Ravi Dixit, a 20-year-old squash player who won gold in the 2010 Asian junior championship, has "auctioned" his kidney to fund his campaign for next month's South Asian Games. Dixit has posted on social media that he wants to sell his kidney and asked interested buyers to bid for it.
"I have been playing squash for the last 10 years. Even after winning so many medals and representing India so many times, I do not get any support to take my squash to the national and international levels," Dixit said. "Dhampur Sugar Mill has supported me but how long will they continue to support me? Next month, the games are starting in Guwahati and I am representing India. To prepare for the tournament, I am training in Chennai but I have not been able to arrange enough money to fund my campaign for the games. I have lost my determination. I am ready to sell my kidney. If anyone needs a kidney, they can contact me. The price of my kidney is Rs 800,000,” he said in a Facebook post.
Dixit's attempt to sell his kidney, illegal under law, has his parents worried. Ramkailash Dixit, his father, said, "I have spoken to Ravi. He is in Chennai right now but I spoke to him on the phone. His mother and I are imploring him not to take the step. Together, we will figure out a way to deal with this crisis. This way, he will ruin both his life and career. I am saddened to hear that my son is taking such a drastic measure. I funded my daughter's wedding with Ravi's prize money. Since he has to support the family as well, he cannot use much of what he gets for himself."
Dixit's mother, Sarvesh, added, "My husband is a class-IV employee at the Dhampur Sugar Mill. It is very difficult for us to support the family on his income alone. The mill has been very generous in its support to Ravi's career but we are too embarrassed to ask them for more help."
An official at the mill, Vijay Gupta, on learning that the squash player had gone to social media with his plans to auction his kidney, said, "The mill has always supported Ravi in his endeavour. We wish he had come to us before doing such a thing. We will speak to him and do whatever we can to help him." Dixit has, however, received some support from a few politicians.
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A spur of the moment comment: Ravi Dixit
Ravi Dixit on Tuesday clarified that he doesn't intend to sell his kidneys to pursue his career and "his spur of the moment" remark was blown out of proportion. Dixit said he was sorry about his comment and did not realise that a post on Facebook would attract so much attention. Dixit, in a hand written letter to president of the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI), said he would continue playing the game. "Squash is my life and I wish to continue playing it. I am keen to pursue the game as my career and would continuously look for sponsors. I never intended to sell my kidney and it was a spur of the moment statement for which I am sorry. I apologise to my family and the people who have supported me," Dixit added.
