Life-saving mission: Doctor donates blood 103 times

Doctors often encourage others to donate blood, but very few lead by example. One man who has truly walked the talk is retired Civil Surgeon Dr Ajay Bagga, who has donated blood more than 103 times, making him a living symbol of dedication and humanity.

Dr Bagga’s journey as a blood donor began with a tragedy. Born on 11 September 1959, he completed his higher secondary from DAV Senior Secondary School, Hoshiarpur and earned his MBBS from Government Medical College, Amritsar in 1983.

But it was the gruesome assassination of his father, former MLA Principal Om Prakash Bagga, by terrorists on 1 June 1984, that became a turning point in his life. “I saw blood flowing from my father’s lifeless body... That moment shook me to the core,” recalls Dr Bagga. “A thought struck me — blood should flow in veins, not in drains — and I pledged to honour that belief for life.”

Just three months later, on his birthday (11th September 1984), Dr Bagga donated blood for the first time at Civil Hospital, Hoshiarpur and vowed to continue doing so to serve humanity.

He joined the government service as a Medical Officer in November 1984 and soon became Blood Transfusion Officer at Civil Hospital’s Blood Bank. At that time, voluntary blood donation was rare and many donors were poor labourers or rickshaw pullers selling blood for money.

Determined to change this, Dr Bagga approached professors of various colleges in Hoshiarpur, including Prof Jarnail Singh (DAV College), Prof Tajinder Singh (DAV College of Education), Prof Deshveer (Government College), and Prof. SS Soid (SD College), requesting them to mobilise students. His efforts bore fruit and soon, voluntary blood donation camps began with promising participation — the first one collecting 20 units of blood.

In the early 1990s, he became an active member of the Indian Society for Blood Transfusion and Immunohematology (ISBTI), serving as Punjab Chapter Secretary. He continued advancing his medical career, earning his MD in Pharmacology in 1994 and serving in various key roles — from school health programme in-charge to District Immunisation Officer and Deputy Medical Commissioner.

But no matter the post, Dr Bagga never missed the opportunity to donate blood before joining duty. He did so while taking charge as Civil Surgeon in Pathankot (2015) and Nawanshahr (2017) too.

For Dr Bagga, blood donation wasn’t just a duty — it became a way of life. Every 3 months, like clockwork, he donated blood. Even during the Covid-19 lockdown, when people stayed indoors fearing infection, he stepped up and donated.

Now retired from government service since September 2017, Dr Bagga continues to serve as Blood Transfusion Officer at the BDC Blood Centre, Nawanshahr, run by the NGO Blood Donor Council.

He is now a strong advocate for moving beyond blood donation, towards platelets donation and white blood cells. “With cancer cases, especially leukaemia, on the rise in Punjab, we need white blood cell (WBC) donations,” he says. “Unlike whole blood, which can be donated every 3 months, WBCs can only be donated twice a year — but they are lifesaving for cancer patients.”

Dr Bagga passionately believes blood donation is a path to national unity and communal harmony. “Nothing is nobler than saving a life,” he says. “And regular donors also enjoy better health — lower risks of heart disease and cancer.” His life is a shining reminder that one person’s consistent effort can inspire thousands. And through every drop he donated, Dr Ajay Bagga proved that true service begins with action, not just words.