Chennai: Weddings are synonymous with abundance of joy, food and, of course, meeting and rebonding with long-lost friends and relatives. However, M Chella Kumar and C Sivaranjini tied the knot with a cause.
On 4 November, not only did the couple host their reception, but also donated their organs, along with their family members’, to create awareness.
” We got engaged July this year, post which I accidentally came across several news reports that said Tamilnadu has recorded minimum number of organ donations. Since then I was pondering to donate my organs and, luckily, it happened during my wedding,” says the newly-wed bridegroom.
He further states that people do not hesitate to donate blood but not their organs. “They have some kind of mental block that stops them from gifting their body parts. We need to realise that we would be buried or cremated and be of no use once we die. Knowing that, we, humans should be willing to do such simple acts, be grateful to society and save lives,” adds the 28-year-old research scholar of Presidency College, Chella Kumar.
Tamilnadu has the highest number of organ donors and is a pioneer in performing transplant surgeries in the entire country. “Tamilnadu has completed 10 years since it created the revolution. However, it is just not a matter of pride. Despite achieving so much, there are still needy patients waiting for organs,” Chella Kumar explains.
Along with Chella Kumar and his wife, his parents, brother and sister-in-law also voluntarily agreed without any aversions and, naturally, things fell in place.
Talking about how it all happened, he says, “I first decided to inform my brother and sister-in-law, who did not show any objection but were also willing to donate their organs.”
While his parents were busy preparing for his wedding, Chella Kumar told them about his decision and certainly they did not see it coming. But to his surprise, they agreed to donate their organs, too.
“I got to know that my wife had also tried to donate her eyes, but could not get through the process. When I told her this, she was happy to join me,” adds an elated Chella Kumar.
Having done his bit for society, Chella Kumar aspires to do something bigger than this soon.