Inspired by Harish Nanjappa’s decision to donate his eyes minutes before he died, over 170 residents from Karegowdanahalli village in Tumakuru district pledged their eyes on Sunday.
Dr. Bhujang Shetty, chairman of Narayana Nethralaya said, “We got a call from one of the villagers on Sunday morning saying there was an “Anna Daana” (ritual offering of rice) on the 11th day function of Harish’s death. They also told us that there were people willing to donate their eyes and that they would like us to register them as donors.”
Geethamma, Harish's mother who also pledged her eyes
Shetty said that considering the kind of misconceptions that people from rural areas have, this came as a huge surprise to the hospital. People of the age group between 11 years to 82 years came forward to register.
Veeresh, who is the manager of Dr. Rajkumar Eye Bank of Narayana Nethralaya said that more than half the number of people living in the village pledged their eyes on the 11 th day function of Harish Nanjappa’s death on Sunday.
Bhommesh with his parents
“Out of over 300 people who live in the village, about 170 people, including Harish’s mother and relatives pledged their eyes. Not just that, a 11-year-old boy Bhommesh also registered himself. His parents signed his form,” he said.
“We hardly expected this. But we made arrangements for the eye donation camp. This is not just ours but also Harish’s achievement as it only because of him so many people from the same village have pledged their eyes,” Shetty said.
“A doctor spoke to them about the procedure and what they must do. We cleared their misconceptions about eye/organ donation,” he added.
Apart from the 170 people who have registered, the hospital is expecting another 150 people from the villages nearby to register too.
Twenty-four-year-old Harish died after coming under a truck on February 17. His body was split into half. About 20 minutes before he died, Harish reportedly requested the ambulance driver to get his eyes donated.