Our Bureau/

Bhagalpur chapter of Bihar Bengalee Association (BBA) paid homage to  Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 124 th birth anniversary today while organizing a mega blood donation camp here. More than 120 men and women of different age groups donated bloods in the camp to mark the occasion.

Mega blood donation camp at Durga Charan primary school.

“ You give me blood, I will give you freedom, Netaji said and we have initiated a special moment, the blood donation movement here. We have adopted Netaji’s path and started this social movement for a greater cause- to save many lives,” pointed out Ratna Mukherjee, a retired professor of Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University and president of Bhagalpur branch of BBA.

Small children garlanding Netaji’s statue today.

Jaijeet Ghosh, secretary of the branch said like every year, the birth anniversary of the country’s icon has celebrated colourfully amid the ongoing Covid-19 fears. “To maintain the tune of history, this blood donation camp has organized at the historical Durga Charan primary school where once the doyen in Bengali literature, Sharat Chandra Chatterjee was a student,” Ghosh pointed out.

“Due to this Covid-19 situation this time we didn’t invited school children and people from different walks of lives for the morning procession. But we the members along with others garlanded the statue of Netaji at Lajpath park where Netaji once addressed a sizable gathering just before his escape from this country,” Ghosh said.

Late Rajiv Benerjee.

Ghosh said that this mega blood donation camp this time has dedicated in the memory of Rajiv Benerjee, a noted social worker and active member of BBA who died last month in a road mishap. “Rajiv was our most trustworthy worker and his sudden demise is indeed an irreparable loss for Bhagalpur. Today his family members including wife and children also donated bloods in the camp. We salute to the family of Late Rajiv,” pointed out Somnath Sarkar, a member of BBA, Bhagalpur.

Rajiv’s wife and children donated bloods today.

Uttam Devnath and Nirupamkanti Pal, two members of BBA, Bhagalpur and pioneers in the blood donation movement in Bhagalpur said that the Bengali society has been fighting for the cause of such noble reason. “Now we are trying to convert this practice into a social revolution,” the duo acclaimed.

Rekha Jha, in-charge of the blood bank at local JLN medical college hospital appreciated the efforts of BBA, Bhagalpur for making the birth anniversary of Netaji ideal. “Recently BBA, Bhagalpur received the best award for excellent performance in blood donation round the year,” she pointed out.

Jaijeet Ghosh, secretary, BBA, Bhagalpur donating blood.

Tarun Ghosh, president of BBA, Barari chapter here said  “BBA has done an exemplary work for a great cause on the occasion of the birth anniversary of a great freedom fighter”.  According to him the two branches, Barari and Champanagar branchs also celebrated the birth anniversary of Netaji today colourfully.