Kashmir’s ‘Iron Lady of Red Drops’: Bilquis Ara’s 41 blood donations have saved countless lives

Srinagar, Oct 21: In a small village of north Kashmir lives a woman whose courage runs as deep as her compassion. Her name is Bilquis Ara — an ASHA worker, a mother, and a true symbol of humanity — who has silently rewritten what it means to save lives. So far, she has donated blood 41 times, each pint carrying with it a story of selflessness, resilience, and faith in the power of giving.

Bilquis’s journey as a blood donor began not from a campaign or awareness drive, but from a moment of personal crisis. In 2012, her cousin — after delivering a baby — developed serious complications and was shifted to Srinagar’s LD Hospital.

“Doctors asked us to arrange blood for her,” Bilquis recalls. “As I waited there, I saw other patients struggling for the same. That moment changed my thinking. I decided that once I recovered, I would donate blood and help others who face such helplessness.”

She kept her promise. That year marked her first donation — an act that would go on to shape a lifelong mission of compassion and courage.

But life was not done testing her resolve. Two years later, in 2014, Bilquis’s young son slipped into a coma. “He was battling for his life, and doctors asked for blood. Without thinking twice, I donated. On the same day, a family from north Kashmir was crying for A-positive blood for their child. I had already donated once that day, but something in me told me to go again,” she recalls with emotion.

“I volunteered, and as fate had it, both my son and that child survived. That day, I realised how powerful this act can be. I decided that I would continue donating blood as long as I was healthy enough to do so.”

Since that day, Bilquis has maintained a disciplined routine — donating blood every three to four months, ensuring she remains medically fit each time. Her 41 donations over the past decade stand as a testament to her unwavering spirit.

For Bilquis, blood donation is more than an act of charity — it’s a philosophy of life. “When we donate blood, we save two lives,” she explains. “The patient who receives it and the donor, who gets tested for blood infections and maintains awareness about their health. It’s a win-win situation — yet so few people understand it.”

Despite her tireless advocacy, Bilquis laments that misconceptions about blood donation persist, especially among women. “Many people still believe donating blood makes you weak. But doctors clearly say one can safely donate every four months. I have been doing it for years, and I feel healthier and stronger,” she says with quiet confidence.

Working as an ASHA worker, Bilquis often encounters women in distress during childbirth — many of whom need urgent blood transfusions. “It’s heartbreaking to see that sometimes their own family members refuse to donate. They prefer to arrange it from outside, which delays treatment and puts lives at risk,” she says. “We need to change this mindset. Blood donation should be seen as a duty, not a favour.”

Beyond her own contributions, Bilquis has also become a mentor and motivator in her community. She volunteers with ‘Red Drop’, an organisation dedicated to arranging blood for accident victims and critically ill patients. Through this group, she has inspired several others — including young men and women — to register as regular donors.

Her husband, a schoolteacher, stands firmly beside her in this mission. “He has always supported me,” she says warmly. “Whenever there’s a call for help, he encourages me to go. He knows how much it means to me.”

Over the years, Bilquis has seen both tears and smiles at blood banks and hospitals. For her, every pint carries an emotion — a life saved, a family’s hope restored. “I still remember the faces of people who came begging for blood. Some of them later found me to say thank you. Those words stay with me forever,” she says, her voice trembling slightly.

What drives her is not recognition but responsibility. “I don’t do this for awards or praise. I do it because someone, somewhere, is fighting for their life — and I have something that can help them win that fight,” she says simply.

As Kashmir continues to face blood shortages during emergencies and natural disasters, people like Bilquis Ara are the quiet heroes who keep the system alive. Her journey proves that one person’s commitment can ripple through an entire community — inspiring change, compassion, and courage.

“Every drop counts,” Bilquis says with a gentle smile. “Blood is the only thing that can’t be made in a factory. It has to come from one heart to another.”