Many celebrities in India have lent their voice to the cause of 'eye donation' but none have translated their commitment into action, if and when an opportunity arose in their lives, when they lost a loved one in their family or friend.

Mr. Mansoor Ali Khan, “Tiger” as he was popularly known, and his family became 'Sight Ambassadors' of Venu Eye Institute in New Delhi in 2002. When the Managing Director of Venu, Ms. Tanuja Joshi, first met Tiger to solicit his support, he, in his typical dry, British humor, told her that he would pledge only his 'bad eye'. Little did anyone know that his words would come true so soon and he would donate his 'good eye' and translate his pledge into donation .  Venu organizes an annual function on 8th September, celebrated as the National Eye Donation Day, wherein family members of Eye Donors are felicitated for rising above their grief and donating the eyes of their loved one whom they had lost in the year gone by.

Tiger graced this event every year since taking on the role and responsibility as a Sight Ambassador. This year, however, he was unable to, due to his hospitalization, but he ensured that the family was represented by his younger daughter, Ms. Saba Ali Khan and a week before he passed away, he spoke to his family about donating his eye if anything were to happen to him. And the family rose above their grief and honoured his wish by ensuring his eye was donated.

We salute the family and bow our head in reverence to the noble soul – a “Nawab” in life and in death.