BENGALURU: On February 16, Harish Nanjappa (26) met with a terrible accident that severed his body in two. Minutes before dying, Harish told the ambulance driver his last wish: to have his eyes donated.
Less than a fortnight later, almost the entire village of Karegowdanahalli, Gubbi, have decided to pay a fitting tribute to their hero: they have all pledged their eyes too.
Harish Nanjappa Inspired by their village boy’s heroic act, 180 villagers under the leadership of their gram panchayat chief Nanjundappa made the pledge on Monday, the 13th day of Harish’s death ceremony.
Of the 180 villagers aged between 11 and 82, 107 are women. “A total of 102 women, 71 men and 9 children volunteered to pledge their eyes,” said Dr Somashekar, medical director, Dr Rajkumar Eye Bank, Narayana Nethralaya, who had come to the village to create awareness on eye donation.
Dr Bhujang Shetty, chairman, Narayana Nethralaya, said, “We collected Harish’s eyes as he was keen on donating his organs. His eyes have been successfully transplanted on two different individuals.”