Ashwin was a bright young man pursuing 4th year Law course at The Jindal Global Law University, Sonipat, Haryana. He was an excellent Footballer captaining his school team (Padma Seshadiri School ,Chennai) and also represented his University. He had won a Best Original paper at the National level.
He chose Law as his Career, since he felt a Lawyer can bring a change in the Society than other professionals. He was actively involved with many social activities like Sports for development in the Balgram Orphanage in Sonipat, right to food in Haryana, Right to education in Mumbai and has helped many downtrodden people.
Ashwin Maharaj R. (aged 23years) succumbed to Acute Myeloid Leukemia in October 2015.
While undergoing treatment in Chennai and subsequently in San Diego, California, Ashwin wanted to help needy cancer patients in India by bringing to them music therapy (that gave him so much of peace while undergoing treatment) and giving supplementary nutrition to the patients undergoing chemotherapy. His other visions include creating Legal Awareness amongst rural people, a project he was already working upon and bringing awareness about Stem Cell Donation
The Ashwin Maharaj Foundation was started on 23rd of December 2015 by the Family and friends of Ashwin. The Managing Trustees for the foundation are his Parents Dr. D. Ramasubramanian and Manonmani.
Music Therapy for Cancer Patients
we have been conducting music sessions for cancer patients at the Adyar Cancer Institute Chennai as a voluntary service. So far we have conducted over 150 sessions in Adyar Cancer Institute Chennai Over 42 sessions at AIIMS New Delhi and over 36 sessions at The Kidwai Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru. The patients(adults and children ) really enjoy these sessions.
We are providing High Protein Supplementary Nutrition for the Economically Poor Cancer patients who are undergoing treatment as Day Care Patients.
Patients undergoing chemotherapy requires high protein supplements to recuperate and fight the disease. We have started to provide supplementary nutrition (high protein millets grams and almonds powder to be used for making porridge). The recipe for this powder is recommended by Adyar Cancer Institute Chennai for their patients and being provided to the in-patients. Many of these patients get treated as out patients and these patients are provided with this powder under strict clean conditions.
We have been distributing this 1kg bottle to 100 patients per month at Adyar Cancer Institute since May 2016 and to 50 patients per month in Kidwai Memorial Institute Bengaluru. We are waiting for the formal approval to start this distribution in AIIMS New Delhi. Soon we are planning to start this in Mumbai and Ahmadabad.
Our future projects will be “Spreading Stem cell Donation Awareness” and “Legal awareness to rural people” which was the visions of Ashwin Maharaj.