Biswajit’s story

A Cup of Tea and a Second Chance

Can a cup of tea be the start of a new chapter?

Every morning in the quiet village of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, the aroma of freshly brewed tea would drift from a small roadside stall—Biswajit’s tea shop. For the 56-year-old, this humble shop wasn’t just a means of income—it was his pride, his connection to the community, and a way to care for his small family. He loved making tea, chatting with familiar faces, and watching the world pass by as he stirred the pot. But a year ago, things began to shift.

He started squinting more often, fumbling with coins, struggling to tell currency notes apart. At first, he blamed tiredness—after all, running a tea stall from dawn to dusk, then heading home to manage chores, didn’t leave much time for himself. But as the haziness worsened, so did his worry and confidence.

The once effortless act of making tea became a challenge. He could no longer see the stove clearly or gauge the right amount of ingredients. Customers noticed. Biswajit grew anxious, and with each passing day, a quiet sadness crept in—because something he loved deeply was slipping away.

Determined not to let his failing vision take away his independence, Biswajit visited the Kakdwip Vision Centre, an initiative under Sightsavers India’s Rural Eye Health Programme. There, he was diagnosed with bilateral cataracts. The left eye, in particular, had severely deteriorated.

Supported by Sightsavers India and its partner hospital, Biswajit underwent cataract surgery. The outcome? A new chapter.

“The day I could see clearly again, I felt like I got my life back,” Biswajit shares, standing behind his stall, confidently handing over change to a customer. Today, Biswajit is back at his beloved tea stall—measuring tea leaves and pouring them with ease and serving with a smile. The blur is gone, and so is the quiet fear. He chats effortlessly with customers from all walks of life, sharing stories over steaming cups of chai.

His story is a testament to how restoring sight can restore livelihoods—and dignity. For people like Biswajit, good vision isn’t just about seeing better—it’s about living better.