Two Hungry Cows

The wailing cry of 2 hungry cows resonated from an unkempt and broken shed in a remote rural corner of the Narayanpur village in Saran district of Bihar. A little boy could not take it anymore, he had to do something.

 

“What the heck grandpa! Why do you not feed your cows,”

- asked the angry boy to the melancholy old man with the betel-leaf-stained teeth, who sat nearby sadly gaping at nothing.

 

“Son, how could I feed them, when I can’t see you even,”

- said the old man while tears rolled down his white marble-like cloudy eyes.

 

Till just 2 years back, 65-year-old Lakshman Ray was leading a simple rural life, happily selling the milk of his 2 cows to earn a living.

Lakshman after cataract surgery

Lakshman Ray from Bihar

Sadly, he started to lose his vision due to cataracts in both his eyes.

 

It did not take long for Lakshman’s world to turn upside down.

 

With no wife, children or relative there was no one to take care of the old man, who was just learning to live the life of a blind.

Lakshman after eye surgery 

Stumbling around in a dark world, when all around him there was light, Lakshman could no longer arrange for his own food, leave alone feeding his cows.

 

He became completely dependent on the mercy of other villagers to feed him and his cows. Soon the little money that he had saved was also gone.

Lakshman with cataracts 

Now Lakshman sat all alone in front of the cowshed, while his two hungry cows kept on wailing, and the little boy intervened. After hearing and realising why Lakshman was unable to feed the cows, the boy shared with the old man a piece of information that would change his life.

 

“Well grandpa, don’t sit around here, come with me. An eye hospital by the name of Akhand Jyoti, is organising a free eye camp in the next village. I came to know about this when I went there with my father yesterday. I am sure the Doctor’s there would help you,”

- said the little boy taking Lakshman’s hands into his and leading the old man away to the eye camp in the next village.

Lakshman with cataracts 

At the eye camp Lakshman heard that Akhand Jyoti was Eastern India’s largest Eye Hospital and among the top 5 in India, which did around 75,000 sight-restoring surgeries annually, 80% of which was done for free for poor patients.

Lakshman after developing cataracts 

Identified as a bilateral cataract patient Lakshman’s case was given priority.

 

Then on a later date, Akhand Jyoti organised to pick him up from his village and bring him to its base hospital at Mastichak.

 

Here Lakshman got back his vision through a successful surgery of his right eye, done completely free of cost.

 

After surgery Lakshman was dropped back to his village, where he was greeted by the little boy.

Lakshman in his village in Bihar

Lakshman went running and picked up the boy in his arms. Looking straight into his eyes the old man said,

“Son, no more will my cows remain hungry, no more will anyone have to hear their wailing cries.”

Lakshman after cataract surgery

Lakshman feeding his cow

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donating = restoring hope

Over the last 12 years, each day we have poured tremendous time, effort and compassion in reaching out to indigent people who suffer from curable blindness. Our work has taken us to extreme places, among the less fortunate people. Our efforts to restore sight for these people have helped them regain hope and dignity.

 

Most of our work remains free for our patients and is made possible by patronage.

 

Each day our volunteers and team members come across many inspiring recitals of personal growth and tussle. These accounts help us to keep going on with our mission and sustain our impact.

 

You too can help to make an even larger impact.

 

If you find any joy or stimulation here, please support us by sharing your donations. If you have donated earlier, we convey our sincere thanks and look forward to your continued patronage.

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