BE A HERO... BE AN ORGAN DONOR. It was a pleasant Sunday evening.  Little Chameli was enjoying a walk with her Dadaji on the river bank watching little fishes playing around the white lotus flowers.  A beautiful kingfisher plunged into the deep water for a while.  Chameli’s eyes shined with her enthralling smile when Dadaji showed her the beautiful crimson horizon with the half set sun.  For Chameli, evening walk with Dadaji on Sundays used to be very special. After a while, both of them sat on a black rock keeping their legs in the river water.  Chameli liked teasing her Dadaji by splashing water with her legs. “Dadaji, I feel very sad whenever I think about my classmate Priya”, said Chameli. “What happened to Priya?” asked Dadaji anxiously. “Her mother’s one kidney is damaged and it needs replacement as informed by the doctor”, worriedly little Chameli said. “Oh! It is a very sad situation but no need of worrying.  Have you heard about organ donation and transplantation” asked Dadaji. “No Dadaji.  What is that?  Can we really help Priya?” Chameli exclaimed. “Organ donation is giving an organ to help someone who needs a transplant.  Transplant can save or enhance the lives of other people.  One has to submit his or her consent in writing for organ donation at authorized hospitals.  In most of the cases, organs are removed from the body after death for transplantation.  In some cases, some organs can be removed from the body of a living person.  The donor must inform his or her next of kin, close relatives and friends so that necessary actions can be initiated without any delay and confusions after death” Dadaji stopped for a minute watching the setting sun. Chameli sat patiently looking at her Dadaji’s face. “Common transplantations include kidneys, heart, liver, pancreas, intestines, lungs, bones, corneas etc.  Now you do not have to go in detail about it as concerned doctors and the advisory boards will always provide adequate details as and when a person shows willingness to do organ donation.  Remember, organ donation is a divine decision which anyone can do without loosing anything in life.  Why should we destroy our organs after death when the same can give life to a needy person?” with a sigh, Dadaji stopped his talk and looked at the face of little Chameli. The sun had disappeared fully from the sky leaving behind gorgeous colours.  Birds were seen returning to their roost.  Chameli, while shaking her legs in the water, asked Dadaji – “So, how can we help Priya, Dadaji?” “Tomorrow, I will take Priya’s father to the Nephrology Department at the Medical College in the town.  I know Dr. Gayathri, in-charge of the Department, very well.  Of course, she will guide Priya’s father and do the needful”, Dadaji assured and continued his talks. “People have different kind of superstitions regarding life and death.  Due to such feelings and fear, many people are reluctant to donate their organs.  Most important task ahead is to conduct proper awareness about organ donation so that even common man understands its significance and value”, Dadaji got up and started walking with Chameli back to their home. “Thank you Dadaji” Chameli kissed on Dadaji’s hand.  Little Chameli and Dadaji reached home.  Chameli’s parents became very happy about Dadaji’s talks with their little angel. “We must spread the significance of organ donation amongst villagers and children” said Chameli’s father. “Wow! It’s my pleasure” clapped little Chameli excitedly. “Very good my dear” Chameli’s father appreciated her.  “You can request your close friends to join you in the evening after the school hours.  I will collect printed materials from Dr. Gayathri and handover to you.  You start distributing the pamphlets and disseminate the significance of organ donation to the villagers.  Dadaji’s presence and reputation in the village would help you”. Dadaji also felt the proposal very good and fruitful. Thus, Dadaji and Chameli with a few students visited the villagers and educated them about organ donation.  Initially, the idea was found unacceptable by majority of the villagers but slowly they could understand the value of such a divine act by which lives could be saved.  Dadaji narrated many examples where one man’s decision could even give life to multiple people as different organs were transplanted to different people. Dadaji, along with Priya’s father, met Dr. Gayathri and discussed about kidney transplantation for Priya’s mother.  Chameli and her friends visited each and every house in the village and raised a fund for the necessary surgery of Priya’s mother.  Luckily, they got a donor too. Thus, Priya’s mother’s kidney transplantation got done successfully.  Dr. Gayathri appreciated Dadaji and the children for their initiative and support.  Villagers realized the value of organ donation and transplantation.  Many people came forward and registered their names for organ donation.  Local news papers published the matter for wider publicity. “Thank you Chameli”, said little Priya with tears in her eyes. Chameli hugged little Priya and wiped off her tears.  Everyone clapped.  Priya’s father distributed sweets to everybody.  Dadaji hugged little Chameli and appreciated her for her goodwill and hard work. Chameli stood with a placard in her hand – “Be a Hero... Be an Organ Donor”!!! Author Muraly TV is an Indian Airforce veteran and actively writing articles,poems and stories for children and grown ups. He also promotes patriotism and charity work through various activities.

A Special Annual Day Celebration Little Chameli lived with her parents in a small house on a hillock.  She excelled not only in studies but also in sports and adventurous activities. She loved Mother Nature from her heart and always tried to learn much about it.  Of course, Chameli was a very pretty little girl with a cute dimple on her cheek and shining eyes. She was passionate of doing various philanthropic activities through adventure sports as she always loved to remain as a girl with a difference.  Chameli earned laurels and awards for her academic and social welfare activities from not only the school authorities but also from the Panchayat.  Her parents motivated and supported her. It was a pleasant Friday morning.  After the Morning Prayer, the Headmistress announced in the assembly - “As you know, next week-end we are going to celebrate our Annual Day.  Unlike previous year’s celebrations, I like to see some specialty during this year’s event”. “Madam, what do you mean by specialty?” asked little Chameli surprisingly. With a smile on her face, the headmistress replied – “This year, I would like to see some sort of special activities by my students apart from the usual arts, crafts, dance, music and sports events.  Let me see if anyone can come back to me with new ideas by today evening”. The assembly got dispersed.  Chameli could not concentrate much on her class.  She finished her lunch very fast during the lunch break and sat alone under the big banyan tree in the courtyard. Chameli stared at the ants moving slowly with food grains near to her.  To Chameli, the disciplined movement of those ants looked like a battalion of soldiers marching ‘left – right, left – right’ in a rhythm.  Suddenly, a few naughty squirrels swiftly passed by Chameli and sat on the seats of the bicycles parked in the nearby parking area in a joyous mood. “Wow!!” clapped little Chameli happily as if she got an idea.  She thought for a while and ran to the teachers’ room.  Headmistress was having a casual talk with teachers after the lunch. “Excuse me, madam”, little Chameli took permission and entered the teachers’ room. “Yes Chameli, sit down and tell me”, replied the headmistress. “Madam, we will do an adventurous Mission”, Chameli said. “Mission??” exclaimed teachers asked Chameli to explain. Confidently Chameli started explaining her plans – “Our Mission will be aimed at the very purpose of ‘Protect Mother Nature - Go Green’ by planting saplings.  We will not only plant saplings at different locations but also distribute saplings to many people and disseminate the importance of protecting Mother Nature.  We will have two teams – one team on bicycles and the other team on foot.  Students on foot will cover the surrounding areas whereas cyclists will move towards far away locations from the school within the Panchayat limit.  Teachers need to help us in procuring saplings from Panchayat and Forest Department.  Students who are good at drawing and painting will make the banners, placards, signboards and stickers”, little Chameli stopped for a while and continued. “We will finalize the activities and locations day-wise from Day 1 to Day 3, during the Annual Feast.  Teachers need to help us to make this action plan.  Headmistress has to allot us at least half an hour time on all these days for the said activity.  Each team will have a leader who will further be monitored by a teacher.  We request a few teachers’ participation during the rally for support and care on the road”, said little Chameli and waited for some response from the headmistress. “Chameli, it is really a good idea and we appreciate your action plan.  So, how do you like to go about it”, the headmistress asked Chameli with a smiling face. Chameli felt very happy and thanked all the teachers.  “Madam...” continued Chameli – “I will take responsibility of making two teams and allot duties and responsibilities to each participant.  I will lead the team of cyclists.  Placards and banners will be fixed on the bicycles.  Students on foot will hold the banners and placards.  Each participant will also carry saplings along with them and distribute or plant accordingly”. “So, what is the specialty, Chameli?” asked the PT teacher. Smilingly, Chameli replied – “Sir, this is going to be an Adventurous Mission for a Social Cause.  We will not only be disseminating the significance of Go Green but also doing an adventure by long distance walking and cycling.  Participation by students in adventure sports will certainly teach them the value of physical fitness, adaptability to different tough situations, adjustments with the climate changes, value of food and water, discipline, tolerance and many such factors as we come out of our comfort zones during such adventurous rides”. Everyone liked Chameli’s idea.  Headmistress along with teachers made a proper action plan.  PT teacher took responsibility of procuring saplings in liaison with the Panchayat and Forest Officials.  Music teacher composed a few songs for the event.  Computer teacher printed different types of signage, slogans and banners.  Gardener Ramu chacha took responsibility of providing flowers to children for gifting to elderly people on the way.  Ammu aaya was made in-charge of making sufficient lemon juice. Thus, the school got ready to celebrate its Annual Day in a special way.  Hundreds of pamphlets were printed for circulation during the rally.  Pamphlets mentioned all about the significance of “Go Green”.  How the trees protect the environment and life in earth was narrated in the pamphlets in the local language so as to enable the poor villagers to read and understand.  Two children in each team were made responsible to orally narrate the significance of their Mission to the uneducated folks. As per the Day-wise Plan approved by the headmistress, children and teachers reached at many locations – one team on foot and the other on their bicycles.  Chameli was highly excited to lead her team to distant locations.  Cycling on the hilly roads was a very tough job.  The walkers too had a tough time walking on the narrow and rough pathways at many areas.  They distributed pamphlets and saplings to many people.  They themselves planted saplings at selected locations.  They experienced the toughness and the hardships while undertaking such an adventurous Mission. The said Mission could also teach them how to take care of their partner who is in danger.  A few weak students needed assistance and support from others to continue the rides at a few times.  Children learned the value of sharing and caring. On the final day, children and teachers were greeted by many Government officials in presence of villagers at the school premise. “It was just not an effort of distributing hundreds of plants but a Mission for a Social Cause in an adventurous manner by little children who are the future of Tomorrow; the Hope of our Country”, said the Panchayat President.  Officials from the District Administration appreciated the school authorities and all the children for their sincere participation in making their Annual Day a very big success with a specialty. Little Chameli was awarded with a Letter of Appreciation signed by the District Education Officer for her initiative for such a noble Social Cause in a different way.  “One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade” The DEO recited the popular Chinese proverb.  Children clapped and cheered up. “Wow!! I could do wonders just by cycling”, exclaimed little Chameli.  Suddenly, she remembered something and ran towards the big banyan tree.  She thanked the ants and squirrels. Singer cuckoo sang melodiously sitting on the branch of the big banyan tree.  Parrots too joined in the orchestra.  Naughty monkeys shook the branches and expressed their joy.  The cool breeze gently patted the children and wiped off their sweat.  Sun hid behind the clouds for a while. Little Chameli’s sweet smile blossomed with the cute dimple on her cheek.   She danced and ran around the big banyan tree out of her excitement and happiness. “Protect Mother Nature – Save Earth – Plant more Trees...” a few tiny tots were still shouting slogans while tasting the sweet toffees. What a special Annual Day Celebration!! Mother Nature silently smiled. Author Muraly TV is an Indian Airforce veteran and actively writing articles,poems and stories for children and grown ups. He also promotes patriotism and charity work through various activities.