Pabitra Mohan Sahoo
Pabitra Mohan Sahoo 
| |
|---|---|
 Indian Air Force Veteran & Blood Donation Champion | |
| Born | 09 June 1971 |
| Birth Place | Odisha, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Chargeman, NALCO; Former Indian Air Force Airman; Blood Donation Activist |
| Known for | 127 Blood Donations, Kargil Conflict Service, Community Blood Donation Camps |
| Military Service | Indian Air Force, 1989–2009 |
| Conflict | Kargil War, 1999 |
| Current Employer | National Aluminium Company (NALCO), Damanjodi |
| Blood Donations | 127 (as of 2026) |
| Pabitra Mohan Sahoo | |
Pabitra Mohan Sahoo is an Indian Air Force veteran, blood donation champion, and community health activist from Odisha. He served in the Indian Air Force for 20 years from 1989 to 2009, including active participation in the Kargil War of 1999. Following his military service, he joined the National Aluminium Company (NALCO) in Damanjodi, Koraput, Odisha, where he currently serves as a Chargeman.
Beyond his military and professional career, Pabitra Mohan Sahoo is celebrated across Odisha as a remarkable blood donation activist. Having donated blood 127 times over the course of more than three decades, and having organised numerous blood donation camps to inspire youth, he has become a symbol of selfless service and humanitarian commitment. His unwavering vision — that no one should die for want of blood — has guided his extraordinary journey of giving life to others.
Early Life and Background
Pabitra Mohan Sahoo was born on 9 June 1971 in Odisha, India. He was born and brought up in Odisha and completed his 10+2 education before embarking on a life of service to the nation. His early years instilled in him a strong sense of duty, discipline, and compassion for fellow human beings — values that would define both his military career and his humanitarian work as a blood donor.
Military Career
Indian Air Force (1989–2009)
In 1989, immediately after completing his 10+2 education, Pabitra Mohan Sahoo joined the Indian Air Force as an Airman in a non-technical trade — a decision that marked the beginning of two decades of dedicated national service. Over his 20-year career in the Indian Air Force, he demonstrated exemplary commitment, discipline, and courage in serving the nation.
Kargil Conflict, 1999
One of the most defining chapters of his military career was his active participation in the Kargil War of 1999 — one of the most significant armed conflicts in post-independence India. His service during the Kargil conflict stands as a testament to his bravery and dedication to national security.
After completing 20 years of distinguished service, Pabitra Mohan Sahoo retired from the Indian Air Force in 2009.
Post-Military Career =
Following his honourable discharge from the Indian Air Force in 2009, Pabitra Mohan Sahoo was selected as a Technician at National Aluminium Company (NALCO), one of India's leading public sector enterprises in the aluminium industry. He is currently serving at the NALCO facility in Damanjodi, Koraput district, Odisha, in the capacity of Chargeman.
Blood Donation Mission
The Beginning
On 7 February 1990 — just months after joining the Indian Air Force — Pabitra Mohan Sahoo donated blood for the first time. The recipient of that first donation offered him counsel that would change the course of his life: to continue donating blood and help mankind in times of emergency. He took those words to heart, and from that day forward, blood donation became a lifelong mission.
127 Donations and Counting
Over more than three decades of unwavering commitment, Pabitra Mohan Sahoo has donated blood 127 times — a feat that places him among the most prolific voluntary blood donors in Odisha. Each donation represents a potential life saved, and collectively his contributions have made a profound impact on patients in need across the region.
Community Blood Donation Camps
Beyond his own personal donations, Pabitra Mohan Sahoo has been a driving force in organising blood donation camps across his community, with a particular focus on motivating and inspiring today's youth to embrace voluntary blood donation. His camps have served as platforms for awareness, education, and collective action in addressing the chronic shortage of safe blood in hospitals and medical centres.
Vision
His mission is captured in a simple yet powerful conviction:
No one should die for want of blood.
This vision continues to drive his tireless efforts as a blood donation activist, community organiser, and humanitarian.
Awards and Recognition
Pabitra Mohan Sahoo has been honoured with numerous awards and recognitions at the district, state, and national level for his extraordinary service — both as a military veteran and as a blood donation champion:
- Rastradeep Bisuba Samman 2021 — Awarded by Rastradeep Prasara Samiti, Damanjodi, for exceptional community contribution
- Rastriya Gaurav Puraskar — Conferred on 26 January 2026 (Republic Day) for outstanding national service
- Example for Others Certificate — Recognising him as an inspiration and role model for the community
- Swami Vivekananda Rashtriya Gaurav Seva Samman — National honour for distinguished humanitarian service
- Rakt Veer Samman 2026 — Awarded in recognition of his exceptional and sustained contribution to voluntary blood donation
- National Veer Ratan Award 2025 — National recognition for valour and humanitarian excellence
- 79th Independence Day Certificate of Recognition — Awarded for donating 123 units of blood in Koraput District, presented on India's 79th Independence Day
- Atal Bihari Vajpayee Lifetime Achievement Award 2026 — Prestigious lifetime recognition for decades of selfless service to the nation and community
- Recognition by Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital — Felicitated on the 79th Independence Day for his outstanding contribution to blood donation
Personal Life
Pabitra Mohan Sahoo continues to live and serve in Damanjodi, Koraput, Odisha, where he remains as committed as ever to his twin missions of professional excellence and humanitarian service. A veteran who answered his nation's call in war, he continues to answer the silent call of patients in need — one blood donation at a time. His life stands as a living testimony to the values of courage, compassion, and selfless service.