OPERATION “LIFE”

He is a tree of life which blossomed in the desert of "Anantapur" in South India. He is a tireless crusader for "blood donation." He believes in the power of blood which comes to the rescue of those battling for life out there in a hospital. Availability of a blood bank means a lot to the family of the man admitted with critical injuries in a hospital. Everything lies in shambles in a public hospital in India where mostly the have-nots go for treatment. The doctor tells the poor patient's family members that their man will not survive due to blood loss and advices the patient's family to fend for themselves. That is the most desperate moment in the life of some one struggling to live. A shattered family members make desperate calls to trace Good Samaritans, if any, who would organise blood donation for cash or for free. However, things changed with the arrival of star of hope on the horizon. The Star of Hope is none other than Tarimela Amarnath Reddy who gave birth to a massive movement campaigning for blood donors. He was a good Samaritan to millions of poor, illiterate, voiceless and helpless people. Another offshoot of his tree of life is Salim Malik who drew inspiration from Reddy. When one talks about the greatness of a man, they attribute his greatness to the institution which nurtured and groomed him to what he or she is. Mr.Reddy is quite different. He had given birth to life giving institutions which over the years had built a mass movement creating awareness on the need to donate blood and build a reservoir of blood (donors) to come to the rescue of them whose life is fast ebbing out.

He organized the first blood mobilisation camp in the year 1994, 26th of June and ever since he never looked back. He knew his life’s purpose and he was determined to pursue it not just as an extra-curricular activity but to transform it into a bloody revolution. His mission was a resounding success and today his message of “blood donation” had fanned out into 18 districts with a population of more than 40 million people. Mr.Reddy’s target was the youth. Many young people who never knew the value of life realized it after listening to the inspiring speeches of Mr. Tarimela Amarnath Reddy. Students and Youth listen to him in awe and admiration as he narrated several lively experiences of the life giving movement he had been spearheading since 1994. Hundreds of organizations espousing the cause of blood donation sprouted up in more than half of the territory of the Federal State of Andhra Pradesh in India. The 61 year old Mr. Reddy had donated blood 44 times dispelling fears and apprehensions that one would lose his life if he donated blood to another needy.