“To be kind is good. To give back without expecting anything in return is better”. Social service has and will always be treated as a value-based profession in our society. Social reformers often volunteer through community organizations free of charge. Sharad Singh Kumre, a social reformer, and environmentalist from Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh has donated blood over 90 times, organized more than 150 times blood donation camps, and planted more than 5.5 lakh trees. From donating blood to planting trees, Sharad Kumre is a man of inspiration. He has not just saved several lives by donating blood but also created new ones by planting trees. His motto in life is to help people, society, animals, and nature and work for the nation in any way that is possible. His message to people is to invest one’s energy to uplift others’ lives rather than pulling them down.
Early years and Education
Sharad Singh Kumre was born on 11th January 1971 in Jawarkathi village in Madhya Pradesh. His father, Shri Dhannalal Kumre, is a farmer while his mother, Mrs Fulbati kumre is a homemaker. He belonged to well to do family in his childhood. But due to some circumstances, they faced financial crisis and he had to drop out of studies to do labor work. He is the youngest of 3 elder brothers and an elder sister.
He gives credit to his parents that he is an environmentalist. As they were close to nature, he knows its value very early.
The beginning of his journey
At the young age of 17, Kumre donated blood to his father. He organized his first blood donation camp for the victims during the Mumbai riots in 1993. He started Parakram Jansevi Sansthan an NGO in 2006 with the support of the Ex. DGP Arun Gurtoo of MP to fight against corruption, to get social harmony, and education for children.
In return, he gifts plants to all donors. He also started an eco-friendly petrol pump that works completely on solar energy.
He has many idealists in the field of Social work, like Samrat Ashok, Chandragupt Maurya, Chanakya, Bhagat Singh, Adivasi Sangathan’s leader Bhil, monarch Shankar Shah and his son Raghunath Shah from Jabalpur, MP who fought against Britishers, APJ Abdul Kalam, Mother Teresa, Lord Buddha, Lord Mahavir, Shivaji Maharaj, Zalkari Bai, Guru Govind Singh, Guru Nanak.
Struggles and Hindrances
Due to several fights against corruption in Maulana Azad Rashtriya Prodhyogiki Sansthan, Kumre lost almost everything and his life was in danger too. He was fighting against powerful people who had support from some political leaders. His wife, Laxmi, got threats of termination and emptying the house as she was working in the same institute (MANIT). They tried to threaten him for life, harass his wife, stole his car and cycle, etc.
Due to these circumstances, he sold his houses and left his job to give his full time for social work in NGO. He got inspired to do social work for society and nature when his sister died in a terrorist attack in 2001. After that, he took an oath to live for the company and society.
He had seen a great struggle socially, financially, life threats, etc. The fight against corruption was a blessing in disguise and he won the fight. During the fight, many people left him and many people supported him. But his parents and elders were worried for him and his family. His elder brothers, sisters, sister-in-laws helped him in his education. His wife is taking care of family responsibilities since a day Sharad Kumre left his job. Dr. Laxmi also donated blood for more than 30 times.
He also fought for an Anti-Corruption protest in NITTTR in Bhopal when Shri Anna Hazare started the mission to make India corruption-free. He led Madhya Pradesh for this and worked hard, did a hunger strike, and went to jail too. He also started a movement to ban alcohol with help of females. He worked for social Harmony.
He leads PARYAVARAN BACHAO ANDOLAN through which he saves nature and the environment and gathers like-minded people, JAAGO BHARAT ABHIYAAN through which he makes people aware of their rights, and SANVIDHAN BACHAO ANDOLAN through which he tries to get justice for people. He feels people should be aware of their rights and duties towards the nation.
He also participated in the protest and hunger strike along with Anna Hazare and Arwind Kejriwal for the anti-corruption movement in 2011. He joined Aam Aadmi Party for a brief period. He fought election in 2018 as president of the Rashtriya Aamjan Party in Dakshin Pashchim Assembly Bhopal.
What’s in the future?
He plans to donate blood at least 100 times. He also wants to donate his body for compost in the future. By this he feels, we can save the environment by not burning bodies.
In the future, he also wants to work more for society and nature and wants to form a bigger community of like-minded ambitious people.
