Focus on Bihar- Araria district

Araria borders Nepal and feels like a friendly frontier region. The Indian government has listed it as one of the most impoverished areas in India. However, we have always found Araria one of the most open and welcoming places in Bihar. The population is diverse and the main languages spoken are Hindi, Urdu and Maithili. The same diversity and linguistic knowledge can be found amongst the staff and patients at the Yogmaya Devi Memorial Hospital (YDMH). It has been providing eye care for the poor for over a decade now. The hospital is run by ophthalmologist Dr Utkarsh Bhardwaj.

Take a few minutes to watch the slideshow below - pictures by Jenny Matthews.

Utkatsh on station platform.jpg

An overnight train to rural Araria where almost everyone works on the land

An overnight train to rural Araria where almost everyone works on the land

At the YDMH hospital surgical patients await

At the YDMH hospital surgical patients await

The well-trained staff have everything in hand

The well-trained staff have everything in hand

For a busy operating list

For a busy operating list

An enormous amount of paperwork

An enormous amount of paperwork

Generated by the Ayushman Bharat scheme

Generated by the Ayushman Bharat scheme

The government scheme was designed to offer free hospital treatment for certain categories of the poor.

The government scheme was designed to offer free hospital treatment for certain categories of the poor.

It demands photos taken at every stage of a patient's stay

It demands photos taken at every stage of a patient's stay

Even at moments when they are scared and vulnerable

Even at moments when they are scared and vulnerable

Luckily Dr Utkarsh has two interns who can help - Anu and Aman

Luckily Dr Utkarsh has two interns who can help - Anu and Aman

Anu is 17 years-old and ambitious

Anu is 17 years-old and ambitious

Anu's parents - Mazdoo and Chunni run the chai stall on the hospital premises

Anu's parents - Mazdoo and Chunni run the chai stall on the hospital premises

Anu with senior optometrist Amit

Anu with senior optometrist Amit

Veteran YDMH ophthalmic assistant Ritesh in one of his many roles - on the wards

Veteran YDMH ophthalmic assistant Ritesh in one of his many roles - on the wards

The ceaseless cleaning by Rajmani - a key worker

The ceaseless cleaning by Rajmani - a key worker

Ophthalmologist Dr Pragya

Ophthalmologist Dr Pragya

Ophthalmolgist Dr Abid

Ophthalmolgist Dr Abid

Discussing differential diagnosis

Discussing differential diagnosis

Rough translation : a loan is like magic. If i give you one you will disappear

Rough translation : a loan is like magic. If i give you one you will disappear

Nilesh is constantly cajoled by paying patients who want a discount on their eye drops!

Nilesh is constantly cajoled by paying patients who want a discount on their eye drops!

Through the peephole : multi-skilled Vikas who has worked at the hospital from its start

Through the peephole : multi-skilled Vikas who has worked at the hospital from its start

30 cataract operations performed and Dr Utkarsh is back in Out Patients

30 cataract operations performed and Dr Utkarsh is back in Out Patients

Meanwhile Rajmani works around the crowd

Meanwhile Rajmani works around the crowd

Taking time with every patient

Taking time with every patient

The YDMH is the busiest eye hospital in the district.

The YDMH is the busiest eye hospital in the district.

But no patient is a mere statistic

But no patient is a mere statistic

Proud to wear the shirt

Proud to wear the shirt

Two operating theatre sessions and over 50 patients seen in clinic. For Dr Utkarsh this is a typical day.

Two operating theatre sessions and over 50 patients seen in clinic. For Dr Utkarsh this is a typical day.

A Hard Day’s Night with Dr Utkarsh - June 22/23, 2025