New Delhi: It was a difficult but proud moment for Major Sidharth Malik. His 18-month-old son Shaurya died in an accident last year and the family donated his organs, saving one person and giving sight to others.
The Army honoured Major Malik and eight other families like his who donated the organs of their loved ones in a bid to promote organ donation.
Lending celebrity weight to the effort to get more people to commit to donating organs were Priyanka Chopra and Navjot Singh Sidhu. Priyanka, herself the daughter of an Armyman, had a very personal reason to be there.
"It was a very emotional time. Because my father been really unwell and was almost in need of a liver transplant at one point of time. But, thankfully, things were all right. If you don't do anything good in your lifetime, at least do it after you die. I think that's why I have decided to pledge my organs," the Bollywood star said.
"Mein brain dead hone ki wait nahi karonga. Mein ekdum zinda organ donate karne ka pledge leta hoon, (I'm not going to wait to be declared brain dead, I'll pledge my organs while I'm alive)," says Sidhu.
They say selling ends where donation begins. While families of donors see organ donation as a way of keeping the souls of their loved ones alive, the Armed Forces Organ Retrieval Authority hopes to send out a larger message to discourage illegal organ transplants by contributing to the scarce supply of vital organs.
Though the decision to donate their dear ones' organs was not an easy one, many, like Kamini Mehta, consider it a worthy one. Mehta did so when her father Brigadier Bakshi died.
"I would like to appeal to all citizens of the country to pledge their organs. My husband and I have pledged our organs," daughter of Brig YP Bakshi (retd), Kamini, appeals.
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