The Allahabad News Reporters Club (ANRC) president Ratan Dixitji called up on January 23 evening lodging a complaint to me as to why I did not tell him about the need of blood for my father-in-law presently hospitalised at Allahabad.'आपने मुझे बताया क्यों नहीं' was his complaint.
I never have any doubt about my long lasting relation with the ANRC having been its secretary twice in succession about a decade back. And at the same time, I never have any doubt about the love and affection the office-bearers all along the line since I left have for me in their hearts. So, when Ratanji called me up and said the abovementioned words I was emotional.
It's rare virtue of people in Allahabad that they never forget you whatever distance you might have travelled after leaving the historical city and whatever time it was when you left. They expect love and affection from you and never hesitate in reciprocate your gesture. I told Ratanji that I had spoken to Club Secretary Devendra Singhji about the same and I thought he might have discussed with him.
However, it was Ratanji's arrival in the scene that one unit of blood was arranged immediately. He also assured me of arranging another unit the next day. However, meanwhile, my brother-in-law Abhishek donated blood with the help of Devendraji and others. My friend Harishankar Mishra offered his blood. He even went to the Allahabad Medical Association's blood bank to donate his blood but his blood pressure was too high then and the blood bank staff refused to take his blood.
That a journalist offer his own blood is quite unusual and unheard of. But in Allahabad the journalist like Harishankar Mishra has set a precedent. My ex-colleaque Suraj Sinha who helped my in-laws a lot in the day time was also willing to donate his blood.
I wish Ratanji and his team great success during their present stint. I also wish Harishankar, Suraj and all who extended help in time a bright future. I also wish there were more journalists and people like Harishankar Mishra who did not hesitate in the noble cause of blood donation (I will write another piece on how I shed my inhibition about blood donation with the help of Harishankar Mishra).
I never have any doubt about my long lasting relation with the ANRC having been its secretary twice in succession about a decade back. And at the same time, I never have any doubt about the love and affection the office-bearers all along the line since I left have for me in their hearts. So, when Ratanji called me up and said the abovementioned words I was emotional.
It's rare virtue of people in Allahabad that they never forget you whatever distance you might have travelled after leaving the historical city and whatever time it was when you left. They expect love and affection from you and never hesitate in reciprocate your gesture. I told Ratanji that I had spoken to Club Secretary Devendra Singhji about the same and I thought he might have discussed with him.
However, it was Ratanji's arrival in the scene that one unit of blood was arranged immediately. He also assured me of arranging another unit the next day. However, meanwhile, my brother-in-law Abhishek donated blood with the help of Devendraji and others. My friend Harishankar Mishra offered his blood. He even went to the Allahabad Medical Association's blood bank to donate his blood but his blood pressure was too high then and the blood bank staff refused to take his blood.
That a journalist offer his own blood is quite unusual and unheard of. But in Allahabad the journalist like Harishankar Mishra has set a precedent. My ex-colleaque Suraj Sinha who helped my in-laws a lot in the day time was also willing to donate his blood.
I wish Ratanji and his team great success during their present stint. I also wish Harishankar, Suraj and all who extended help in time a bright future. I also wish there were more journalists and people like Harishankar Mishra who did not hesitate in the noble cause of blood donation (I will write another piece on how I shed my inhibition about blood donation with the help of Harishankar Mishra).
