'Red Revolution' in 'Red Bastion'

Ratnadeep Choudhury

For sometime now, a 'Red Revolution' of a different kind has been swamping the tiny northeastern state of Tripura- also known as the 'Red Bastion of Northeast' for the 15 years long Left rule in the state. This 'Red Revolution' is however non political. Is it a spree of voluntary blood donation camps held across the state which has turned into a revolution of some sort.

Various NGOs, Clubs and associations across the state have come forward in organizing blood donation camps as a routine affair. These days, in state capital Agartala on an average two blood donation camps are held. Whether a foundation day of a school or an annual conference of an association, voluntary blood donation camps have become an inevitable part of the programme schedule to mark the day. The so called 'Red Rovolution' has been spearheaded by non other then Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar , who during his second tenure as CM has left no stone un turned to encourage the people especially the youths to turn voluntary blood donation into a mass movement. "In yesteryears blood donation was a sporadic affair here but for the past five years it has rapidly turned in amass movement, even we can call it a social festival" a senior journalist opined.

Manik Sarkar merely did not restrict himself top inspiring speeches, he makes it a point to attend voluntary blood donation camps even in the remotest corner of the state. His government has issued a complete ban on professional blood donors; his government is now on the look out for collection of blood thorough voluntary blood donations to ensure supply of safe blood to the patients. "This mass movement of voluntary blood donation is something which will be a special feature of Manik Sarkar's reign as CM, but government must ensure that modern methods of blood preservation are inplace unless this movement would be futile" opined Anjan Sengupta, a social thinker.

After getting enormous response to the call of the Chief Minister for Voluntary blood donation the state government has taken new initiatives to encourage one lakh rural people as to increase blood collection from voluntary blood donors. This was informed by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar while speaking at a recently held voluntary blood donation camp at Agartala. Chief Minister has time and again urging the private nursing homes to open their won blood banks to meet the ever increasing demand in stead of depending on government supply.

Highly placed sources from the Health Directorate informed

this correspondent that the state´s blood requirement was 17,930 units blood in 2005 of which 12,596 units were collected through voluntary blood donations camps. The state governments aim to meet the total blood requirement through voluntary blood donors. "We are encouraging clubs, social bodies, security personnel and employees´ organizations to organize blood donation camps to achieve the target" CM Manik Sarkar said at a voluntary blood donation camp. While the presence of the CM at the camps is acting as morale boosters for the organizers it is also acting as a means of eradicating social barriers.

The requirement of blood in the state was 20,452 units in last year, of which 16,348 units were received by organizing voluntary blood donation camps during the period, official sources informed. Presently, out of total blood requirement, 80 percent is collected from blood donation camps; sources added.

The Chief Minister has entrusted the Health Minister Tapan Chakraborty to take necessary steps to collect cent percent blood through voluntary blood donation camps. The state government is also actively considering for setting up a well equipped central blood bank to meet the demand in future, given the fact that Tripura registers high rate of accidents (mostly road mishaps) each year. Besides, the state government has asked the private hospitals to have their own blood banks to meet the demand

With Chief Minister Manik Sarkar leading the way, Tripura is sure to lead the nation in voluntary blood donation and the 'Red Revolution' is here to continue no matter whether the state remains a 'Red Bastion' or not.

The 'porcupine man' of Northeast

By Ratnadeep Choudhury

People can go to any extent to bear out their dare-devil acts. One such valiant dare devil is Dilip Bharadwaj, a 51 years old Pharmacy shop owner from Silchar town in southern Assam who can pierce thousand of disposable syringe needle in his body.

Recently Bharadwaj stunned the people of Agartala where in a show he pierced more than 6,000 disposable needles into his body. The astonishing act has also earned him the title of 'porcupine man'.

"We were astonished how he could piece so many needles in his body." said Santanu Bhattacharjee, one of the spectators. Bharadwaj was invited to Agartala by a local club to attract crowds during recently held puja festival.

Talking to Northeast Sun, Bharadwaj said "I had been performing this act for past few years. I would like to break the world record for piercing most number of needles. I desperately want to make it to the Guinness Book of World record". The Indian record, according to Bharadwaj, is by a person from the southern India who had pierced 1,009 needles in his body.

Piercing the body with needles did not start as a hobby for Bharadwaj. It was rather family illness that got Bharadwaj to try piercing needles in his body. "My wife Niyati was severely ill and required to take an injection, but was she scared. To inspire her I pierced my body and it went on." Bharadwaj added. This soon turned out to be a passion for him. His son now helps him in his daring act. "I spike the needles all around my stomach and design it like a flower or an insect but I remain careful so that I do not hurt myself in the process" he told reporter after the show at Agartala.

Bharadwaj has proved that with sheer courage one can perform even the most daring of acts and people of Northeast are full of courage.