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An Insight into Tej Kohli's Journey of Inspiration

One of those extraordinary personalities is Tej Kohli, a philanthropist who has taken the pledge to self-serve suffering individuals

By Ground report 12 Oct 2023

New Update

In our world, being humane must be an essential aspect of our existence. However, doing something to make someone feel contented is considered a bootless errand. Then come those people who can be considered mortal gods; they are like the ray of light that comes through those small cracks in the corners of the room. They are one in a million, a gem to be protected.

One of those extraordinary personalities is Tej Kohli, a philanthropist who has taken the pledge to self-serve suffering individuals, looking for a solution to eradicate cataract blindness and helping for the upliftment of underprivileged communities.

Tej Kohli aims to help others rebuild their own success with the help of his enormous achievements and unparalleled vision.

Early Life: The Lightless Road

Tej Kohli, born as an Indian, had a rough road to follow in the earlier phase of his life. As it's said that success comes with a lot of sacrifices, Kohli’s earlier life was characterized by triumphs and failures.

Engulfed by the world of entrepreneurship, real estate, and investing, he found himself on the wrong side of the law in the United States. His life went somewhat upside-down and that was considered as the turning point in his life.

Some people give up while some take it as a second chance, for Kohli it was surely the latter.

Dedication to Rebuild Lives: Tej Kohli's Philanthropy Quests

The great transformation from a businessman to a philanthropist was accelerated by his deep-rooted desire to selflessly give back to society. The Tej Kohli Foundation was established in the mid-2000s and since then it has been standing beside people and fighting against poverty in regions where it was infected severely.

In 2005, The FundaKohli was launched in Costa Rica, established to serve food to low-income families and free daily meals to children as well as their families. This was marked as the beginning of the inspirational story of Tej Kohli.

Enhancing eye health, particularly in developing countries, is not a matter to be overlooked. Tej Kohli's philanthropy journey took a life-changing turn when he set his vision on this issue. In 2010, Kohli initiated funding for corneal transplant surgeries in India which initially led to the establishment of the Tej Kohli Cornea Institute in Hyderabad in 2015.

The main aim of the mission was quite clear: to do insightful research, maximize corneal eye banks, and provide a means of free transplant to individuals who lacked the means of treatment. From the year 2015 to 2019, this organization changed thousands of lives, giving them a vision to restore hope.

An Idealistic Partnership: Tej Kohli and Dr. Sanduk Ruit

Dr. Sanduk Ruit, often referred to as the "God of Sight," is an ophthalmologist renowned for his pioneering work in eye care. His revolutionary discoveries on making sight-restoring surgeries quicker and more affordable as well as accessible to the ones in need caught the eyes of Kohli. Tej Kohli saw this as an opportunity to put into action such great potential by collaborating with Dr. Ruit.

In 2021, Tej Kohli and Dr. Sanduk Ruit joined forces to create the Tej Kohli and Ruit Foundation. Their courageous goal was to screen one million people for cataract blindness and cure between 3,00,000 to 5,00,000 patients by 2030.

The organization focuses on direct grassroots intrusions: conducting outreach camps in remote areas that could be highly prone to visual impairments and performing cataract surgeries at a very nominal cost. These affordable surgeries often take just minutes to perform but last for a lifetime.

Impact Beyond Numbers: The Power of Tej Kohli's Philanthropy

Tej Kohli firmly believes that curing blindness at scale is a catalyst for social and economic development in impoverished communities. By restoring sight to individuals who were once sidelined by their disability, opportunities for employment and economic growth emerge.

A study published in The Lancet supports this claim, indicating that treating cataract blindness can boost a patient's economic productivity by up to 1,500% more than the cost of surgery in just one year.

Blindness often perpetuates poverty, creating a vicious cycle. Tej Kohli's philanthropic efforts aim to break this cycle by providing opportunities for individuals to regain their independence and support their families.

Families that once struggled due to blindness find hope in the transformation of their loved ones. Tej Kohli envisions a world where poverty-induced blindness is eradicated, allowing communities to thrive.

Inspired by the Titans: Tej Kohli's Role Models

Tej Kohli draws inspiration from philanthropic heroes like Michael Milken and Bill and Melinda Gates. Their dedication to making a positive impact on a global scale motivates him to continue his philanthropic journey.

Kohli closely follows the philanthropic ventures of Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott, recognizing the potential to imply changes when wealth is channeled into meaningful causes.

‘Rebuilding You’: Handbook of Philanthropy

In 2020, Tej Kohli wrote an inspirational book ‘Rebuilding You: The Philanthropy Handbook’. This handbook serves as a guide for developing self-serving businessmen and investors surveying and channeling their wealth to charitable causes. Kohli emphasizes the duty of philanthropists to play a role in addressing global challenges.

A Vision for the Future: Be Etched in Memories

The remarkable journey of Kohli is far from over. With a challenging perspective firmly set with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, he plans to spread the reach of the Tej Kohli and Ruit Foundation.

The aim of the foundation is to ensure that no one regardless of their economic condition should be left with blindness. The ultimate legacy of Tej Kohli is to bring love, freedom, and vision empowerment. With it, the success of thousands of individuals comes all at worth.

Tej Kohli's journey of inspiration exceeds any kind of personal success and wealth, the fact that the economy is being used in such an enthusiastic way is much of an astonishment. It epitomizes the spirit of empathy, compassion, and the unwavering belief that one person can make a profound difference in the world.

Through these partnerships, innovation, and grassroots interventions, Tej Kohli is changing lives and leaving a legacy which is to create a history that will continue to illuminate the path to a better, more compassionate world.