Learning the Hard Way

In 1993, inspired by the spirit of social service, we (a few friends) formed a youth body in Chandigarh with the noble objective of channelling the energy of youths into constructive and nation-building activities. Organizing blood donation camps, taking relief measures during natural calamities, and creating environmental awareness are among the lofty ideals of the body.

As a maiden activity, we decided to organise a blood donation camp in the autumn of 1993. The well-wishers advised us that it is difficult to persuade people to donate blood. The common masses used to be scared of donating blood due to various prevailing myths during those days. Being novices, we presumed that since it was a noble cause, people would flock to the camp just by reading about it in newspapers and leaflets. One of our members forewarned us about the possible low turnout of donors, but we ignored it.

The destined day approached. The blood bank van and the transfusion team from PGI, Chandigarh, arrived at the scheduled time with medical kits and refreshments for about a hundred donors. We had informed them in advance about the probable number of donors. The chief guest, a senior IAS officer, inaugurated the camp and praised our initiative. To our delight, during the stay of the chief guest, all six donor’s beds remained occupied.

Our woes began after the chief guest left the venue. The self-seekers, who had come in large numbers to seek favours from him, also started leaving. Our pleas to them to donate blood fell on deaf ears. The donor’s beds were mostly empty, and only a few volunteers could be seen around. In the meantime, a news channel team along with video cameras appeared on the scene to cover the event. Finding the beds almost empty, they left the venue with the assurance of returning later. They never returned.

Donors were few and far between. The situation annoyed the PGI team, as the donations were far less than their preparations. Our plea that a number of donors were on their way to the camp soothed them. However, not finding the promised donors even after a long wait, the blood bank team got restive and left the venue. We could arrange 29 units of blood.

The experience left us a little demoralized. Someone among us tried to raise the spirit by saying that it is not the quantity but the intention that matters, and we should continue with this noble cause. His noble words acted as a balm.

Next year, we changed our strategy and concentrated on youth and close social networks. It worked, and since then, camps are being organized regularly with larger participation every year. Till date, 31 camps have been organized, and the number of donors in one of the camps even crossed 400. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the volunteers went to PGI to donate blood and platelets in large numbers to meet the scarcity, as camps could not be held. Following our example, many other social organisations also started organising the camps.

Recently, the youth body organised its 31st camp. Being a founder member of the organization, I was also invited on this occasion. The Chief Guest, Prof. R. R. Sharma, Head of the Department, Medicine Transfusion, PGI, lauded the role of the youth body in organising the camps regularly for the last 31 years. I met Prof. Sharma after his speech, but he could not recognise me. I talked with him about the camps organised by the youth body during the initial years without disclosing my identity. Dr. Sharma, who was a young doctor then, remembered those camps and recalled the names of three people who used to be active in organising the camps. One of the names he recalled was yours truly.