In 2004 I traveled to Arivand Eye Care in Madurai Tamil Nadu India to volunteer in their training center for three weeks. It was a transformative trip and the attached pictures capture my memories of the trip. There are 221 photos in this gallery.
My first step in India. Airport at Chennai Tamil Nādu. I was there for 9 hours. A very long night and my bag got lost as well.
Stepping off plane at Madurai Airport. I thought the guard with the gun was telling me not to take the picture.
Front of Madurai Airport as I was ready to get into the Aravind van, I turned and took this picture of the Madurai airport
Harmony guest house, My home for over two weeks at Aravind
Andrews the yardman who guarded Harmony and kept up the grounds, which were beautiful. Andrews was retired from the military and had no family. Aravind gave him a meaningful position and care for the rest of his life
Front yard next to road at Harmony
The view of the living room at Harmony. My first view of the inside
From living room into dining room and stairs. This is the second Harmony House, opened about 1999. The first was about 300 meters north and was Dr. V's house and the original hospital. Dr. Kim and Dr. Usha live next door to the original Harmony House
View of front yard from the Harmony living room
My room at Harmony, the Aravind guest house
Ghilda Mary and her assistant with me
Ghilda Mary and our cook at Harmony. Cook and Ghilda slept on the floor in the kitchen
Andrews opening the front gate to let me into the guest house
A typical meal with fellow volunteers at Harmony. We were provided with three meals per day. A time to share and get to know people from all over the world.
My breakfast every day. Add fresh juice, coffee, and this is my morning at Harmony before work.
Laundry delivery at Harmony. A man with a cart picked up our laundry and washed and pressed and returned to us every day.
A view of the poorest of neighborhoods in front of Harmony guest house
Street next to Aravind Eye Hospital in Madurai. Building on left is doctors’ dorm
View of Aravind Eye Hospital in Madurai. My first visit. For a detailed look at the history of Arivand and Dr. Venkataswamy, please order the extraordinary documentary, Infinite Vision, by Pavi, Dr. V's niece. Order from Seva Foundation at http://www.seva.org
My first view of Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology (LAICO-Aravind) where I was to work for over two weeks
Front of LAICO. LAICO trains hospitals from all over the world in high performance and volume sight surgery, helping eliminate needless blindness in the world.
My first step into the front door of LAICO. I was at work.
My office at LAICO. Everything is individually switched in every building. Nothing is left on to conserve power.
Reception area in common area from my office at LAICO. Only individual offices have air conditioning. Support staff experience the great outdoors in the building.
Very nice support team that helped me when needed. LAICO
John Inman with Pavitra (Pavi), a niece of Dr. V's (Dr. Venkataswamy). Produced documentary on Dr. V and Aravind, Infinite Vision. What a special person!
Looking towards office area from central atrium at LAICO
Aurolab manufacturing facility that manufactures surgery products for Aravind and other NGO's world-wide reducing the cost of lenses etc. to pennies on the dollar.
