Salute to tricity’s ‘red army’

Rajan Raikhy

The call came at 10.30 pm a few days ago. A patient was undergoing surgery and blood platelets were urgently required. I was in the hospital till 2 in the morning. Blood donors you will still find, but platelet donors, not many. The medical staff and relatives of patients are grateful without a doubt, but the biggest pleasure I derive is the rousing reception I get at home whenever I get back after blood or platelet donation. I am 50, but it makes me feel young and raring to go again.

It’s a privilege to be in a position to donate, but I also rely on the inspirational presence of several extraordinary individuals. Like 65-year-old Prag Raj Sharma, who started his blood donation journey in 1975 and his zeal continues to be unflinching. He has donated blood 224 times. There’s Dr Usha Rao, also 65, who in fact retired from PGI’s Blood Transfusion Department. Her donation count: 128.

Rakesh Sangar, 60, is the backbone of the blood donation campaign in Chandigarh. Also a PGI retiree, this social worker has organised more than 600 camps in the region and help is available for anyone who calls. Sub-Inspector Rakesh Rasila is not only a regular blood donor, but also takes up the cause of disposing of animal carcasses. He is also listed as the top ‘blood donor cop’ in the country.

Randeep Bhatia, 54, has made it a mission to donate blood in the capitals of all states of the country. Unusual, but if working for a social cause is all that you aim for, credit is all you deserve.

At 31, Satish Sachdeva has already donated platelets 106 times. His source of inspiration: his mother (donated blood 51 times) and father (55 times).

Bupinder Singh owns a sweets shop in PU, but this 60-year-old is always ready whenever a request to donate blood comes. Income-tax lawyer Ajay Gupta is no less. His commitment to the cause of blood donation is exemplary. He has also organised 176 blood camps.

Dr Pankaj Kaul of PGI is ready to touch the 105 mark on World Blood Donor Day on June 14. Both his daughters are regular donors. What a family!

Jasbir Singh Jassi is known as the mobile blood bank. He has contacts of over 1,400 blood donors and arranges blood and platelets within no time. He himself has donated blood 113 times.

Then there’s Bhupinder Nagpal. He may be diabetic, but that does not prevent him from donating blood. His count: 157. His ailment has forced him to reduce the donation frequency, but he still insists on donating blood once in two years.

And what can one say about Mrs and Mr Jaspal Singh. Their disability has never come in the way of their ability to serve humanity. Their combined donation count is 44.

‘Respectful Disability’ Kuldeep is not able to walk, but he’s a star of the ‘red army’, having donated blood 46 times.

I may have missed mentioning so many names. To each blood donor, I can only say that I cherish the privilege to be counted as one among you. My salute to all of you.

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