Prayagraj: For 37-year-old Sachin Chhabra, the loss of his 64-year-old mother Jyoti on Sep 29, 2022, was a moment that changed his life forever. What began as a day of anxiety after her knee transplant surgery in Varanasi, turned into an unimaginable tragedy when she suffered a massive heart attack the very next day. But even in the face of grief, Sachin remembered her wish — that those who cannot see the world should be given a new light. Without losing time, Sachin brought his mother’s body from Varanasi to Prayagraj and ensured her eyes were donated at Manohar Das Netra Chikitsalaya. “She always said life would be meaningful if her eyes could help someone see. I just fulfilled her last wish,” he said.That decision marked the beginning of a mission. Over the past thee years, Sachin’s relentless efforts led to 22 cornea donations, restoring vision to 44 people through successful transplants at the hospital. A law graduate from Allahabad University who runs an iron fabrication business in Lukerganj, Sachin said that, except for his mother, none of the 22 donors formally pledged eye donation during their lifetime. “Most families decide at the last moment, and that is where awareness matters,” he explained.His campaign soon extended beyond his immediate family. In Dec 2022, when his friend Naveen Pandey lost his mother at SGPGI Lucknow, Sachin stepped in without hesitation. He helped bring her body to Prayagraj so her eyes could be donated too. In another recent case, a friend from Naini lost his mother to breast cancer earlier this month; moved by Sachin’s consistent motivation, the family also agreed to donate her eyes.Within his family, the mission turned into a legacy. After Jyoti, his grandfather Madan Lal Chhabra (Dec 2022), uncle Ramesh Chhabra (May 2023), aunt Lata Chhabra (June 2023), and maternal uncle Inderjeet (Aug 2023) donated their corneas. So far, nine members of his extended family donated eyes. His wife Ritika, father Manoj Kumar, elder brother Jatin, sister-in-law Nidhi, and even young daughter Ruhani (7) all pledged their eyes.Dr Aarti Singh, in-charge of the eye bank at Manohar Das Netra Chikitsalaya, called Sachin’s role invaluable. “He not only spreads awareness but personally visits families during their most difficult hours to counsel them. His contribution to eye donation in Prayagraj is remarkable,” she said.Sachin is associated with a social-religious organisation that promotes organ donation after death, which further strengthens his resolve. He regularly educates people about the importance of donating eyes, which can be donated even within 10 hours of death, the critical window during which corneas remain viable for transplant. “Out of 10 families I approach, barely one agrees,” he admitted. “But even if one person gets vision, it is worth the effort.“From rushing between cities in moments of mourning to gently persuading grieving families, Sachin turned his personal loss into a movement of compassion.
