Glimpses 2009-2010.pdf - LV Prasad Eye Institute

OUR SUPPORT
Your support makes it possible
for all to see...
The two Founding Organisations of L V Prasad Eye Institute are the Hyderabad Eye Institute and
the Indo-American Eye Care Society. The Founding Governing Board of Hyderabad Eye Institute
comprised Mr A Ramesh Prasad, Prof V Ramalingaswami, Dr Narla Tata Rao, Mr K Rama Rao, Mr K
P Prasad and Dr Gullapalli N Rao. The Founding Governing Board of Indo American Eye Care Society
comprised Prof Brijen Gupta, Dr H Janardhan, Dr Y M Jay and Dr Gullapalli N Rao.
As L V Prasad Eye Institute approaches its Silver Jubilee Year in 2012, we gratefully remember our
founding trustees and how crucial their support was in those early years.
Mr Ramesh Prasad
Mr Ramesh Prasad, Managing Director of Prasad Film Laboratories, is
a founder trustee and the longest serving member on the Hyderabad
Eye Institute’s governing board. He recalls, “My father, Shri L V
Prasad was a humble man who worked his way up in Mumbai’s
film studios, where he arrived with little money and a heart full of
dreams. An actor, director and producer, he started his career as a
ticket collector/gatekeeper at Mumbai’s famed Dreamland theatre
and, eventually, went on to win the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke
award for lifetime achievement.”
When they learnt of Dr Rao’s ambition to set up a world class eye institute in Hyderabad, “we did
not know who he was,” says Mr Ramesh Prasad. “We were impressed with his sincerity and did not
lay down any conditions.” Since good eyesight is needed to enjoy films, the partnership between
Shri L V Prasad and Dr Rao was a perfect match.
In retrospect, the family feels they have received back more than they invested! Mr Ramesh Prasad
says the family never thought the Institute would grow into a world renowned Centre of Excellence.
“It’s the best thing my father did in his life,” he says. “We continue to support the Institute’s work,
which shows our total satisfaction with its progress. I am thrilled at the growing number of patients
that LVPEI treats free of cost. We will continue to support the institute in the future as well.”
Prof Brijen Gupta
One of Dr Rao’s earliest supporters, who continues to tirelessly raise funds in
the United States for LVPEI, Prof Brijen Gupta is unstinting in his commitment
and unquestioning in his support. Prof Gupta studied at Banaras, Oxford,
Yale and Columbia Universities and taught at Columbia and Universities of
Chicago and Rochester. An outstanding writer and orator, his expertise
spans many fields like history, politics, development and economics. He is a
father figure for Rochester’s Indian community and single-handedly nurtured
the Indo-American Eye Care Society, created to mobilize support for LVPEI
in the United States. Indeed, the Indo-American Eye Care Society was a
forerunner to HEI.
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