He was known for his dexterity as a surgeon and diagnostic acumen.He Studied DAM from Kankanwadi Ayurvedic College Belagavi, Karnataka.

"Born of humble parentage – a Kannadiga from Bijapur district – Modi threw away a lucrative career in private practice after attending Gandhiji's historic prayer meeting at Bombay on August 8, 1942 where the Quit India resolution was passed.

He being an Ayurvedic surgeon The Guinness Book of World Records lists Modi as the "most dedicated doctor," for performing the highest number of eye surgeries.

"When my time comes I would like to disappear silently"he concluded.He meant that when death comes to him he would accept it wholeheartedly and die without troubling anyone with all the good and bad he did.

"Between his first camp held in 1943 at Pattan in Gujarat until his death in 2005, Murugappa Channaveerappa Modi examined over 10 million people and conducted over 7.8 lakh cataract surgeries with funds from philanthropists and donors."

[6] Modi set out to hold eye camps in the then Bombay State, which included parts of Karnataka.

Helen Keller, the blind and deaf-mute American author, it is said, attended one of his camps in 1954, and asked him: "Have you insured your hands?"

He was fondly called "Modi, Kannukota anna", the brother who gave vision, by people in his native state Karnataka.