Not everyone wishes to celebrate their birthday or other joyful occasions of their life at a hospital or an orphanage with the less privileged. But there are some who believe in spending their big day with the inmates of a shelter home or the poor patients of a government hospital. Sunday POST met a few such people who would like to share the joy of a special occasion with the less privileged.
Be it his wedding anniversary or the birthday of his only son, Susanta Kumar Sahoo from Bhubaneswar and his family spend the occasion with the patients of Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar. He has been doing this for two decades now. “It feels good to share some moments with the people who are in distress. As a social worker, I go there to distribute food. Of late, my friends also join me to help the needy. On my first wedding anniversary, I proposed to my wife that we spend some time at the hospital and she happily agreed. Since then, it has become a tradition. I also spend time at the hospital on my son’s birthday,” says Susanta.
Susanta’s wife Anusaya says she feels strongly about the inmates of the shelter homes and the street dwellers. “I am happy that I have a life partner who always tries to share celebratory occasions with them. I also ask my near and dear ones to get involved in such activities,” she says.
Sambit Nanda, a child psychologist and social worker from Cuttack, likes to share his moments of happiness with kids suffering from cancer. On occasions such as Raksha Bandhan and Diwali, he and his daughter Samikhya visit some ashrams to spend time with disabled women. Sambit also runs HOPE, a philanthropic organisation, to help the less privileged.
“Since 2010, I have been spending time with the underprivileged on my daughter’s birthday every year. I visit a cancer hospital in Cuttack on the day and distribute toys, fruits and biscuits among the kids. Besides, we go to Janani Ashram at Mangarajpur near Choudwar that houses about 25 destitute and mentally-challenged women. We serve them meals that include dishes like kheer, chicken, and fish to make the day special. We also donate clothes and footwear to the ashram residents. Many of my friends have followed suit, but it would be good if more people realise that you experience real happiness when you bring a smile on the face of the needy.”
Samikshya adds, “Since childhood I have been watching kids battling for their life in hospital beds. I can feel their loneliness. So, every year, I tie rakhi to the patients in the hospital. I also request my friends to spend time at the hospital.”
“For me, humanity is the only religion,” says Dhirendra Kar from Jajpur district who works as the CEO of a company in the US. “Sharing your joy with the needy is the best form of worship. Therefore, celebration of your special moments with them is as good as getting direct blessings from God. I have been doing this since the last 25 years and will continue to do so. I am also associated with some organisations in Odisha to help them in this regard.”
Saroj Kumar and Sasmita Sahoo, a couple from Bhubaneswar, organise a blood donation camp on their wedding anniversary.
“I have seen people running from pillar to post to arrange blood for patients. That is when I vowed to organise a blood donation camp on my wedding anniversary. My wife gives me moral support in this regard. Our friends and relatives have also come forward to support the cause,” says Saroj.
Gopimohan Patnaik, a retired sports officer in Bhubaneswar, also organises a blood donation camp on his wedding anniversary. He has been doing this since 2005. He also organises such camps on other occasions. So far, he has donated blood 139 times and organised some 1,000 camps. “There are scores of thalassemia patients who are in need of blood. This apart, blood banks often fail to meet the need for blood. That is why I took a decision to organise a blood donation camp on my wedding anniversary and other occasions. I am indebted to my associates for responding to my call. The camp used to be inaugurated by my mother every year. After her death, my father took over that role.”
Panchanan Samal, a professional artist, spends his special days planting trees on the Dhauli foothills and in a small forest near Kandalei, a village on the outskirts of the state capital. Along with his wife Pushpita, he has been doing this for the last three years. He also tries to raise awareness on the importance of education and tree plantation in Dhauli and Kandalei.
BRATATI BARAL, OP