Visionary living legend

EDUCATION

Harsha Bhattacharjee pursued his dream of becoming a doctor and joined Silchar Medical College (SMC). During his MBBS days, he was drawn to ophthalmology. He became the favorite of Dr. Hirendra Kumar Choudhury, who was the Registrar of the Department of Ophthalmology at SMC. Dr. Choudhury was himself a young and energetic surgeon who was actively involved in the academics and clinics of the MBBS students. Dr. Choudhury sensed the spark in Harsha Bhattacharjee and motivated him to take up ophthalmology. He obtained his post-graduation MS in Ophthalmology from Gauhati Medical College (GMC), Guwahati, in 1981. During his stint at GMC, he was fortunate to be involved in research projects funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research under the guidance of Professor Lakshman Chandra Dutta.^[3]

CAREER AND SERVICE

Dr. Harsha Bhattacharjee joined the state health service as Registrar of Ophthalmology in SMC. He rose to the rank of Assistant Professor and was transferred to GMC. He ushered in a new era of cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation in the late eighties. This propelled Dr. Bhattacharjee to unprecedented popularity in and around Guwahati. People were convinced that he was undoubtedly the best who could restore vision to all. While working in GMC, Dr. Bhattacharjee felt the lack of posterior segment treatment in the state. He went to Delhi with the hope of getting trained there, though it did not turn out favorably. However, he was not the one to be deterred. He purchased an indirect ophthalmoscope (IDO) and made it his trainer. Gradually, he self-trained on the nuances of retina evaluation and vitreoretinal surgery. Dr. Bhattacharjee often said, “If you are not doing IDO, you are missing 50% ophthalmology.” He believed that ophthalmic practice in Assam has to evolve beyond cataract surgery and glass prescription.

THE VISIONARY FOUNDER

Dr. Harsha Bhattacharjee met with challenges while working in medical college, which prompted him to team up with a few other ophthalmologists. With the dream of providing advanced ophthalmic care to the people of the Northeast, he established Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya (SSDN) in Guwahati in 1994. This was the only tertiary eye care institute in Northeast India at that time. It is run by a registered charitable trust, Sri Kanchi Sankara Health and Educational Foundation. It paved the way for initiating modern vitreoretinal surgery, pediatric ophthalmology clinic, oculoplasty service, and laser therapy in the Northeast. Patients in and around Assam greatly benefitted, as they did not have to travel to far-flung places to get standard ophthalmic services. What began as a humble 8000 square feet (sq. ft) hospital has now expanded to a sprawling 84,000 sq. ft main hospital building and two other equally vast buildings.^[4] In addition to providing world-class treatment facilities to the people, it has also evolved into an educational hub, providing postgraduate training in ophthalmology (Diplomate of National Board) and optometry training.^[5] Dr. Bhattacharjee is fondly called “Bhatta Sir” by his colleagues, students, and staff [Figure 2].

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Figure 2:

Dr. Harsha Bhattacharjee with faculty and Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya alumni at the first alumni meet, 2023.

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THE DISCIPLINARIAN

Being born in an ophthalmologist’s family, my connection with Bhatta Sir is more personal than professional. His name has been a part of my growing up years as my father was deeply attached to him. When I joined Ophthalmology, I had nurtured the hope of being mentored by Bhatta Sir. My dream became a reality when I joined a fellowship in SSDN in 2007. In the second month of my fellowship, I was given a consultant posting with Bhatta Sir. The seniors warned me, “Sir comes early, so you better be on time.” The next day, I reached the hospital well ahead of the scheduled outdoor time of 8 am. Sir had already started to see his 1^st day post-operative cases. He reached the hospital before 7.30 am and was also the last to leave. I had the fortune to observe from close quarters his dealings with patients, their anxious attendants, and outpatient department secretaries. His spontaneity, both in phaco surgery and in retina surgery, amazed me.

SOCIAL ACTIVIST AND ACADEMICIAN

Dr. Harsha Bhattacharjee is a committed social activist who has improvised the “SSDN model of Community Eye Care,” which endorsed global recognition. This model has enabled a historic milestone wherein the World Health Organization has collaborated with SSDN and the Government of Assam to address eye care challenges in underserved communities.^[6] Under this program, 2104 villages have been adopted with the target of making them “avoidable blindness-free” villages. Dr. Bhattacharjee, along with the community team of SSDN, has reached underserved communities across Assam through 18 eye care centers in 13 districts.^[7] Dr. Bhattacharjee has also collaborated with neighboring states of Assam to spread the gift of sight to the needy [Figures 3 and 4]. He is ably supported by his spouse, Dr. Kasturi Bhattacharjee, in his endeavor to alleviate blindness in the community [Figure 5]. He was instrumental in mobilizing substantial funds from the Planning Commission of India, 12^th Finance Commission, Ministry of DoNER, Government of Assam, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives of various corporate houses [Figures 6-10]. These resources have been utilized in the establishment of the Institute of Community Ophthalmology.

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Figure 3:

Dr. Harsha Bhattacharjee with Honorable Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio.

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Figure 4:

Dr. Harsha Bhattacharjee with Former Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh.

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Figure 5:

Dr. Harsha Bhattacharjee with his wife Dr. Kasturi Bhattacharjee and daughters Subarna and Pragya.

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Figure 6:

Dr. Harsha Bhattacharjee at the Parliament House, New Delhi.

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Figure 7:

Dr. Harsha Bhattacharjee with former President of India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.

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Figure 8:

Dr. Harsha Bhattacharjee with former President of India K. R. Narayanan at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

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Figure 9:

Dr. Harsha Bhattacharjee with former Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh during his visit to SSDN.

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Figure 10:

Dr. Harsha Bhattacharjee with former Chief Minister of Assam Late Tarun Gogoi during his visit to SSDN.

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Dr. Bhattacharjee is a dedicated researcher and a passionate teacher. He motivates his fellows and students to engage in paper writing and publication. He has published numerous original research papers and authored books and book chapters. He has over 130 PubMed indexed publications which is a testimony to his unwavering commitment to research. He is a guide to multiple PhD scholars and has mentored numerous renowned ophthalmologists in the country. He is the global examiner for the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS), Glasgow.

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

Dr. Harsha Bhattacharjee is the first Indian ophthalmologist to have been conferred with FRCS in Ophthalmology by the Royal College of Surgeons, Glasgow, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (Edin) for his exemplary contribution to community services. He is the recipient of P. Awasthi Award (2022) by All India Ophthalmological Society for distinctive work in Community Ophthalmology to reduce blindness in the country. He received the iFocus Icon Award (2018) in recognition of his excellence in clinical ophthalmology and institution-building skills by the Center for Sight, New Delhi. Other awards received by Dr. Bhattacharjee are as follows:

• Life Time Achievement Award from Ophthalmological Society of Assam in 2023; by 10^th Assam Sports and Cultural Festival Organizing Committee; by Manthan Health Care Trust, New Delhi.

• Felicitation and award by Rotary International for “Gift of Sight” (conferred in Tokyo, Japan).

• Institution Builder Award by the International Society of Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery 2019.

• Danwantary Award by Brahmaputra Pushkar and Cultural Festival, 2019.

• International Ophthalmic Hero of India Award, 2018.

• Eye Health Hero by International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, 2017.

• Achievement award by Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, 2015; by South Asian Academy of Ophthalmology (2007-2008).

• Karmayogi Award by the International Association of Lion’s Club.

Dr. Harsha Bhattacharjee continues to work with zeal and enthusiasm for the underprivileged. His contribution to the science of ophthalmology by way of relentless unconditional service to the people of this region, by being a wonderful teacher for the young, will be an inspiration for generations to come. His students in various parts of the country carry forward his legacy and strive to achieve excellence in the development of Ophthalmology.