| In the musty city of Allahabad, you may not notice anything about 45-year-old Mohammad Shahid Askari that would tell him apart from the ordinary citizen going about his everyday chores. But don't be mistaken, he is capable of making a difference between life and death-literally. For hundreds who have turned to him for blood donations in times of medical emergencies, he has proved to be a messiah. The same is true of his team of 1,500 blood donors, who are eager to help the needy-wherever, whenever. But Askari didn't always have the huge army of donors to fulfil what he feels is his "moral duty". When he established Inqalabi Blood Donation Association (IBDA) in July 1995, at times unused blood had to be thrown away for lack of adequate facility in the city to store and test blood. So every time a request was made, Askari would launch a frantic search for donors and arrange for blood donation on the spot and at a moment's notice. He remembers an incident when an A+ patient urgently needed blood and the suitable donor was away, attending a wedding. Without wasting any time Askari reached the donor's home with an expert and equipment. For the members of the association the sense of urgency is a natural way to react. "No life will be lost for shortage of blood," says Khursheed Naqvi, IBDA president, reaffirming his resolve to serve humanity. Today, if there is no shortage of blood in the city's blood banks, the credit goes to the perseverance of Askari and his team and a growing number of voluntary donors. The association even counsels the donors who are found suffering from some disease. As secretary of IBDA, Askari has organised more than 40 blood donation camps. And he leads by example, himself donating blood from time to time. So on Thalassemia Day (May 8) he was there to donate blood. It didn't matter that the drive was organised by some other group. Askari's commitment is born of experience, for he has been through the situation when he was injured and arranging blood was difficult. IBDA may not be receiving any government grant but its efforts have not gone unnoticed. At a function on May 12, former Uttar Pradesh Assembly speaker Kesari Nath Tripathi honoured Askari for the social work done by him. Awards encourage but they are not the motivation for his work. If you listen to Askari carefully, you will sense in him an uncommon lack of yearning for gratitude. "It is not that we oblige anybody in donating blood," he says, revealing a purity of purpose and the confidence of a man who knows his team shares his dedication. It is this approach and zest that set IBDA apart from sundry blood donors. Index
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