The Aravind Eye Hospital was founded by Dr. Venkataswamy with a mission to "eliminate needless blindness." In 1976 he helped create the GOVEL Trust, under which all Aravind Eye Hospitals were launched. All Aravind Eye hospitals are named after Sri Aurobindo, one of the 20th century’s most revered spiritual leaders. Aravind started as a 11-bed hospital and has now evolved into one of the largest facilities in the world for eye care.