
A crusader of organ donation in India passed away in Pune. She was Ms.Nayan Dhamdhere.
In both sickness and health she promoted organ donation in India with her full zeal. She worked for this mission from her hometown Pune and in the work she was helped by her husband Mr.Rajan and her father in law. She constantly organized campaigns on organ donation, distributed posters in English and Marathi, organized road shows and addressed meetings. She was so popular that she was often called to counsel families for organs in the event of brain death taking place at a local hospital in Pune.
At one stage she even stood up alone against the Maharastra organ-sharing network called ZTCC- opposing their policy that organs that originated in Maharastra would stay in that state; even if they were wasted and there were no takers of the organ there. She threatened to go on indefinite hunger fast on the issue in front of the state assembly, till in till she received a high level assurance that the matter would be looked into. Forming the first ever "Liver Patient Support Group' in India she appeared in front of the Human Rights Commission to project her views on organ donation. She constantly worked for the cause even when she was low on her health. On many occasions she answered over 100 phone calls a day on the subject. Nayan was close to many in the medical fraternity. Some admired her and some were even were scared her of her guts and her free spirit. She always had the support of MOHAN Foundation as she was a true member and volunteer of the Foundation. Looking at her zeal she was appointed the Co-ordinator for leading the organ donation movement in Maharastra.
If India had a few crusaders like her in the field of organ donation we would never have shortage of organs and the cadaver organ donation programme would just take off. Everyone who believes in the cause of organ donation should bow their head in respect of this noble soul. If you wish to send your condolences you can mail at info@mohanfoundation.org and this will be forwarded to her family. May her soul rest in peace.