Tarabai Desai Eye Hospital, Jodhpur, India

29/01/2026

Eleven Receive the Gift of Sight

Our second monthly fixed date free eye camp was held at Juna Khedapati temple on 10 January 2026. We examined 78 patients at the clinic for various eye diseases and dispensed 11 spectacles onsite. Eleven patients were selected for cataract surgery and operated the same day at no cost. Each patient also received an artificial lens implant at no cost.

Help us continue & scale this impact. Donate today at : www.TarabaiEyecare.org , and if you are in India please scan the QR code below.

22/01/2026

Road to Digadi

A long, winding, dusty and desolate road leads to the remote village of Digadi, where we organized our fourth free eye camp of the new year under the aegis of the Ma Chamunda Navyuvak Mandal on 9-1-2026. The warmth of the welcome was palpable as Mr. Idan Singh Bhati, who heads the group, received us at the Government School - the venue transformed into a beacon of hope for the day.

With our Irish volunteer, Dr. Joseph Keenan, an accomplished eye surgeon, we set up the clinic and began examining patients. Each individual was approached with compassion, and every case was treated with meticulous care. Over the course of the camp, 347 patients were examined. Those suffering from minor eye ailments received free medicines immediately, bringing instant relief and comfort.

More critically, 31 patients were diagnosed with mature cataracts, their vision clouded and their lives constrained. Recognizing the urgency, we arranged for their transport to our base hospital without delay. That very evening, surgeries were performed free of charge, and each patient received an artificial lens implant. In a matter of hours, sight was restored - along with dignity, independence, and hope.

This gift of sight, offered at no cost, stands as a powerful testament to the strength of collective compassion. It is proof that when communities, volunteers, and institutions come together, lives are transformed, hope is rekindled, and futures are illuminated.

Help us continue & scale this impact. Donate today at : www.TarabaiEyecare.org

16/01/2026

God’s Work in Action :
Baverli Eye Camp

On the 6th of January 2026, our journey carried us to the village of Baverli, nestled 60 kilometers west of Jodhpur, as the crow flies. This free eye camp was made possible through the generous sponsorship of the Gordhandas Chaturbhuj Foundation, and we remain deeply grateful to the Merchant family for their steadfast association and unwavering support over the years.

The groundwork was skillfully prepared by Mr. Ravi Thakur, ensuring a seamless experience for the 305 outpatients who came to the Panchayat Bhavan with hope in their hearts. A moment of profound blessing graced the camp when priests from the renowned Swaminarayan temple visited our clinic. Their words “This is God’s work being done here” resonated deeply with our team, affirming the spirit of service that guides us.

Every patient was examined with compassion and treated with care. Those suffering from various eye ailments received free medicines on the spot, ensuring immediate relief. 203 patients were also given eyeglasses. Among them, 43 patients were diagnosed with mature cataracts requiring urgent surgery. Without delay, they were transported to our base hospital, where surgeries were performed the very same evening, free of charge. Each patient received an artificial lens implant, restoring not only their vision but also their dignity.

This gift of sight, offered at no cost, stands as a testament to the power of collective compassion—transforming lives, rekindling hope, and illuminating futures.

Help us continue & scale this impact. Donate today at : www.TarabaiEyecare.org

14/01/2026

The Magic of 7

Our monthly camp at the Government Dispensary, Udaimandir, on 2 January 2025 welcomed 55 patients who were examined and treated with compassion and care. Among them, seven patients were found to have cataracts requiring surgery. In many traditions, seven is considered a number of fortune and blessing - a symbol of completeness and grace.

True to its mystique, those seven patients were transported to our base hospital and operated upon the very same evening. Each received an artificial lens implant at no cost, a gift of restored vision and renewed dignity. What could be more magical than seven lives illuminated in a single day? For them, the lucky seven was not just a belief - it became a reality, as sight returned and hope was reborn in the Thar Desert.

Help us continue & scale this impact. Donate today at : www.TarabaiEyecare.org

14/01/2026

13/01/2026

From Jakhan with Love

Ms. Tripti Upadhyay, one of our valued donors, sponsored a free camp in village Jakhan in memory of her parents, Dr. Tara Sharma and Dr. H.L. Upadhyay, and her maternal aunt. She personally visited the camp, interacted with patients, and was deeply moved by their stories. Inspired, she penned a heartfelt memoir for her close friends and family. With her kind permission, I am sharing her reflections here :

“Half an hour into our nearly 2 hours long road trip to village Jhakan, with the chaotic Jodhpur traffic behind us, we hit the all too familiar desert landscape of the Thar. Mustard fields added a resplendent yellow to the arid monotony of the terrain at intervals.

A familiar crowd awaited our arrival at the Primary Health Centre where the camp was organized. Around 240 elderly villagers, men and women, had made it to the Centre from in and around Jhakan for eye check up and screening for cataract operations.

As always it was a pleasure to have Dr. Sanjiv Desai around, examining, treating, advising and screening patients, pleasantly conversing with them in their lingo. I felt privileged to have in my camp, Dr Joseph Keenan from Ireland, a remarkable and compassionate doctor and a volunteer at Tarabai Desai Hospital Hospital for several years now.

Assisted by a committed experienced team from the Tarabai Desai Hospital, 22 cataract ready patients were screened for BP, sugar levels and eye pressures. In addition, those who needed, were distributed spectacles and medicines. Each operation went smoothly and successfully. During my interactions with patients post operation and in between change of dressing, almost everyone mentioned about exceptional clarity of vision after surgery.

The camp this time was special for me due to two benefactors. My friend Rajeeva Srivastava, who donated blankets to the 22 patients and my University teacher Shri Subhash Sharma, who donated blankets to the hospital. As Dr Joseph Keenan distributed the blankets, the smiles on the furrowed faces of the patients was one of the most spiritually satisfying moments for me.

I offer special thanks to Shri Yudhishthir Singh Chaudhary and his son, for publicity, mobilizing and motivating villagers to benefit from the camp.”

Help us continue & scale this impact. Donate today at : www.TarabaiEyecare.org

12/01/2026

A Journey of Brides, A Journey of Vision

The village of Doli, where we held our free eye camp on 28 December 2025, carries a name steeped in poetry. In the local vernacular, doli means a palanquin - the ornate carriage that bears a bride to her new home after marriage. Just as a bride’s journey in a doli marks the beginning of a brighter chapter, our camp in Doli symbolized a passage from darkness to light for many patients in the Thar Desert.

We were warmly welcomed at the primary school camp site by Surta Ram ji and Manju ji, whose hospitality set the tone for a day of service. Over the course of the camp, our team examined and treated 151 patients for a range of eye ailments.

Joining us was Dr. Joseph Keenan, an Irish ophthalmologist whose dedication is legendary. For him, it was truly “out of the plane and into the camp” - a testament to his stamina and passion. This marked his 20th visit to our hospital as a volunteer eye surgeon, an extraordinary milestone in itself.

From this camp, 16 patients were selected for free cataract surgery and transported to our base hospital. Remarkably, they were operated on the very same evening, each receiving an artificial lens implant at no cost - a gift of restored vision and renewed dignity.

With this post, I extend heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Keenan, whose unwavering commitment continues to illuminate lives in the desert, much like the palanquin that carries hope and promise into new beginnings.

Help us continue & scale this impact. Donate today at : www.TarabaiEyecare.org

11/01/2026

Nimbla - Sight & Smiles in the Desert

Our next free Eye camp was at Nimbla, a small, traditional village located about 45 km southeast of Jodhpur. It lies in a region known for the Bishnoi community, which is dedicated to nature conservation and wildlife protection, particularly the blackbuck and migratory birds. The area is surrounded by Khejri trees and offers an authentic, rural Rajasthan experience.

This camp was organized in tandem with the Lions Club of Jodhpur Jodhana and its venue was the petrol pump located prominently on National Highway NH8 and owned by Lion member Vimal Bothra. SEEI volunteer Dr Harup Kaur along with Harpratap Singh and Eknam Singh participated in this camp too. They brought with them expertise in cataract surgery, organizational ability and infectious enthusiasm which charged us all.

Over the course of the day, we examined and treated 173 patients for a variety of eye ailments. From this camp, 16 patients were selected for free cataract surgery and transported to our base hospital. Remarkably, they were operated on the very same evening, each receiving an artificial lens implant at no cost - a gift of restored vision and renewed dignity.

Help us continue & scale this impact. Donate today at : www.TarabaiEyecare.org

09/01/2026

Dusty Roads to Clear Eyes

The serene desert village of Lavera Kala, nestled 66 kilometers north of Jodhpur, greets visitors with its timeless charm. A one-and-a-half-hour journey along dusty roads brought us there on 23 December 2025, where we held an eye camp under the gracious patronage of Saint Shri Ramvilas Maharaj ji.

It had been several years since our last camp at this site, and - as anticipated - the turnout was overwhelming. Among our dedicated team was Dr. Harup Kaur, a volunteer surgeon from SEE International, accompanied by her husband Mr. Harpratap Singh and their son Eknaam Singh. Together, they embodied the spirit of service: while Dr. Kaur tended to patients, Harpratap and Eknaam proved indispensable in organizing queues, instilling eyedrops, and assisting with admissions and brought comfort and smiles to the patients.

Over the course of the day, we examined and treated 357 patients for a variety of eye ailments. The camp concluded with a hearty late lunch of spicy chilli-chappati and comforting lentil soup, a simple yet memorable feast after hours of tireless work.

From this camp, 44 patients were selected for free cataract surgery and transported to our base hospital. Remarkably, they were operated on the very same evening, each receiving an artificial lens implant at no cost - a gift of restored vision and renewed dignity.

Help us continue & scale this impact. Donate today at : www.TarabaiEyecare.org

09/01/2026

Free Eye Operation Camp on 16 January
Come One, Come All