Khalsa College students bid adieu to retiring principal by collecting blood equivalent of his weight
Khalsa College students bid adieu to retiring principal by collecting blood equivalent of his weight
Call it signing off in blood literally. The students and faculty of Mumbai's Khalsa College at Matunga said goodbye to their retiring principal, Dr Ajit Singh, with a blood donation drive with a difference.
The students donated blood equivalent to the principal's weight (68 kg) in the drive that began at 11 am and wound up by 5 pm yesterday.
In the drive called Rakt Tulabhara, the aim was to donate 68 bottles of blood to equal 68 kg. But the enthusiastic students overshot the target to 73 bottles.
The blood is to be given to the Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Hospital (Sion Hospital) blood bank.
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A lot of blood is needed at our blood bank, so all blood groups are welcome. Since most of the donors are very young students this is a plus point."
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The aim, said professor Prave-ish Vishwanath, co-coordinator of the Bachelor of Mass Media (BMM) course at Khalsa, "is to see that the blood goes back into the ocean of humanity".
He added, "This is not a blood-sucking exercise, but a blood giving one. In the best guru-shishya tradition, students are giving a tribute to all that they have gained from Dr Singh.
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It is symbolic of new blood being transfused into society."
Overwhelmed
An overwhelmed Dr Singh said, "I was very touched by the initiative. A farewell like this is motivational for all institutions. It is a very practical way of saying goodbye.
I was told about the farewell just a day earlier, and I thought this is such a good parting of ways." Dr Singh was retiring after taking over as principal in 2001.
The college, once a powerhouse of university sport, has held several blood donation drives, but never with such a twist.
Said C N Ramchandra (76), former student of Khalsa, who was the oldest alumnus present at the function, "If I was younger, I would have donated blood, how can I donate at this age?" he asked with a laugh.
Going by the success of this one, Mumbai's blood banks have just one piece of advice for all future Khalsa college principals, beginning with Dr R Kaur Patheja, who takes over from today: Do not lose weight.
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