Delhi witnessed one of the biggest blood donation camps in the city with a large number of people gathering in support of the noble cause, with Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev inaugurating the camp by donating blood himself. The camp was jointly organised by Pratibimb Welfare Society and Swaminarayan Akshardham at Akshardham Temple in New Delhi on April 15, 2007.
According to the organisers, 2,775 people donated blood at the camp.
India'sformer High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr L.M. Singhvi, Swaminarayan Akshardham'sDelhi chief, Sadhu Atmaswaroopdasji, Orissa Revenue, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Shri Manmohan Samal too graced the occasion.
The event also saw former Union Minister and BJP MP from Rajkot Shri Vallabhbhai Kathiria donating blood for the 108th time, which is in itself a record of sorts.
Speaking at the mega event, Swami Ramdev urged people to participate in this highest form of donation. He also spoke about the health virtues of blood donation.
He stated that when one donated blood and when it was transfused into the body of the other person, the first person'sblood passed through the heart of the other person and thus two unknown persons are bonded together by heart. He further said that blood donation was a lifeline between a person afflicting with an ailment and a person donating blood.
?Heart problems and blood pressure are the two main reasons for death. It has scientifically been established through research that blood donation lowers cholesterol level and maintains blood pressure,? he said. Swamiji informed that about 1,76,000 people die of heart problems yet they do not pay adequate attention to this.
?So it is in our interest too that we donate blood, which would help people afflicted with different ailments. By doing so, we not only save lives, gain in terms of health but also get spiritual benefits,? Swami Ramdev said.
Dr Kathiria, a leading cancer surgeon, started donating blood in 1972. He said Delhi was not blood self-sufficient and there was a dire need for more such activities and awareness campaigns in the national capital unlike Gujarat where availability of blood was never an issue in saving life.
Dr Singhvi, who is the Chief Patron of Maha Rakta Daan Shivir, said nothing was more powerful than will power. ?We can do anything if we pledge to do so. Organising this camp is one such example as is the case of Dr Kathiria, who has donated blood for the 108th time, perhaps an impossible task for many of us?, he said.
Dr Singhvi also conveyed the best wishes of Vice President Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat who could not attend the function as he was indisposed.
Shri Manmohan Samal, who had specially come to Delhi to attend the camp, said India was a land of sacrifices and not of enjoyment and blood donation was another way of keeping the tradition alive. ?I thank the organisers for organising such a mega camp and hope that they would continue to tread this pious path to serve the humanity?, he said.
Sadhu Atmaswaroopdasji said blood donation was an act of great virtues and, in fact, was a humankind'seffort of overcoming death. Wishing not only the donors but also the beneficiaries, he said it was only through such efforts that social harmony would prevail over a sustained period.
The Maha Rakta Daan Shivir also saw a cooperative effort by over 50 organisations prominent among them are All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, Indian Red Cross, Rotary Club, Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Hospital, Bharat Vikas Parishad (East Delhi), Adhivakta Parishad, Dadhichi Deh Daan Samiti, Sanskar Bharati (Delhi), Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Rashtriya Rakt Kosh, Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, CBMD, Akhand Hindustan Morcha and ABVP. During the function at least 500 volunteers were seen braving the scorching heat of Delhi. (FOC)
