NGOs say Salman Khan is a kind-hearted man

Times of India October 15, 2002
MUMBAI: Salman Khan, who is in the midst of much bad publicity for his recent misadventures, has received support and prayers from an unexpected quarter ? from several terminally ill children, with whom he spent time.
Three non-governmental organisations, working with ill children, have written to the press, noting the charitable and humane side of Salman Khan, one which has not been much publicised earlier.
Alka Kapadia, executive director of Cancer Patients Aid Association, said, "People may call him rude, arrogant, but we've seen a side of Salman that is humane, loving and caring.'' Salman often attended their functions and interacted with the children. Kapadia recounted a programme they had organised for around 250 terminally ill patients.
"Salman came with his entire family. He met each patient. And then he surprised us by donating a sum of Rs 13 lakh. We had no inkling about it. I know many stars do charity, but no one does charity like Salman Khan,'' she said.
"One day he came to us saying he wanted to donate bone marrow. He had read about how bone marrow could save cancer patients. And he wanted to do it, little realising that the operation is extremely painful. He wasn't bothered about the pain. We explained to him that you cannot donate bone marrow like blood. There is a complicated process involved. You can donate it only after the tissues of both the patient and the donor has been matched,'' Kapadia said.
Make-A-Wish Foundation of India, in a statement, said, "Every time we have called with a wish from a terminally ill child, Salman has gone out of his way to co-operate.''
The foundation recounted how a tenth standard student Apurva Agarwal, on meeting Salman, told him of his desire to join Jai Hind College. Some months later, the boy took seriously ill and expressed a desire to speak to Salman again.
Since Salman was not in city, the organisation left a message for him. In a short while, the patient got a call from Hyderabad, where Salman was. They chatted for 40 minutes.
Meera Limaye, co-ordinator for Ashray, an organisation which deals with children and women infected with AIDS, said, "We know him as someone who's very humane, caring and loving.''
"The first time Salman came here was when he had shaved his head. The kids went hysterical about him. He was so unlike a star. He spent a couple of hours with them. A child had a skin infection, but Salman took her on his laps and played with her. All the time he was here, he was squatting on the floor and playing with all the children,'' Limaye said, adding that Salman's charity was dignified and never publicised.
"All the children here are praying for him.''

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