Image Source : msn.com
In a powerful convergence of spirituality and science, the State Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation – Uttar Pradesh (SOTTO-UP) hosted a landmark awareness drive on August 3, 2025, at SGPGIMS, Lucknow. The event, titled “Faith vis-à-vis Fact: Dispelling Myths on Organ Donation from Religious Perspectives,” marked National Organ Donation Day with a multi-faith symposium and grassroots outreach initiatives aimed at bridging the gap between religious beliefs and medical realities.
Key Highlights from the Awareness Drive
The event was jointly organized by SOTTO-UP, SGPGIMS, and Aalamban Trust Associates.
A mobile SOTTO-UP Awareness Van was flagged off to facilitate donor registration and spread awareness across Uttar Pradesh.
Religious leaders from Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, and Vaishnavism addressed myths and ethical concerns surrounding organ donation.
The initiative aimed to increase deceased donor registrations, which remain critically low in India.
Faith-Based Perspectives on Organ Donation
Christianity Pastor Jerry Gibson Joy emphasized organ donation as a reflection of sacrificial love, likening it to the Eucharist. He described it as a living testimony of faith and compassion, urging Christians to embrace it as a continuation of Christ’s message of service.
Sikhism Gyani Gurjinder Singh, Head Granthi at Gurdwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha, spoke of seva (selfless service) and recounted historical acts of compassion by Sikh warriors. He called organ donation “seva of the body,” enabling one’s physical form to serve others even after death.
Islam Maulana M Yusuf Mustafa Nadvi of Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama clarified that while the body is sacred in Islam, preserving life is paramount. He cited fatwas and legal rulings that permit organ donation when done ethically and with medical justification.
Vaishnavism HG Aparimay Shyam Das of ISKCON Lucknow drew from Bhakti Yoga and Vedic teachings, describing the body as a temporary vessel meant for service. He called organ donation a charitable act aligned with daan and renunciation.
Medical and Ethical Insights
Professor Rajesh Harsvardhan, Joint Director of SOTTO-UP, highlighted the role of faith-based support in increasing deceased donor numbers.
Professor Narayan Prasad, Head of Nephrology at SGPGIMS, moderated the session and stressed the need for ethical clarity and public trust in the transplant system.
India recorded over 18,000 organ transplants in 2024, but fewer than 1,200 were from deceased donors—a gap the event aimed to address.
Community Outreach and Technology Integration
The SOTTO-UP Awareness Van, inaugurated by Padma Shri Professor Radha Krishna Dhiman, Director of SGPGIMS, is equipped with QR-based donor registration tools.
The van will travel across Uttar Pradesh to promote organ donation at the grassroots level.
Interactive sessions and pledge drives were held to engage students, healthcare workers, and local communities.
Bridging the Gap: Faith and Facts
The event underscored the importance of aligning religious values with medical ethics to dispel myths and foster acceptance. By involving spiritual leaders, the organizers aimed to create a culturally sensitive narrative that encourages voluntary organ donation.
Religious endorsement can help overcome hesitation rooted in spiritual beliefs.
Ethical transparency and community engagement are key to building trust in the transplant system.
The initiative reflects a growing recognition that faith and science can coalesce to save lives.
Conclusion
SOTTO-UP’s awareness drive on National Organ Donation Day was more than an event—it was a movement. By uniting faith and facts, it opened new pathways for dialogue, compassion, and life-saving action. As India strives to improve its organ donation rates, such inclusive and culturally resonant efforts will be pivotal in shaping a more empathetic and informed society.
Source: MSN News – August 3, 2025
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