Dr. Sameer Datar was born to Dr. Ratnavali Datar and Dr. Ganesh Datar, a distinguished ophthalmologist and one of the founder members of the Poona Ophthalmological Society (POS). Such was his family’s longstanding association with POS that until Dr. Sameer Datar served as Treasurer around 2014–15, the society’s official address was his own residence.
He completed his schooling at St. Vincent’s High School and went on to pursue his MBBS from Rural Medical College, Pravara Nagar. He obtained his DOMS from NIO, Pune, and later completed his DNB from MIMER Medical College, Talegaon. Further advancing his specialization, he undertook a Cornea Fellowship at the prestigious L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad.
Dr. Sameer Datar has been practicing as a corneal surgeon in Pune since 2006 and has been actively associated with the Poona Ophthalmological Society since his residency in 2000. Over the years, he has presented papers at both state and national conferences, earning accolades including Best Paper and Best Video awards at state conferences, as well as Best Paper recognition at All India conferences.
He has contributed to several national and international journals. Notably, he published in the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology (IJO) on a modification of the MSLET surgical technique for limbal stem cell transplantation.
Deeply committed to community outreach, Dr. Datar has led multiple initiatives, including traveling to Madhubani (near the Nepal border in Bihar) where he performed approximately 100 cataract surgeries over two days, continuing this effort for 4–5 years. He has also been actively involved in numerous diagnostic and surgical eye camps in and around Pune. Also was active in Covid times.
An ardent advocate for eye donation, he has conducted extensive awareness campaigns. He conceptualized and produced a short film on eye donation featuring prominent Marathi theatre artists, which won first prize at the National Arogya Film Festival. This work was further honored by the Maharashtra Ophthalmological Society with the President’s Gold Medal. The film was also appreciated by noted theatre veteran Dilip Prabhavalkar.
Together with his wife, Dr. Bhakti Datar—an accomplished dental surgeon & Immediate Past President of Indian Dental Association Pune Branch and a professional singer too;—he conducts musical programs featuring original compositions written and composed by Dr. Sameer Datar. They have their Youtube channel for the same. These performances are uniquely integrated with organ and eye donation awareness initiatives. They are closely associated with the Federation of Organ and Body Donation in promoting these causes.
They were part of a team which was invited by Ayodhya Ram Mandir trust to perform Geet Ramayan at our newly constructed Ram Mandir.
Beyond medicine, Dr. Datar is an avid trekker and cyclist. His expeditions include cycling from Manali to Khardung La and from Guwahati to Tawang, as well as treks to Stok Kangri, Annapurna Base Camp, Kanchenjunga Base Camp, and Bali Pass. He has also completed long-distance cycling routes such as Pune to Goa and Pune to Murudeshwar along the coastal belt, in addition to frequent rides in the Sahyadris. He was invited at at the prestigious Vasant vyakhyanmala to talk about a cycling experience.
A trained classical tabla player, Dr. Datar has composed over 70 original musical pieces, which are available on his YouTube channel Sadageete. He has even set up a small recording studio within his clinic, reflecting a thoughtful balance between his professional and creative pursuits.
He has written a poetry book, published by BookGanga Prakashan.
He has been a part of TV and radio shows for eye donation activities.
Other than being invited as chief guest at various function, he was also invited specially, by non other than the Chief of the army staff and also the Commandant, Southern Command, to acknowledge a beautiful song on armed forces, that he dedicated to them.
He is supported in this wonderful journey by his wife Bhakti, and his son, Shreyas, who is currently studying law at the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, the topmost law school in India, and data science at IIT Madras.
By
Dr. Radhika Paranjpe