While so many of us ambitious Indians in our early 20s are caught up in the rat race of earning big money or completing lavish bucket lists full of exotic holiday destinations, there are a few others who are focused on saving the world, albeit quietly. Meet Utkarsh Kawatra, an IIT graduate from Delhi. At first glance, he seems like any other dashing hire at a plush investment firm trying to find a firm foothold in his company's promotion ladder. But one phone call later, the entire scenario changes. He picks up his mobile apologetically during a casual coffee session and answers urgently. The caller on the other end mentions something that tenses up his brows. "Sir, we don't have a hub in your city yet, but if you send me your requirements, how much blood you need, what's the blood group that's required, I can try arranging something for you as soon as possible," he replies with man-on-a-mission urgency. The caller thanks him and he breaks into a dimpled smile, "It's in our blood to save lives, sir."
Kawatra's Superman avatar makes me feel inadequate. At just 24, he is the co-founder of BloodConnect, India's largest youth-run NGO solving the nationwide problem of blood shortage in the country. As of date, the organisation has collected 17,000 units from 200 donation drives, saving almost 30,000.
