by Pavithra K. Mehta, Suchitra Shinny

 

THE WISDOM OF AN IMPOSSIBLE ORGANIZATION

“Again, may I say, how profoundly I admire your work and how deeply gratifying it is for me to hear that you appreciate mine.”
—Peter F. Drucker in a letter to Aravind’s founder, Dr. V

When a crippling disease shattered his lifelong ambition, Dr. V (Venkataswamy) chose an impossible new dream: to cure the world of blindness. The tiny clinic he founded in India defied conventional business logic and is now the largest provider of eye care on the planet.

At Aravind, patients choose whether to pay or not. Millions are treated for free, yet the organization remains stunningly self-reliant. Serving everyone from penniless farmers to the president, it delivers world-class outcomes at less than a hundredth of what similar services cost in advanced nations. Its model is emulated by organizations everywhere from Rwanda to San Francisco.

Infinite Vision uncovers the radical principles behind Aravind’s baffling success. Charged with profound insights and stories, it draws readers to the heart of Dr. V’s selfless vision, proving how choices that seem quixotic can, when executed with compassion and integrity, yield incredible results—results that can light the eyes of millions.

In an increasingly complex world where making money and doing good are dichotomized, this thought-provoking story of Dr. V and the Aravind Eye Care System should be required reading for current and future business and charity leaders. Only by breaking down the false separation between business practices and community needs will our societies prosper.”
—Dr. Pamela Hartigan, Director, Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, University of Oxford, and coauthor of The Power of Unreasonable People

“Most business books completely fail to communicate the human and intuitive side of organizational and business success. This book explores both very effectively while describing practical achievements as well. If you aspire to combine entrepreneurship and innovation with higher life purpose, then there can be no better guide than Infinite Vision and the life of Dr. V. But beware. Once you are ensnared it will be impossible to escape!”
—Tim Brown, CEO, IDEO, and author of Change by Design

“A deftly crafted book that relates how Aravind triumphed in business by focusing on compassion. It is rich with lessons that come to life through the vivid personalities of Aravind’s torchbearers—their insights on leadership and management forge a path forward for the social as well as corporate sectors. An important and compelling read.”
—V. Kasturi Rangan, Malcolm P. McNair Professor of Marketing, Harvard Business School, and cofounder of the HBS Social Enterprise Initiative

“A stirring account of how one man’s faith and pragmatism healed millions. Infinite Vision is a powerful reminder that any of us can overcome the most severe of obstacles and rise to unparalleled heights of spiritual and practical achievement.”
—Huston Smith, Professor of Religion and Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Philosophy, Emeritus, Syracuse University, and author of The World’s Religions

“Infinite Vision offers a lucid and moving account of the Aravind story while detailing its greatest lesson to the world: compassion, when focused with clear goals, thoughtful strategies, and sound management practices, can yield incredible results.”
—Steve Hilton, President and CEO, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation