C Jasmine, S Krithika, M Nagalakshmi, R Karthik

G K Shetty  Vivekananda  Vidyalaya Junior College

We feel proud to introduce ourselves as the students of GK SHETTY VIVEKANANDA VIDYALAYA JOUNIOR COLLEGE –AMBATTUR- a unit of Vivekananda educational society. Our education society conducts thematic exhibition every alternate year. This year we had it on 26, 27, 28 of Jan 2002 titled as ‘PRATHIBA’ meaning splendour.

One of our projects in the exhibition was “Organ Donation”. First of all we would like to thank ‘MOHAN Foundation’ and our teachers from the core of our heart for selecting us to bring an awareness about the unique and most needed concept of ‘Organ Donation’. Well, to begin with , our experience was rewarding. We participated in the organ donation program with great zeal and enthusiasm. The room allotted for the exhibition was aptly decorated with attractive charts and table tops. To start with, an idol of Lord Vinayaka was kept as the first acceptor of organ and a table top of ‘Dadhichi munivar’ revealed the truth of the first organ donation.  It was supplemented by charts of Kannapa Nayanar, Shibi Chakravarthy and shokas from Upanishads and Bhagwad  Gita.  The visitors were touched by the exhibits when the saw organ donation from a religious and mythological point of view. This easily convinced then about the importance of organ donation. This was followed by the exhibits on statistical data on organ donation from India and abroad.    

A beautiful poem “Life Pass it On” (Legacy of Robert West) highlighting the nobility of organ donation impressed one and all. A chart explaining the causes of brain death and differentiating   it from coma was very well appreciated.  As brain death is a new concept, we had to explain it repeatedly which we enjoyed doing.    Though it was tiring we could do it enthusiastically by taking turns.  The exhibits of paper clippings on organ donation attracted huge crowds.  An individual came forward to donate his eyes.  At this juncture we felt very thrilled and moved and also proud at the success of our program.  In conclusion a portrait of Sri Shivaramji – a fulltime worker of RSS who donated his body  for the cause  of medical education was kept. This again received much of appreciation.

At the other side of the a few argued and disagreed with the concept of organ donation for which our humble plea was that it was awareness program only - purely introducing and a new way of serving the brotherhood. Inspite of all this, we felt contended and happy when we heard 115 members volunteered and registered as organ donors.  When the staff of MOHAN Foundation visited us  in the stall they were overwhelmed  to see their ideas had been given  a beautiful and meaningful shape This increased  their trust in us, which we feel is motivating  factor  for youngsters like us.  They alone live who live for others.