Ganguly's gesture to ailing boy

People talk about Steve Waugh's good deeds in Kolkata. Waugh has been funding a children's home called Udayan. But Kolkata's own prince Sourav Ganguly is also not lagging behind. The Indian captain has decided to auction one of his signed cricket bats to raise funds for a 10-year old boy. The youngster, whose name is Bidurin Chakrabarty stays in Siliguri and needs a bone marrow transplant immediately. Ganguly will himself be present at the auction which takes place on January 30.

Talking over the phone, Ganguly stated that he was proud to be associated with such an event. "A bone marrow transplantaion costs something to the tune of Rs 10 lakhs. So if I can contribute in raising a part of the amount, I will feel that I have done something for the boy. Like everyone else, he also deserves a chance to enjoy life."

The entire project is being looked after by the State Urban Development Minister Ashok Bhattacharya. The Minister had approached Ganguly, when the latter had been playing the Ranji Trophy match against Orissa. Ganguly, on hearing about the proposal, readily agreed. Ganguly will only auction one of his bats. He however, did not specify as to which bat he would put up for auction.