KOLLAM: Kidney, like blood, has no religion, but some religious fundamentalists try to inject hatred into the humane act of organ donation too. Shafi Navas, 35, from Pattambi, Palakkad, has become a victim of their mindless propaganda after he received the kidney of Lekha Namboodiri of Mavelikkara in 2012. Navas has also been facing threat to his life from extremists.
“Living in peace with the transplanted kidney along with my wife and two children has become just a dream. I am on the verge of suicide. I pray that even after my death, this issue should not be debated as a communal,” says Navas who makes a living by driving his autorickshaw in Palakkad. Denying rumours spreading in mainstream and social media, Mr. Shafi said that he had helped the donor within his capacity.
Lekha Namboodiri, who recently underwent a surgery for her backbone ailment, was offered government sponsorship and is receiving financial aid from various sections of society. A prominent newspaper had falsely reported that Shafi Navas was blamed by his relatives for accepting the kidney from a woman not belonging to his religion, which has kicked up a row against the man on the social media.
Shafi Navas is receiving several messages and anonymous phone calls blaming him and his community for this fake statement in which he has no role. “My relatives spent nearly Rs 60 lakh for the surgery on November 15, 2012. They never blamed me for accepting the kidney from her and the allegations are false. Lekha and I are on good terms and we often speak over the phone. I am indebted to her till the end of my life. There are some vested interests behind spreading allegations and taking advantage of controversies in the name of religion. Even my father who died years ago was abused by them,” Shafi Navas told DC.
Shafi was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2006 after which dialysis started for him. He later met Lekha Namboodiri, who offered to donate her kidney in 2008, and the tests for surgery were conducted in various hospitals, but surgery was not done due to various legal issues. Finally, after nearly four years, the surgery was conducted at the Medical Trust hospital in Ernakulam in 2012.
