By Aishwarya Nair. Photograph By Azad Shrivastav
Every year Hindu devotees rush to Lalbaug during Ganeshotsav to treasure a glance of their favourite elephant god, Lalbaugcha Raja. Well this year, the sight is different. The pandal is occupied by not only Hindu devotees but a few Muslim students as well.
These students of the Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey (S.N.D.T) college, Juhu are optometric students rendering free services to the devotees as part of the 'Eyebetes' campaign initiated by famous ophthalmologist Dr. Nishant Kumar.
The campaign is aimed to spread awareness about 'diabetic awareness' and involves a large team that treats and consults with devotees during the pious period of Ganeshotsav. As of yesterday, 10,000 pilgrims were checked for 'Eyebetes.'
On the young and vibrant team of optometrists are 3 Muslim girls who carry out optometric tests for the devotees. “This is my first visit to Lalbaugcha Raja. I haven't encountered any thing like this before. This is a whole new experience for me. I am getting to learn something new and so my parents had no issues in sending me here,” said Saba Mulla, a team member and an optometric student from S.N.D.T.
“It is a totally new experience for me, my parents had no problem. I think humanity comes first in such things,” said Ashna Kureshi, an intern at Hinduja hospital.
The optometric tests are carried out through specialized 'Forus' cameras and the ten of them at the venue have been busy capturing 130-150 images per day. “The students were also trained with cameras one week prior to the event, so that the high standards are maintained,” said Dr. Nishant Kumar who is currently managing the large team and also trying to educate the public about the connection between poor eyesight and diabetes.