REMINISCENCE

Dr. Ganesh Chandra Majumder

(1943-2024)

He was a life saving physician and preceptor.To the members of "Basirhat Chowmatha Sebayan" he was truly like Lord Ganesh who helps attain success.He was the pioneer to establish "Basirhat Chowmatha Sebayan" in grand endeavor to eradicate corneal blindness.His name will be written in golden letters for the future generation to come as he was the President of our August Institution since it's inception in 1995 till his demise on 2nd May,2024. But following the compulsive law of nature it has become history.We are reminiscing him with reverent. Dr. Ganesh Chandra Majumder was born on 10th October,1943 in Ramnagar village by the bank of river Kapotakshya of Satkshira sub-division of  Khulna district at undivided India under British rule. After the end of education in village primary school he was admitted to R.K.B.K.H.C. Institution (established by Acharya P.C.Roy) in Khulna district. From there he passed the matriculate examination with his name in the merit list.Thereafter he passed intermediate examination from Dhaka Education Board and M.B.B.S.from Dhaka Medical College with merit.Then he began practising there later he went to London to acquire higher education in medical science.After his education there was over,he came back to India with the permission of Indian Government in 1968 first in Kolkata and then in Basirhat permanently he engaged himselaf in treating the patients. We all remember him for his humane mindset to find time to do his best to erdicate corneal blindness by assisting collection of eyes posthumously from 1040 donors. Even the eyes of Dr. Ganesh Chandra Majumder were donated posthumously.We deeply mourn his death.

Three decades of journey of SEBAYAN

Having founded on 5th March,1995,it reached it's 30th anniversary on 5th March,2024 with onward movement of time.Now it is like the young sun resembling newly blossomed china- rose.Foundation day was observed in its own office with all its active workers and all other members and respected guests taking part. Celebration commenced with the chopping of flowers and blazing candles decorated cake.Under the efficient directions of our convenor Sri Bikash Chandra Ghosh all the guests and members present delivered valuable speeches which were the impression of firm commitment of more developed and constructive steps SEBAYAN must take in future.Proposals of new directions to follow in treading future path were adopted in passionate and cheerful atmosphere. Sri Tapan Kumar De, Secretary and  dedicated executive committe member Sri Swapan Kumar Biswas gave inspiring speeches. Special mention must be made of Sri Dipak Kumar Saha's expectation in his speech that Sebayan must expand its activity in days to come. It is an indication of his strong belief in "Sebayan" The celebration concluded on reiterating its future course of journey keeping in mind its essential principle "Donate eyes ,Give sight"is subline.contribution.In the end sweets were distributed and curtain fell on the function. 

Our centre has been acquianted as Eye Retrieval Centre with effect from 16th October,2023. A certificate for consent to operate as Eye Retrieval Centre was conferred by the Director of Health Services ,Govt.of West Bengal in favor of us. The certificate remains valid upto 15th October,2025.

25 th August,2023,on the inagural day of the 38th National Fortnight on Eye Donation we organised a seminar on " Required Request Law and Sensitising the Hospital Staff" in the meeting hall of the office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Basirhat HD. Dr.Anupam Bhattacharya Deputy CMOH (II), DPM, NPCB & VI, Dr. Ananda Ghosh Senior Eye Surgeon, Asstt.Super, Nurses , ICCU Staff ,Paramedical staff of Basirhat District Hospital,Members of Sebayan Eye Donation Centre attended the seminar, Deputy CMOH (II),DPM, NPCB & VI elaborated the scope of the seminar and insisted the ICCU staff to persue the next kin of the dying patient to donate eyes posthumously.Dr. Ananda Ghosh also discussed on National Eye Donation Fortnight .Our mebers focused on the Required Request, Motivation and procedure to be followed  by the ICCU Staff in case of eye donation.The seminar continues for One and half hour and concluded in a vert befitting manner. 

We are proud to announce the collection of 1000th eye donors' eye balls on the 10th December,2022. SUBODH KULAVI  S/O Late Sarat Kulavi of Vill Mrizapur, Basirhat was the 1000th Eye Donor. Mr. Subodh Kulavi who was born in the year 1940 in the PUNRA village under Bajitpur Gram Panchayat and Baduria Block. Mr. Kulavi lived there upto the year 1970. Then he left the place and then shifted his family to Mrizapur,Basirhat in the year 1971. He was a man of simple habits and leads a normal life.

On the death of Mr.Subodh Kulavi on  the 10th December,2022, Mr. Tushar Guha,son-in-law of the deceased, who played a pivotale role, informed us . A group of 22(twenty two) members of Sebayan took part in the enucelation operation. It was a landmark achievement of Sebayan since it,s inception in the year 1995. Basudev Kulavi, the son of the deceased donated the eyes of the deceased father. We are thankful and acknowledged to all the members of the Kulavi family.

Very severe cyclone strom "YAAS" was a relatively strong and very damaging tropical cyclone that made landfall in Odisha and brought significant impacts to West Bengal specially in the Sundarban Coastal area on May,26,2021. People of that area lost their agricultural crops,cattels,belongings etc. Many people became homeless. The mud houses were washed out due to severe flow-tides. Team Sebayan rushed to the affected areas to help the distressed people and organised a relief operation in "PUTIMARI" village with the kits comprising of  groceries and medicines." SWAPNA SRIJANI" of  Basirhat supported us with their men and money .The relief articles were distributed amongst the distressed people of the village. 

On 30th August,2020 a campaigning on"eye donation" was organised by us at Kholapota bus stand.We distributed leaflets containing the messages on eye donation and Covid19 awareness among the public. 

35th National Fortnight Eye Donation is being observed countrywide from 25th August to 8th September,2020 complying the COVID 19 protocol. Due to the prevailing situation in  this year, the awareness programme on posthumous eye donation has been carried out in digital form using various social media platform such as Whatsapp,facebook,messenger,duo etc.using zoom meeting,webinar and video conferencing.In this year  on the very opening day of fortnight i.e on the 25th August we formally inagurated the fortnight by lighting of 35 candles and our members participated in the disussion on posthumous eye donation. A leaflet containing the details to combat and control the corona virus has been published by us with a view to aware the general public by distributing among them.   

On the occasion of our Silver Jubilee celebration two of our esteemed members Mr. Janardan Halder & Shibabrata Debnath ventured a Cycle Publicity mission from Basirhat to Puri covering a distance of nearly 600 K.M. for spreading the message of "Eye Donation & Enviornment conciousness" among the people of West Bengal and Odisha. The mission was whole heartedly supported by Rakamari Trake and Tour.The expeditionist started journey by cycle on the 2nd March,2020 and completed their mission successfully and came back to Basirhat on the 16th March,2020 safely. 

Silver Jubilee Celebration on 1st March,2020.at Bhabla-Tantra Sir Rajendra High School Auditorium.Offering Silver Jubilee Memento to the Eye Donors' Family members,the dignatories of different Eye Donation Centres around West Bengal.Taking out a commemorative on the occasion of Silver Jubilee titled as "Rajat Jayanti Smaranika-2020". Felicitation to this year "Padmasree" Dr.Arunoday Mondal, Swajan,Sundarban.       Dr. Ganesh Chandra Majumder, our President and Dr.Birendra Nath Mondal, our Ex-Vice President were also felicitated by us for their outstanding service to our organisation.

On 13th May,2020, we organised a relief operation for distribution of foodgrains,vegetables,grocery,stationery,sanitizer and other daily necessary items among the numbers of poor people who have been affected due to lockdown declared by the civic authority to combat corona viruus pandemic.Efforts are being made to arrange more relief materials for distribution to the affected people.

As on the date of hoisting the website 1940 eye balls were collected by us since the inception. 34th National Fortnight on Eye Donation was observed with utmost zest and zeal during the period from 25th August to 8th September,2019. On attaining the silver jubilee year on 5th March,2019 blood donation camp,rally, forestation were organized; Slit lamp inaugurated by the local M.L.A. for better eye care management. We are going to conclude the Silver Jubilee celebration by Organizing a rally titled as”ALOKYATRA 2020” on 29th February,2020 followed by Inauguration of a photo Gallery covering our activities during the last twenty five Years and hoisting our official website. On 1st March,2020, a “sit and draw” competition for the school children, “Immediate Speech” on eye donation for school students followed by publishing of our “Silver Jubilee Souvenir” and felicitation to Dr. Arunoday Mondal,”Sujan of Sundarban”, the “Padmasree”award winner of 2020 and the senior doctors of our Centre. A magic and Mime shows on eye donation are also arranged for entertainment.