In the eye clinics of New Delhi, Dr. Hari Mohan became known as a meticulous surgeon and teacher who helped bring modern ophthalmology to India. Born into a generation that valued learning, he completed his MBBS with honours in Ophthalmology from King George’s Medical College, Lucknow, in 1952. Eager for the latest techniques, he travelled to England, earning his Diploma in Ophthalmology (DO London) in 1954 and the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCS Edin.) in 1956.

Returning home the same year, he joined Irwin Hospital and Holy Family Hospital as an honorary ophthalmic surgeon and began private practice. 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 trust he held for decades. Patients from every walk of life, including the nation’s highest offices, sought his calm expertise. “Clear sight restores not only vision but dignity,” he would often tell younger doctors in the operating theatre.

In 1980 he founded the Mohan Eye Institute in Delhi, building it into a centre that combined clinical care, teaching and the latest innovations in microsurgery and laser treatment. His work helped raise standards of eye care across the country. The Government of India recognised his contributions with the Padma Shri in 1971, presented by President V.V. Giri. In 1996 he received the Dr B.C. Roy National Award, and in 2005 President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam conferred on him the Padma Bhushan. He was also awarded the FRCS (Glasgow) and an honorary Doctor of Science from Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences.

Through a long career marked by quiet dedication, teaching and institutional building, Hari Mohan left a lasting imprint on Indian ophthalmology. His institute continues under the care of the next generation, carrying forward the vision of a doctor who believed every patient deserved the chance to see the world clearly.