Chennai, India, October 23, 2026: Sankara Nethralaya, one of India’s foremost charitable eye care institutions, recently conferred its prestigious Sankara Ratna Award upon renowned entrepreneur, philanthropist, and CEO of Twisted X, Mr. Prasad Reddy Katamreddy, recognizing his exceptional contributions to philanthropy and humanitarian service.
The award was presented to Mr. Prasad Reddy Katamreddy and Mrs. Shobha Reddy by Former Vice President of India, Padma Vibhushan Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, during a special ceremony held at the headquarters of Sankara Nethralaya in Chennai.
The event was hosted by Dr. Surendran, Chairman of Sankara Nethralaya; Dr. Girish Rao, President of Sankara Nethralaya India; and Mr. Bala Reddy Indurti, President of Sankara Nethralaya USA. The ceremony was attended by numerous dignitaries, Sankara Nethralaya Board Members, medical professionals, staff, media representatives, and distinguished guests, including Former Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Shri E.S.L. Narasimhan, Mr. Shyam Appali, Executive Vice President of Sankara Nethralaya USA, and Mr. Buchi Reddy Goli, Trustee of Sankara Nethralaya USA.
The proceedings commenced with India’s National Song, followed by a formal introduction of the guests by Dr. Prema Padmanabhan.
The Sankara Ratna Award is among the highest honors bestowed by Sankara Nethralaya, celebrating individuals whose professional excellence and philanthropic contributions have made a meaningful impact on society. Previous recipients include eminent personalities such as Padma Vibhushan Ratan Tata, Padma Vibhushan Dr. Madhavan Nair, former Chairman of ISRO; Padma Vibhushan A.M. Naik, former Chairman of Larsen & Toubro; acclaimed film director K. Muthuraman; Padma Bhushan Deepak Parekh, former Chairman of HDFC; and Padma Bhushan S. Ramadorai, former CEO and Vice Chairman of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
With this recognition, Mr. Prasad Reddy Katamreddy becomes only the third Non-Resident Indian (NRI) to receive the prestigious Sankara Ratna Award, joining the distinguished ranks of Mr. S.V. Acharya and Mr. Bala Reddy Indurti.
Venkaiah Naidu Praises Philanthropic Leadership
In his keynote address, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu lauded Mr. Prasad Reddy’s commitment to social causes and charitable service. He remarked that the award was richly deserved and expressed hope that others would draw inspiration from Mr. Reddy’s example of generosity and compassion, particularly in supporting initiatives that uplift economically disadvantaged communities. Shri Naidu also fondly recalled his long-standing association with Tamil Nadu, Chennai, and Sankara Nethralaya.
Special messages of congratulations were also received from several eminent personalities. Among them, Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, former Chairman of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Prasad Reddy Katamreddy on receiving the prestigious Sankara Ratna Award. Dr. Satheesh Reddy expressed pride in seeing a fellow native of Nellore receive such a distinguished honor and commended the selection committee for recognizing Mr. Prasad Reddy’s lifelong commitment to philanthropy, humanitarian service, and community upliftment through this prestigious award.
Recognition for Lifelong Commitment to Giving
Mr. Prasad Reddy was accompanied by Mrs. Shobha Reddy, their daughter, and grandchildren during the award ceremony. The family has long been recognized for its extensive support of charitable, educational, and healthcare initiatives in both India and the United States.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Bala Reddy Indurti noted that Mr. and Mrs. Reddy were highly deserving recipients of the award in recognition of their unwavering support of Sankara Nethralaya and numerous other charitable organizations. He highlighted that the couple donates more than $2 million annually from business profits toward charitable causes benefiting underserved communities.
Mr. Indurti further noted that Mr. Prasad Reddy was recently honored by the New Jersey State Senate and General Assembly through a joint proclamation recognizing his outstanding humanitarian contributions and service to society.
During his remarks, Mr. Indurti also reflected on the remarkable growth of Sankara Nethralaya USA over the past decade, expanding from seven chapters to thirty chapters nationwide, significantly increasing membership and donor engagement. These efforts have strengthened support for Sankara Nethralaya’s charitable initiatives and enabled broader outreach through its Mobile Eye Surgical Unit (MESU) and other community programs.
As part of his visit to India, Mr. Indurti, accompanied by Dr. Girish Rao and Mr. Swaminathan Chandrasekaran, visited Sri Datta Peetham in Mysuru and received blessings from Avadhoota Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji. The delegation discussed future opportunities to expand Sankara Nethralaya’s outreach and charitable initiatives across Karnataka.
Acceptance Speech and Additional Commitment
In his acceptance remarks, Mr. Prasad Reddy Katamreddy expressed deep gratitude and humility upon receiving the honor.
“This is a priceless award for me. I am deeply honored and grateful to those who considered me worthy of this recognition. I will always cherish it.”
He also paid tribute to the dedicated volunteers and leaders of Sankara Nethralaya USA, acknowledging their tireless commitment to improving vision care for underserved populations around the clock.
In a gesture that underscored his continued commitment to the institution’s mission, Mr. Prasad Reddy announced an additional $100,000 donation during the ceremony. Combined with his earlier contribution of $525,000, the total donation from Mr. and Mrs. Shobha Reddy reached $625,000, making them the highest individual donors to Sankara Nethralaya USA.
Ceremony Concludes on a Patriotic Note
The award ceremony concluded with the singing of India’s National Anthem, followed by a vote of thanks expressing appreciation to the dignitaries, guests, supporters, media representatives, and well-wishers whose presence contributed to the success of the event.
The occasion not only celebrated the achievements and generosity of Mr. Prasad Reddy Katamreddy and Mrs. Shobha Reddy, but also reaffirmed Sankara Nethralaya’s enduring mission of restoring sight and transforming lives through compassionate and accessible eye care.
