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A remarkable transformation

CUTTACK: V. Prithvi Raj was an active member of an atheist club in Kerala during the 60s. In the year 1969, Raj was allegedly picked up by the club to assassinate Sri Sathya Sai Baba of Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh. Having just completed college educated then, the 19-year-old Raj considered the club’s assignment a privilege. Without a second thought, Raj allegedly set out to accomplish the mission. But, after reaching Prashanti Nilayam, the abode of Baba, he experienced a complete change in his character and became a strong devotee of Sai Baba.

Currently a practising lawyer in the High Court and a member of at least 30 social and spiritual organisations, Raj holds the record of donating blood for the maximum number of times in the State. Raj claims that Sri Sathya Sai Baba had asked him to donate blood for at least 108 times to wash off the sins he had committed till then.

It was in 1972 that Raj had the first opportunity to donate blood. It was to save the life of a cricketer in New Delhi. Incidentally, the batsman was severely hurt by a nasty ball from Raj during a match. “Since then, I have been donating blood once in every three months without fail. The last occasion I donated blood for the 140th time was on the World Blood Donation Day,” says a delighted Raj. Local Red Cross Blood Bank authorities also confirm this.

Born in Urakam village in Trichur district of Kerala in March 1950, Raj is a multi-faceted personality. Besides being a veterinary surgeon, he holds a master’s degree in arts, a degree in law and a diploma in several other subjects. But he preferred a career in law and enrolled himself in the High Court in 1976. On his choice of profession and place of work, Raj says: “By being an advocate you are more aware of your rights. Orissa is a perfect place to do social service.” Although Raj ekes out a living by practising law, he is better known in the State and outside for his philanthropies and association with social organisations.

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