People's Democracy

donation with a difference

Campaigns For Scientific Temper Gain Momentum In Assam

Isfaqur Rahman

The most formidable impediment that thwarts societal change and development is obscurantism, a baggage of the past. Yet, man's journey towards progress continues. This becomes possible through the efforts of some dauntless human beings born from time to time.

The campaigns for scientific temperament and against all forms of superstition and obscurantism are gaining momentum in the north-eastern state of Assam too. Apart from the campaigns for blood donation and eye donation, those for donation of other human organs or of the whole body after one's death --- for transplantation or medical research and enrichment of medical science ­­­--- has also been started in the state.

On Sunday, January 16, a large number of people assembled at Hedayetpur, Guwahati, in a simple but solemn function in which 23 philanthropic minded persons, including 7 women, put signatures on their last wills in presence of the senior sub-registrar, Kamrup, Gautam Kumar Sarma. The signatories on the ‘last will’ included prominent persons like eminent historian and social scientist Dr Amalendu Guha, Vedic scholar Uma Chakravarty, environmental scientist Hiranmoy Nath and a number of social activists and CPI(M) members. Through registered wills, all these persons have donated their whole body, excluding their eyes, to the Guwahati Medical College, and these wills have to be executed after their deaths. As for their eyes, they have pledged these to the Shankardev Nethralaya, Guwahati.

The Ellora Vigyan Mancha (EVM) was the organiser of the programme. Among others, CPI(M) state secretary Hemen Das attended the function and graced the occasion.

The Ellora Vigyan Mancha is a voluntary, non-governmental organisation that was formed in May 2004, in hallowed memory of Ellora Roychoudhury, an activist of the AIDWA and a member of the CPI(M), who immortalised herself by becoming the first woman in the whole of the north-eastern part of our country to have donated her body for medical research. The fearless Ellora pledged her body for medical research, with the hope that some day human research will triumph over the deadly killer disease called 'cancer' which had nipped in bud her life, yet to be in full bloom. Ellora, barely in her thirties, found herself in the grips of cancer, complete cure from which is still elusive. As she was dying, Ellora bequeathed her eyes with the fond hope that her eyes will bring light to someone, and also the body, stirred by a steely resolve and an enduring passion for human service and sacrifice, overcoming age old superstitions and standing taller than the religious beliefs. 

Apart from a large number of CPI(M) leaders, members and sympathisers, a cross-section of independent, science loving people --- like doctors, intellectuals, cultural and literary activists --- are also associated with the organisation.

The Vigyan Mancha, since its inception, has been running a movement to spread scientific temper amongst the people and to fight against all forms of superstition, obscurantism and blind belief. It has also been campaigning and encouraging people for blood donations during one's life and for eye donation and donation of other human organs after one's death, for transplantation or medical research.

The EVM's campaign is still in its nascent stage and it has a herculean task ahead.  The odds and obstacles notwithstanding, a good number of people from all walks of life have come forward and  extended support to the EVM's noble mission.

PROFILE OF THE SIGNATORIES

The signatories at the January 16 programme included the following:

(1) Eminent historian and social scientist Dr Amalendu Guha (81 years), (2) Vedic scholar and senior fellow, ICHR, Vedamurty Dr Uma Chakravarty (71 years), (3) environmental engineer and former chairman, Pollution Control Board, Meghalaya, Hiranmoy Nath (72 years), (4) veteran trade union activists Sibendra Nath Roy (73 years) and Hironmoy Ghosh (66 years), (5) CPI(M) state committee member Bani Mahanta (54 years), (6) poet and literary activists Samindra Hujuri (46 years), Pranabjyoti Deka (45 years), and  Dwijen Barman (41 years), (7) cultural activists Kiron Shankar Roy (53 years) and Kamalesh Gupta (53 years), (8) social activists Ms. Nirmala Dutta (61 years), Gopal Kalita (53 years), Ms Sutapa Chakraborty (45 years),   Monodip Mitra (36 years), Kuntalika Mitra (35 years), Nandita Gupta (42 years), Bipasa Banerji (49 years), Paritosh Roy, (57 years), Hamza Choudhury (37 years), Ms Mamoni Choudhury (Goswami) (37 years) and  John Davis (67 years).  It may be noted that a majority of the donors are members of the CPI(M).

On behalf of the Ellora Vigyan Mancha, Dr Joydev Sarma gratefully acknowledged the magnanimous gesture and recorded the EVM's appreciation of their scientific temperament and their desire to serve the humanity even after death. Their steely resolve and great philanthropic move will inspire and encourage the progressive and science-loving people of the state and the country as well. The Mancha pledged its total co-operation for fulfilling their desires.

The Mancha chairman Dr Chandra Mohan Sarma said that as part of its humanitarian service, the Mancha has proposed to organise a Blood Donation Camp at Guwahati in cooperation with the authorities of the Guwahati Medical College & Hospital and other fraternal organisations and institutions on May 14 -15, 2005, the second death anniversary of Ellora Roychoudhury. The Mancha has appealed to all sections of the people, including the medical fraternity, to make the proposed blood donation camp a massive success.

Addressing the august gathering, noted Left intellectual Dr Hiren Gohain lauded the role of the EVM and said, "the donation programme will create awareness among the people for inculcating scientific temper and belief. This will also help dispel superstitions largely prevalent in our society."

While putting signature on his last will to pledge his whole body after death for medical research, Dr Amalendu Guha exhorted the people to intensify the campaign. His wife Dr Anima Guha and Dr Hiren Gohain have put witnesses' signatures on Dr Amalendu Guha’s last will. The local print and electronic media gave wide coverage to the unique programme.