Kolkata:
Earlier body donation for medical science was a trickle. But after communist leader Jyoti Basu's body was donated to medical science, that trickle has turned into something of a tidal wave. Since Sunday, when Basu died, the organisation that facilitates body donation has been swamped by calls. Almost 3000 per day and close to 100 people have already collected forms.
Seven years ago, Basu had pledged his body for medical research - a day still fresh in the minds of Brojo Roy of Ganadarpan, the NGO that pioneered body donation in Kolkata and beyond.
"Jyoti Basu pledged his body on April 4, 2003. At the time of pledging his body, he said, I was aware that Communists can serve mankind till his last breath. I was not aware that even after death, services can be made. I am proud to join the movement," Roy said.
Basu's gesture has opened the floodgates. Since 1990, when Ganadarpan oversaw the first body donation in Kolkata, there have been 1400 donations and 7 lakh pledges. Since Basu's death, Ganadarpan's volunteers have been receiving 3000 enquiries a day.
Among those who have already pledged their bodies are Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Kolkata Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya.
"What prompted me and my wife is that ultimately after death, you either burn the body or bury it, and you spoil it. Why do you spoil it if you can utilise for a better purpose," said Kolkata Mayor.
"I found that it was a laudable thing to do. After all, our medical research needs such help. They have to scurry for bodies. That appealed to me that just because someone is poor or has no relation, their bodies are not claimed and so they used for medical research. So, why not other people," said Chatterjee.
The body of the veteran Communist is currently at the anatomy department of the SSKM Hospital where doctors are yet to decide whether it can be used for dissection by students or only the skeleton salvaged. The body has no name. Only a number.
Seven years ago, Basu had pledged his body for medical research - a day still fresh in the minds of Brojo Roy of Ganadarpan, the NGO that pioneered body donation in Kolkata and beyond.
"Jyoti Basu pledged his body on April 4, 2003. At the time of pledging his body, he said, I was aware that Communists can serve mankind till his last breath. I was not aware that even after death, services can be made. I am proud to join the movement," Roy said.
Basu's gesture has opened the floodgates. Since 1990, when Ganadarpan oversaw the first body donation in Kolkata, there have been 1400 donations and 7 lakh pledges. Since Basu's death, Ganadarpan's volunteers have been receiving 3000 enquiries a day.
Among those who have already pledged their bodies are Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Kolkata Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya.
"What prompted me and my wife is that ultimately after death, you either burn the body or bury it, and you spoil it. Why do you spoil it if you can utilise for a better purpose," said Kolkata Mayor.
"I found that it was a laudable thing to do. After all, our medical research needs such help. They have to scurry for bodies. That appealed to me that just because someone is poor or has no relation, their bodies are not claimed and so they used for medical research. So, why not other people," said Chatterjee.
The body of the veteran Communist is currently at the anatomy department of the SSKM Hospital where doctors are yet to decide whether it can be used for dissection by students or only the skeleton salvaged. The body has no name. Only a number.
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