Ashok Kaura
India Post News Service
PHAGWARA: In an extraordinary testament to compassion and humanity, the late Monica Dhingra has transformed the tragedy of her passing into hope for seven individuals, proving that life can continue beyond death through the noble act of organ donation.
Originally from Chandigarh, Monica Dhingra moved to Phagwara after marrying Rajinder Dhingra in 1981. A devoted wife and mother to two children—daughter Cherry and son Anmol—she built a life rooted in service, resilience, and quiet leadership. Cherry moved to Australia in 2007 after completing her MBA in India, followed by Anmol in 2013. In 2015, the family reunited in Melbourne, where Monica’s spirit of service flourished even more vibrantly.
Well known and deeply respected within Melbourne’s Indian community, particularly among seniors, Monica Dhingra quickly became a pillar of support wherever she went. After becoming a permanent resident, she embraced independence, learned to drive, and began a career in security—the first professional role of her life. More importantly, she dedicated herself wholeheartedly to community organizations including Compassionate Hand, NRISA, Indian Aus Association, SEWA, ISCA, Sahara, and Asha Global Foundation, and was actively involved in events organized by the Consulate General of India. She also became a member of the Australian Labor Party, reflecting her commitment to civic engagement.
A passionate follower of the Art of Living movement, Monica firmly believed in meditation and inner well-being, often encouraging even strangers to embrace mindfulness. Her children fondly recall her daily walks, during which she would gently introduce others to meditation—acts that today continue to guide her family through grief.
Tragically, Monica suffered a severe stroke and was hospitalized, where her condition gradually deteriorated. As doctors informed the family that time was running out, a difficult yet defining question was asked. With remarkable courage and clarity, her husband Rajinder Dhingra, supported by Cherry and Anmol, consented to donate her organs—honoring what they believed to be her unspoken wish.
That decision resulted in seven lives being saved or transformed. Monica Dhingra’s lungs were transplanted into an adult woman, her liver into an adult man, and her two kidneys into two adult women. Her corneas will soon restore sight to two individuals, while her heart valves and cardiac tissue have been preserved for life-saving transplantation. In death, she became a source of life for others.
The family later shared that just weeks before her stroke, Monica had brought home an organ donation form from Compassionate Hand, indicating that the idea of giving life beyond her own had already crossed her mind. Though the form remained unsigned, her values spoke louder than paperwork.
In Hindu philosophy, the belief in seven lives symbolizes spiritual evolution and liberation. For the Dhingra family, there is profound solace in knowing that Monica’s final act touched seven lives directly—each one carrying a part of her forward.
To honor her memory and pray for the eternal peace of her departed soul, the Dhingra family has now arrived in Phagwara and will organize a prayer meeting on December 28 at Geeta Bhawan, Phagwara. Family members, friends, and well-wishers are expected to gather to remember a woman whose life and legacy continue to inspire countless others.
Today, while her physical presence is gone, Monica Dhingra lives on in seven people—breathing through their lungs, seeing through their eyes, and living through the second chance she gave them. Her story stands as a powerful reminder that organ donation does not end a life; it multiplies it.
Her life—and her final selfless decision—serve as an enduring call to society: in choosing to donate organs, one gives not just organs, but hope, dignity, and life itself.
