An organ donation pledge by a 57-year-old man who passed away at Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital on July 29, will help between eight to 10 heart, kidney, liver, visually impaired, and burn patients.
A Pledge Made in 2016 Becomes Reality
Kabir Mehta, a software engineer with TCS who lived at Kemps Corner, had pledged to donate his organs in 2016 as part of the Shrimad Rajchandra Organ Donation Programme inspired by Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji, a Jain spiritual leader. Mehta, along with his wife Dr Bijal Mehta and daughter Dr Meera, were among the early 5,000 followers of Rakeshji to commit to the cause by not only signing the pledge, but becoming vocal advocates. The Shrimad Rajchandra Mission, founded by Rakeshji in Dharampur, Gujarat, is dedicated to the propagation of the teachings of Shrimad Rajchandra, the spiritual guru of Mahatma Gandhi.
Family Acts Swiftly in Face of Grief
Mehta passed away suddenly after he suffered a ruptured berry aneurysm caused by the weakening of a brain artery. His wife, Dr Bijal, ensured that Mehta's pledge was honored without delay. Community members recalled the composure and strength shown by Dr Bijal in the face of immense personal grief. Her awareness and swift action enabled the hospital authorities and Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre (ZTCC) to coordinate the organ retrievals and match them with patients in urgent need.
One Donor, Multiple Lives Saved
Mehta's organ donation was a life-saving gift to a male heart patient admitted at H N Reliance Foundation Hospital.The liver was received by a patient at the same hospital. The kidneys were sent to Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Navi Mumbai, and the corneas to Eye Bank Coordination and Research Centre, Wadala. The skin is sent to The National Burns Centre at Airoli, Navi Mumbai, where multiple recipients will benefit. After the organs were retrieved, Mehta's body was handed over to his family for last rites.
A Community-Driven Act of Humanity
Mehta's family said that his selfless legacy is now etched into the lives of those he saved. A representative of Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care, a social welfare group run by followers of Rakeshji, said that Mehta and his family’s decision is a profound act of humanity. "We pay our heartfelt tribute. Seeds sown a decade ago through the SRLC initiatives are bearing life-saving fruits today. Kabirbhai’s life and choices illuminate the difference one individual, inspired by the right values can make."
Bridging the Awareness Gap
The organ donation programme by the followers of Rakeshji aims to educate individuals, corporates and community forums to bust myths, and encourage conscious conversations around donation.
Mumbai’s Organ Donation Shortfall
While Mumbai recorded 60 brain-stem death donations in 2024, and 32 so far in 2025, many potential donations are lost due to lack of consent, hesitation or awareness gaps. Mehta's story underscores the irreplaceable value of early awareness and community-level dialogue, said a SRLC spokesperson.
ZTCC’s Ongoing Campaign Across Hospitals
Mehta’s generous act becomes even more poignant when set against the backdrop of a significant organ waitlist. In Mumbai alone, less than 10% of 4500-5000 individuals annually who register for an organ transplant receive one. This shortfall underscores the pressing need for greater public awareness, timely consent, and participation in organ donation initiatives. The ZTCC, which helps and promotes the cause, said it is not unusual that so many patients benefit from a single donation. "The skin, for instance, can be used by multiple recipients," said a ZTCC spokesperson.
ZTCC is observing the period between August 3 and 15 to promote the cause of organ donation at hospitals across the city. Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, Juhu, will hold a mass organ donation pledge on August 10.
