Even in her death, this woman not only helped two blind persons get sight, but also inspired nearly 50 people to pledge their eyes.

H S Madhumathi Halale (45), wife of H N Someshwara, a resident of Kalyanagiri, died when a branch of banyan tree fell on her while offering pooja along with family members on Sunday. Surprisingly, nobody, including her husband, in the house was aware of her pledging eyes. As relatives gathered to pay their last respect to the departed soul, their neighbour Prasad, who was aware of Madhumathi’s noble gesture, alerted Someshwara.
Prasad then called B S Madhura, the Executive Director of the Mysore Eye Bank and Research Centre. Soon, Dr Chandrashekhar of Adithya Nursing Home, who extends free service to the eye bank, arrived at the spot and removed the cornea. Ms Madhura said that the cornea were of excellent grade and they have been transplanted in two blind persons’ eyes at the Lion’s International Eye Bank in Bangalore on Monday. Now, Madhumathi’s husband, their three children and over 20 of their relatives have come forward to pledge their eyes. The removal of cornea in front of the eyes of relatives, helped in demystifying the myth that the eye donation would disfigure the face. Inspired by the incident, a group of 20 youngsters in the area too have decided to pledge their eyes at the eye bank on Kannada Rajyothsava Day.