Padma Shree KANTA KRISHEN, also known as “Mother”, “Didi”, or “Kantaji” breathed her last in the early hours of November 30, 2024. She was 95 years old and had been unwell, for about two weeks, due to a fall. Her late husband, Mr. Saroop Krishen, I.C.S. was the First Chief Secretary of Haryana and served for 7 years.

Kantaji, as Secretary of the Blood Bank Society, established in 1964, spearheaded the Voluntary Blood Donation Movement first in Chandigarh, then North India and finally in the country, making Chandigarh the fountain head of the safe blood movement. Her tireless work in educating the people about the harmlessness of blood donation and in motivating lakhs of people to donate blood, was recognized by the Government of India by the conferment of a Padma Shree in 1972.

She was also the recipient of the President’s Gold Medal, the Mother Teressa Award from ISBTI, Republic Day Award from Chandigarh Administration in 1996, amongst many others. She was the Secretary and then the President of the Blood Bank Society.

She was the Founder Secretary of the Indian Society of Blood Transfusion and Immunohematology for 24 years. She was a Founder Member of the Indian National Theatre, an organization to promote Indian Classical Music.

Kantaji was the spirit behind the filing of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by Common Cause which led to the landmark judgment in 1996 banning, buying and selling of blood in India. Thereafter, she was responsible for persuading the Government of India to frame the National Blood Policy. Her voluntary work spread over 6 decades has helped save millions of lives.

She had varied interests which included gardening, cooking, stitching, flower arrangements and Indian Classical Music. She excelled in whatever she did. Kantaji leaves behind a son, Sanjiv Krishen married to Deepa, 2 daughters, Anu married to Purinder Ganju and Niti Sarin married to Manmohan (Mac) Sarin. Niti and Mac are following in the footsteps of Kantaji being the Secretary and President of the Blood Bank Society, respectively. She has 7 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

She will be missed by her family, Chandigarh and the global family of blood donors. Well-wishers can join the family in celebrating her life by lighting a candle in her memory on December 1, 2024  from 11am to 1pm  at their residence #83, Sector 8, Chandigarh. As per her wishes, her body was donated to the P.G.I. for research.