the loss of Anupama Venkatesh, our star volunteer from Southern California. Anu, as she was fondly called, was a beacon of hope and light to everyone who knew her. She was a part of SEF, USA’s Southern California team, but volunteers across the country had the honor of working with her.

Harini Sivanandh Ramadass

My internship at the super-speciality Sankara Eye Hospital in Coimbatore, India, was a truly unforgettable experience. As a high school intern, I was initially overwhelmed, but the staff’s warmth and willingness to share their knowledge quickly made me feel at home. This experience taught me practical realities of the medical system that few get to see.

Padma Parthasarathy

“Transparency and Accountability are at the heart of everything we do." Padma Parthasarathy, SEF, USA Board Member, shares why your donations are in safe hands with Sankara Eye Foundation, USA.

Rama Dasu Puli

Rama Dasu Puli’s deep-rooted commitment to fighting curable blindness is sparked by a traumatic childhood experience. After witnessing his uncle lose his sight, Rama Dasu found his purpose as a volunteer in raising funds and awareness for the Sankara Eye Foundation, USA’s work.

Venkat Maddipati

“Either we have to sacrifice family life, or get the family involved in this cause!” Venkat Maddipati or Venkat-garu as we fondly call him, smiles as he talks about Vision 2030: March to a Million, the humungous challenge accepted by Sankara Eye Foundation, USA.

Sonal Solanki

“There is a saying that when you are down, lift someone up”, says Sonal Solanki who has been volunteering with Sankara since 2005. In 2004, she lost her father in a car accident. “Devastated by grief I knew I had to find a meaningful way to deal with the loss.”

Sasikala Muralidharan

“Sankara is not an organization, it's a large family”, says Sasikala Muralidharan, better known as Kala Murali, wife of SEF, USA’s Founder and Executive Chairman, Murali Krishnamurthy, as she talks about her experiences of being involved with Sankara's events and activities.

Dr Rajesh Kapse

What does it take to be a doctor to hundreds of patients who cannot pay for your services? “I learn more from them than I can impart”, says Dr Rajesh Kapse, Head of the Medical Department at R Jhunjhunwala Sankara Eye Hospital, Panvel in Maharsahtra.

Vibha Sreekath

Vibha Sreekanth’s heartfelt narrative captures her eye-opening experience during her volunteer program at Sankara Eye Hospital in Bangalore. Initially eager to gain medical knowledge and shadow top ophthalmologists, Vibha found the most profound impact in her interactions with patients.

Aditya Ghatty

SEF, USA youth volunteer Aditya Ghatty was at Varanasi to attend the inauguration of the RJ Sankara Eye Hospital, Varanasi, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He shares his thoughts here about service and what motivates him to volunteer for SEF, USA.

Madhusri Movva

Madhusri Movva, a volunteer with SEF, USA’s Seattle Chapter for over 15 years, recently visited the Sankara Eye Hospital in Hyderabad. She recalls her visit as a ‘heartfelt experience’.

A Band of Nurses

It takes a village to raise a child, and an army of medical professionals to run a hospital! At the RJ Sankara Eye Hospital, Panvel, the band of nurses ensures no stone is left unturned.

Football to Eyeball

Don’t leave him. Tackle. To your Left. Pass. GOALLLLLL!!! Loud cheers erupted the otherwise peaceful morning at this football field where the “Girls in Red” played against the local boys of a remote village in Bihar.

A Government Messiah

An institution as large as Sankara Eye Hospitals cannot perform on its own. It is a whole of many many parts made up of its donors, volunteers, employees, partners, vendors, associates, grassroot workers and most of all the government.

The Math Teacher

The distance from the eye camp held by Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital to the beneficiary’s home in the village was a good half an hour walk.

The Resident Carpenter

In the dimly lit workshop, Ashok-da is busy with his carving, chipping and polishing the wooden legs he is making for the patient's beds.

Humans of Sankara