A Guardian of Sight in the Capital: The Story of Dr. Hari Mohan

In the early 1950s, a young man from Lucknow named Hari Mohan completed his MBBS with honours in ophthalmology from the prestigious King George’s Medical College. Determined to master the specialty, he travelled to England, where he earned the Diploma in Ophthalmology (DO) from the Royal Colleges of London in 1954 and the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCS Edin.) in 1956.

Returning to India the same year, he settled in New Delhi and began practice as Honorary Ophthalmic Surgeon at Irwin Hospital and Holy Family Hospital. He also served as Honorary Professor at Maulana Azad Medical College until 1968. That year he was appointed Honorary Ophthalmic Surgeon to the President of India—a position of rare distinction that he held with quiet dignity for many years.

Patients from every walk of life sought him out. His careful examinations, precise surgical skill and gentle manner earned him a reputation as one of the capital’s most trusted eye specialists. He kept abreast of every advance in the field and took genuine pleasure in teaching younger colleagues.

In recognition of his service to the nation, President V. V. Giri conferred upon him the Padma Shri in 1971. Further honours followed: the Dr. B. C. Roy National Award in 1995–96, Fellowship of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (UK), FRCS Glasgow, and, in 2005, the Padma Bhushan from President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. He was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Science by the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences.

In 1980 Dr. Hari Mohan founded the Mohan Eye Institute in New Delhi, creating a modern centre dedicated to comprehensive eye care. The institution continues under the leadership of his sons, Dr. Rajiv Mohan and Dr. Sanjiv Mohan, carrying forward the standards he set.

Dr. Hari Mohan’s life was one of steady, unassuming excellence—bringing the best of international training to Indian patients, serving the highest office in the land, and building an institution that still restores sight every day. In the story of Indian ophthalmology he remains a quiet pillar of skill, integrity and lasting service.