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Madhu Gulati donates $130,000 to Sankara Nethralaya in memory of her in-laws

Atlanta, GA, May 19, 2022: Sankara Nethralaya, a non-profit that has been providing ophthalmic(eye) care to millions of patients throughout India for the last four decades, recently received a whopping Rs. 1 crore ($130,000) donation from Madhu Gulati in memory of her in-laws.

“Her generous donation will help to care for 2000 deserving blind patients in India,” said a press release issued by the charity.

Jagdish Chander Gulati, Ms. Gulati’s husband who preferred to be addressed as JC, was born in 1938 to Bhisham and Padma Vati Gulati in a town named Bannu which was part of Northwest Frontier during the Pre Independence-Era. The Gulatis were a simple Punjabi family and could trace their roots back to four generations in the same town.

JC’s father Bhisham, born in 1906 to Manna Ram and Ganga Vati Gulati was named Bhisham because in Mahabharata Bhisham was Ganga’s son. He was the oldest of the three siblings. He was very enthusiastic about studies because he knew that hard work and education would get him somewhere in life. He did his Master of Science from The University of Punjab, Lahore in 1929 in the First Division and was appointed as Chief Engineer of All India Radio, Lahore.

While studying for his Masters, in 1927 he got married to a local Punjabi girl, Padma Vati Narula, born in 1911 to Roop Chand and Binni Vati Narula, oldest of the six siblings. She was a simple girl endowed with high values and dignity. She supported her husband in all his ventures and took care of the family and was blessed with seven children (five sons and two daughters).

In 1942, Bhisham Gulati was posted to All India Radio, Madras (present day Chennai) as Chief Engineer. He moved to Madras with his family, with a heavy heart because he was leaving behind the whole clan of Gulatis and Narulas in Bannu where the political conditions were very unstable.

When the Migration took place in 1947 and 1948, all the Gulatis and Narulas moved back to India. It became a mission for Bhisham and Padma Vati Gulati to make sure that each member of the extended family got settled quickly.  Bhisham instilled in nieces and nephews his two solid principles – hard work and education is the key to success. They both sacrificed their own comforts to pay for the school and college tuition for the children of the extended families. Their home was an open house with warm, simple and nutritious food on the table for any visitor.

Bhisham  did so well as Chief Engineer that he was admitted as a member to The Institution of Electrical Engineers in England, UK in 1957 which was considered as a very high honor in those days. In 1958, he was posted to All India Radio, Delhi as Chief Engineer and that’s where he worked until his retirement in 1963. He passed away in 1970 leaving behind his wife Padma Vati Gulati as the head of the family and she carried on until her death in 1989. They are survived by five daughters-in-law, fourteen grand-children, twenty five great grand-children and one great grand, grand-child. All the children are doing very well in their chosen field in three countries, India, USA, and Singapore.

“This donation is a humble tribute to Bhisham Gulati and Padma Vati Gulati from each and every member of the Gulati and Narula Families,” the donor said.

“Both Sankara Nethralaya USA and the Sankara Nehralaya India teams thank Ms. Madhu Gulati for her generous donation,” said a press release issued by the charity.

Dr. Girish Rao, President of Sankara Nethralaya conveyed his gratitude to Gulati for the generous donation and to Balaji for his tireless services.

The press note also included words of appreciation from the Sankara Netharalaya USA Executive Committee & Board of Trustees:

S.V. Acharya, President Emeritus, Sankara Nethralaya USA: Mrs. Madhu Gulati Ji – We greatly appreciate your generous contribution of $ 130,000 for naming a floor at our Chennai hospital in memory of your late in-laws Bhishamji and Padmavati. This kind gesture of yours will go a long way in materializing our Founder Living Legend, Padmabhushan Dr. S. S. Badrinath’s vision of providing free eyesight to indigent patients and eradicating blindness in the Indian sub-continent.

Bala Reddy Indurti, President, Sankara Netharalaya USA: Dear Ms Madhuji, I am truly honored to be the receiver of your generosity $130,000 (one hundred thirty thousand US dollars) on behalf of Sankara Nethralaya to support 2000 indigent blind patients in India. “The highest of distinction is service to others” – your magnanimity & selflessness is unparalleled, and it would bring hope and ray of light into many unfortunate lives. Thank you heart fully, and I am sure your in-laws would be delighted watching from above. Glad to know you during my tenure as Sankara Nethralaya USA president. I am also very thankful to your son Vishal for supporting these noble deeds.

Moorthy Rekapalli, Vice President: Madhuji’s generous contribution will restore vision for thousands of indigent patients every year.  That is a great service to humanity and nation.

Banu Ramakrishnan, Treasurer: It is really a bid donation Ms Madhuji. We the SNOM Trust family thank you for your kindness and generosity.

Prasad Rani, Jt Secretary: Great news!

Krishnaraj Bhat, Jt Treasurer: Through your donation we will be able to restore vision and provide essential vision surgery to countless people in need. You truly make the difference for us, and we are extremely grateful!

Leela Krishnamurthy, Past President:  Huge Dear Madhuji and Vishal, what an extremely charity minded family our deepest gratitude to you Ms Madhuji and Vishal for identifying Sankara Nethralaya as a recipient of your huge donation. Your generous donation will restore the eyesight of 2000 patients. We are sure that you will receive the blessings of these very grateful people who have received the gift of sight Gods blessings to you and your family. With deep appreciation.

Dr. Raj Modi, BOT: Dear Madhu ji and family. Thank you very much for this very generous donation for this very important cause. Your contribution will help thousands of poor people, I assure you the amount you have donated will be used properly for the intended purpose. I have been associated with Sankara Nethralaya for the last 35 years. We really thank you and your family for this generous donation.

Srini Vangimalla, BOT: Madhuji and family, thank you for your great generosity and thoughtful donation to Sankara Nethralaya. Your support helps to further our mission of eradicating preventable blindness and providing free access to eye care in rural India.

Shankar Setty, BOT: Dear Madhu ji, your contribution speaks volumes about your values towards society, particularly the community who needs help to get their eyes fixed and your donation goes a long way!!  God bless you & your family. We are very thankful!!

Upendra Rachupally, BOT: Amazing, Awesome, and motivational.

Meher Lanka, BOT: Dear Madhu ji, we are highly indebted to you and have tremendous appreciation for your magnanimous contribution to Sankara Nethralaya. Providing eyesight to the needy is indeed a very noble deed. Thank you so much, our sincere Pranams to you!

Anand Dasari, BOT: Dear Madhu ji and family, thank you for your generous contributions for the people in need. Service to humanity is service to God. May God continually bless your family with abundance of health, happiness, and wealth. 

Ravi Maraka, BOT: Dear Madhuji & family, Thank you very much for your generous donation to Sankara Nethralaya. Your donation not only helps underprivileged people in India, and it also inspires many people to follow your footsteps. I am truly blessed to witness this kind of generous donation from you.

Jagannath Vedula. BOT: Thank you Balaji for sharing the inspiring news about Smt. MadhuJi. It is great to see their faith in Sankara Nethralaya and its mission. This donation will provide vision to many people in need and will stay as an icon of inspiration. Lord bless Madhuji and family with abundance and a big heart.

Piram Manickavasagam, BOT: Thanks, and may God bless in abundance for generous donation.

Shyam Appali, BOT: Thank you for your generous donation, Madhu Ji. Your donation will enable us to provide much-needed services to India’s thousands of indigent blind people. Our programs could not exist without the generosity of individuals like you. Thank you for making a difference with your donation.

Bhaskar Ganti, BOT: Dear MadhuJi, through your donation we will be able to restore vision and provide essential vision surgery to countless people in need. You truly make the difference for us, and we are extremely grateful!

Vamsi Eruvaram, BOT: Wow! Thanks, Madhuji.

Sankara Nethralaya (SN) is a non-profit charity organization providing ophthalmic(eye) care to millions of patients throughout India for the last four decades. Nethralaya also provides ophthalmic education and India-centric research. To support the mission of Sankara Nethralaya, Sankara Nethralaya USA was established back in 1988. The main goal of the Trust creation was to have the NRIs support and contribute to the Noble cause. Sankara Nethralaya USA is one of the trusted and well-respected charity organizations in the USA. The Trust also received Charity Navigator’s “Four Stars” highest rating for maintaining financial accountability and fiscal transparency for funds donated by donors and how they are utilized towards the stated cause.

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