By Javeed Ali
Manjot Singh Kohli is a 23-year-old Sikh girl from Udhampur district who is an activist catering to activities related to societal and human rights. Of late, her name is buzzing on news platforms particularly on social media and why not, she has come up with the inspirational act which is quite praise worthy and touching.
She is going to donate one of her kidneys for her ailing Muslimfriend who is battling for her life at SKIMS Soura in Srinagar. Her friend, a 22-year-old Samreen Akhtar from Rajouri district is suffering from organ failure and needs kidney transplant for her survival. Initially, her Samreen’s mother had expressed her willingness to donate kidney to her daughter but she was declared unfit for kidney transplantation.
When no one from the relatives of Samreen came for her rescue, they posted a message on social media seeking for any possible donor. Manjot, who is friend of Samreen for past four years was not aware about the illness of Samreen and only came to know about it through her mutual friend. She immediately called her friend to confirm whether it was her friend Samreen and she was devastated when she got to know about the malady of Samreen.
In a flash of time, she called Samreen and conveyed that she is coming to Srinagar to donate kidney to her. Next moment, she boarded flight to Srinagar and approached authorization committee at SKIMS for kidney transplant. Dozens of tests were performed on her which deemed her fit for kidney transplant. But now hospital authorities are delaying the procedure and themain hurdle is said to be the disapproval of Manjot’s family. It is said that Manjot’s family has sent a representation to SKIMS wherein they have urged hospital authorities not to perform kidney transplant on their daughter.
But Manjot is firm on her decision that she is going to save her friend’s life at any cost. She has even pledged that she will knock the doors of court if the doctors turn down her will of donating kidney to save her bosom friend.
On the other side, the father of Manjot has requested her daughter to reconsider her decision and come back to home. In a video message that has gone viral, father of Manjot can be heard saying that he is suffering from 75% disabilities and wants her daughter back home.
At a time when every soul is praising the selfless and humanitarian act of Manjot, her family is apprehensive about their daughter’s health. They have strongly rejected their daughter’s aspiration to save her friend’s life and desperately want their daughter to changer her mind.
Every religion stresses on saving humanity. They say, saving one soul is like saving whole humanity. Manjot is doing the same thing. Despite having different religious affiliations than her friend, she is more than willing to save her life by donating the important organ of her body. The uneasiness of her father is expected. After all he has already lost his wife. So he doesn’t want anymore tragedy to befall his family. But our destinies are already written by the creator. We cannot rewrite it. We can only strive for the good of humanity.
In times of extreme animosity when people are killing each other in the name of religion there is a young Sikh girl who is setting an incredible example for the communal harmony. This compassionate and human act has already won thousands of hearts and more will be inspired when she will finally donate her kidney to save a Muslim girl. Besides saving a human life it will serve as an important ingredient for the communal harmony of our state.
Let’s all pray for the good health of Samreen, Manjot and her father.
The author is a freelance writer and can be reached at [email protected]
