Dr. Bharat Mody stands in his office, or as he calls it "the command center," holding the Philanthropist of the Year Award he received on Friday. His office is adorned with numerous awards he has received through his years of service.Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Dr. Bharat Mody has volunteered his time and money for over four decades, first as a surgeon then as a philanthropist and advocate with the singular goal of “making the Glasgow community better for everyone.” On Friday, Sept. 29, Mody was awarded the Dr. Bharat Mody Philanthropist of the Year Award by the T. J. Community Mission Foundation in recognition of his “lifetime of generosity for the betterment of others.”
He said even though he was the one to receive the award it wasn’t about him but about the plethora of people who have “joined hands” to make Glasgow a better place to live for everyone.
“It is a wonderful thing and I appreciate everybody,” Mody said.”But it is not about me, it is about everyone around me”
“The mission is very simple; to make a difference for everybody in our community. I’m not doing this to get a pat on the back or the award, I’m doing this…to make a difference,” Mody added.
In the hall where the award ceremony was held, Mody recalls there was “a big turnout” with several of his family members present including his two daughters and their families, his cousin, his niece and his wife. Even with so much of his family in one place, Mody said, the award was kept “top secret” from him — he said his wife had a big part to play with keeping it a secret from him — and he as very surprised when it was announced.
Mody, and his family, grew up in a small village in India where, he recalls, they had limited access to electricity or running water. He walked four miles to his high school and took an hour train ride to college. After finishing medical school he, like most graduates, “wanted to see the world” so he spent roughly a year-and-a-half in England before deciding to come to the United States in 1971.
Once in the U.S. Mody finished his residency in Nashville and Louisville before finally settling down in Glasgow in 1979 after a fellow doctor asked him to come and help in Glasgow.
Since that time he has become a staple of the community, using his skills and passion to improve Glasgow. First, Mody, along with two other volunteers, got involved in the local Habitat for Humanity, building six houses in Glasgow during his time there.
Using his medical knowledge, he also went to Lexington on the third Sunday of every month to provide free operations to those who were struggling to afford the procedures. Mody did that for 2-3 years, he said. From his time in Lexington, Mody said, he “saw the need in the community” to provide medical care to those who were struggling; as a result he started Community Medical Care 22 years ago.
From there, 13 years ago Mody said, he started a food bank: “To the Brim,” with the goal of combating food insecurity for both adults and children in Glasgow.
These programs are on-going, Mody said, and, in the case of Community Medical Care, getting expanded under the community mission foundation.
Recently, Mody has had a hand in building the Shanti Niketan Hospice Home on Glenview Drive, and the Trojan Kala Mandir art museum at the Barren County High School.
“So many people in our community have joined hands to make all this possible,” Mody said.
Mody said he is unsure of his future plans but has been talking to several people and groups in hopes “something will come from it.” He said he is talking with groups such as Hope Harbor, the hospitals in Glasgow and in Louisville, the local schools and people in Bowling Green.
“I am always looking for something new, something different to help this community and that’s what it’s all about,” Mody said. “And I’m still thinking, still looking around, talking to different people to help.”
He said even though he retired from being a surgeon in 2013, he has no plans to “retire from helping.” He said this award, and the recognition, has encouraged him to keep moving forward and to keep helping the community in whatever way he can.
“As long as our brain keeps going and as long as our legs keep moving we’re going to keep moving forward,” Mody said.
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