Bangalore: He worked with Mahatma Gandhi and
participated in freedom struggle, but the 113-year-old wants
contribute in India`s development even after his death, so the
centenarian has pledged to donate his eyes for research.
The word `Living Legend` is not mere metaphor when it
comes to Pandit Sudhakar Chaturvedi, who today pledged his
eyes for research, as his age and health proving to be no bar
for this noble cause.
Chaturvedi, who worked with Mahatma Gandhi, took the
pledge at a function where he was bestowed the Living Legend
Award by IDL, a non-profit organisation working for the
betterment of the visually and physically disabled.
Though sceptical about the utility of his eyes, he agreed
to donate the organ after being convinced that it would serve
the cause of research.
"By donating my eyes,I hope to inspire many more",he
said.
The 1897-born Chaturvedi, a Vedic scholar, who still
reads newspapers and discusses reports with visitors, said he
is happy to donate his eyes for a noble cause.
He is the 50,000th person to donate his eyes during the
campaign organised by the IDL.
Popularly known as Postman to Gandhi, Chaturvedi breaks
into a toothless smile while explaining that he earned the
adage because it was he who took on the task of taking down
the letters dictated by the Mahatma and handing them over
to the Viceroys and other Governor Generals.
"I knew the Viceroys, Governor Generals and met most of
them", he said.
Chaturvedi, who participated in the Jallianwallah Bagh
protests and was arrested 31 times during the freedom
struggle, said he still works for eight hours every day.
"Age is not a state of body, it is a state of mind", said
the centenarian. According to Vedas, a pure man could live to
be 300 and I desire to live that long", the centenarian,
who teaches Vedanta, said.
"There are no short cuts in life", he said.
To those seeking recognition and appreciation,
Chaturvedi said instead of looking for some patting on the
back, one should go out and appreciate others.
The eye-donation event also saw 26/11 hero Sandeep
Krishnan`s parents renewing their pledge to donate their eyes.
"Sandeep had pledged to donate his eyes and all parts of
his body and had made us pledge our eyes. Today we have
renewed that pledge", Sandeep`s father said.
PTI
