Ayushi's Path To Light
In the quiet, remote village of Sada Dhala, Bihar, life was anything but ordinary for little Ayushi Kumari.
Born with bilateral congenital cataracts, Ayushi’s world was a blurry haze from the moment she opened her eyes.
A Childhood Shrouded in Shadows
By the age of two, she stumbled through her days, unable to see her mother’s face clearly or grasp the simple joy of playing with other children.
For her parents, Meena and Ramesh, every moment was filled with worry.
We couldn’t see her future, Meena recalls, her voice trembling.
Would she ever go to school? Would she ever live a normal life? We were terrified of what lay ahead for her.
A Glimmer of Hope in Rural Bihar
In a region where access to healthcare is scarce, the idea of finding a cure for Ayushi’s condition seemed impossible.
But Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital, through its Bal Drishti initiative, was working tirelessly to change that. This initiative, dedicated to combating childhood blindness, reached Ayushi’s village with the goal of screening 5,00,000 children and performing 4,000 sight-restoring surgeries in the next three years.
When Akhand Jyoti’s team arrived in Sada Dhala for a free eye screening camp, Ayushi’s parents hesitated.
We didn’t know if we could trust anyone,
Meena admits.
But the warmth and compassion of the doctors gave them courage. Ayushi was examined, and the diagnosis was clear: her vision could be restored through surgery.
The Gift of Sight
At Akhand Jyoti’s Mastichak hospital, Ayushi underwent a delicate sight-restoring surgery. As the bandages were removed, the little girl blinked, her dark eyes darting around the room as if discovering the world for the first time.
I’ll never forget that moment,
Meena shares, tears filling her eyes.
Ayushi looked at me, really looked at me, and for the first time, she smiled. It felt like the sun had finally risen in our lives.
For Ayushi, it was as if a heavy curtain had been lifted. She reached out to touch her mother’s face, giggling as she explored the features she had only imagined before.
A Future Full of Possibilities
With her vision restored, Ayushi now has a world of opportunities ahead of her. She can attend school, play with friends, and dream big.
The surgery didn’t just change her life; it transformed her family’s outlook.
We had given up hope,
Meena says.
But Akhand Jyoti gave us a miracle. They didn’t just restore Ayushi’s sight—they gave us a future.
The Power of Bal Drishti
Ayushi’s story is a powerful testament to the work Akhand Jyoti does in rural Bihar, “Working Where It Really Matters”.
The Bal Drishti initiative ensures that children like Ayushi, born into low-income geographies, receive early screenings, timely interventions, and the priceless gift of sight.
As Akhand Jyoti moves toward its Vision 2030 goal, stories like Ayushi’s inspire hope, proving that even in the most forgotten corners of rural India, miracles can happen.
I can’t thank Akhand Jyoti enough,
Meena says.
They didn’t just give my daughter her vision—they gave her a childhood, a future, and a chance to live a life we only dreamed of for her.
A Mission to Restore Vision
Through its sight-restoring surgeries and unwavering dedication, Akhand Jyoti is not only eradicating curable blindness but also ensuring that no child’s potential is lost to darkness.
