KOLKATA: Losing his mother for want of a pouch of blood at Burdwan Medical College and Hospital in 1962, then eight-year-old Janardan Ghosh had promised over his mother’s mortal remains not to let the same fate happen with anyone else.
Fifty-six years later, Janardhan Ghosh is now famous as ‘Donor da’ among common people and administrators for donating his blood over 152 times since the age of 18. Though weighing over 94 kg, Ghosh has been donating blood thrice every year over the past 46 years. Blood donation has made his immunity stronger and the 64-year-old is yet to contact any major disease.
So impressed is the Purba Burdwan district administration with Ghosh’s blood donation record that they have circulated his contact number to every office of the district and felicitated him with rewards every Republic Day for the past 12 years at Burdwan Police Lines.
A resident of remote Tehatta village under Akalpoush gram panchayat in Kalna-1 block of Purba Burdwan district, Ghosh travels throughout West Bengal and has even visited Delhi twice to donate blood. However, he was upset after huge amounts of blood were wasted at Central Blood Bank in 1987 and halted blood donation for three years. Nevertheless, he commenced his passion for donating blood from 1990 onwards. Completing his latest blood donation on February 18, Ghosh will now donate his blood next after three months on June 20.
“My mother would have lived had she received one pouch of blood on time. That day, I had promised myself on my mother’s dead body to spend the rest of my life donating blood so that nobody else dies in want of blood. Today, I am happy to fulfill my promise,” Ghosh said.
“Even at this age, I don’t have to visit doctors precisely because of donating blood regularly. I would urge many more people to regularly donate their blood not only to save lives but to build a strong immunity and remain healthy,” the record blood donor said.