Dr. G. Joseph Gnanadickam was born on 14th July 1900 in Coimbatore. He possessed a natural desire for education which made him pursue his higher studies inspite of compelling situation as the sole breadwinner for his entire family. He joined the Royapuram Medical School in 1919. Soon after he was awarded the Medical diploma in 1924 he joined with Dr. Kugelberg, who was a Swedish eye surgeon at the Swedish Mission Hospital at Tirupattur.
Under Dr. Kugelberg, a surgeon of great repute, Dr. Joseph acquired the surgical dexterity, clinical acumen, charming bed side manners and the skills in management, Here, he also had the opportunity to work with the famous Dr. S Gurubatham who later became the health Minister of the Madras Province. Dr.Kugelberg was further instrumental in inculcating the spirit of service to follow human beings and instilled in him sense of dedication to this noble profession without being drawn into luxury that accompanied professional excellence in private practice.
Dr. Joseph had his higher ophthalmological training in Vienna, Paris and Berlin. Following the retirement of Dr.Kugelberg, Bishop Sandagren invited him to start his service in Trichy. He then decided to leave Tirupatur and settle at Trichy with a vow that whatever institution he started it will be on the lines of Tirupattur mission hospital and secondly whenever that institution become independent he would hand it over to the mission.
Dr. Joseph came to Tiruchirappalli in the year 1934, as the first ophthalmologist of the district and established his own eye hospital and his passion for service made him the beloved of the community. Patients came to him from all over South India and even Sri Lanka and Malaysia. However, his dedication to mission he had decided to follow, made him to offer eye care service of reasonable charges to the affordable free services to those who deserved it.
When the poor illiterate village people brought their children who lost their sight, Dr. Joseph found that most of them could be prevented by adopting simple measures in day to day life. This made him realize to extend the services to those who could not approach the heath facility by themselves. This prompted him to add on two courses of action; Prevention and Rehabilitation. Even as early as in 1952, he initiated the Red Cross to join him to organize planned Rural Eye Camps in Tiruchirapalli District Once a month he and his colleagues in turns would visit a central village with no ophthalmic services for a radius of twenty-mile radius.
Village after village his medical team visited heralding a new awakening in eye care. The previous evening they visited the village, exhibited a film on health and sanitation, lectured on ocular hygiene and cautioned against superstitious beliefs, dangers of delay in treatment and quackery. The next day there would be free eye examinations. Surgical care and spectacle would be provided at the base hospital. A small van was used to transport those who needed to be transported. Dr. Joseph had covered all villages in Tiruchirapalli within one year in 1952. This camp strategy was a pioneer in India.
The greatness of Dr. Joseph lies in his practical wisdom by his ethical conduct and accommodative spirit he had endeared his fellow ophthalmologists. To promote brotherhood amongst the ophthalmic fraternity he with his friends, founded the Madras State Ophthalmic association in 1952. In commemoration of our founder, The Tamilnadu Ophthalmological Association (TNOA) bestows God Medal oration to the best ophthalmologist in the field, every year.
Abiding by his commitment, in 1962, Dr. Joseph dedicated this full-fledged private hospital to the church mission so that it, may reach more underprivileged and continue to be a Charitable Non-Profit, Voluntary Services Centre.With a vision that blind men and women should live a dignified life, not begging in streets for their livelihood, he initiated the Home for the blind Men and Women separately in 1967.
The remarkable achievements of Dr. Joseph in the field of eye service has placed him as a distinct star in the horizon. His immense contribution to bringing light in the life of people in this part of the world has made significant differences in the lives of millions of people. His many concepts and contributions are ever relevant and will stand the test of time. The eye care providers and the beneficiaries will pass on his philosophy of excellence to successive generation and his legacy will live on.
Today we are called to follow his footsteps. Called to be living testimony for selfless service to humankind. Called to give our best to God’s Glory.
Remembering Dr.G.Joseph Gnandickam, Our Founder with Joy and gratitude.