Jyoti Basu’s pledge to serve humanity continues to be fulfilled even after his death

As per his wish declared several years ago the frail body of Marxist leader Jyoti Basu will be handed over to the State-run S.S.K.M. Hospital in Kolkatta on Tuesday. And the hospital is getting ready to receive.

On Sunday after Jyoti Basu died, Left Front chairman Biman Bose informed Gana Darpan the late leader’s body would be donated as per his wish and there was no opposition from his family.

Former chief minister Jyoti Basu’s body will be taken from funeral parlour ‘Peace Haven’ on Tuesday morning to the State secretariat, Assembly and the party headquarters before its final journey to the SSKM hospital where it will be handed over to the authorities there, the party sources said.

Brojo Ray, general secretary of Ganadarpan, the NGO where most of the Communist leaders in Bengal have donated their bodies, said Basu’s body could be used for medical research.

On April 4, 2003, India’s longest served Chief Minister Jyoti Basu had pledged his body for organ donation while inaugurating a workshop organized by Gana Darpan, an NGO promoting organ donations. While pledging his body, Basu had said, “I don’t know whether the organs of this old body of mine are still suitable for transplant. But I believe it may help medical students and researchers.”

“As a Communist, I am pledged to serve humanity till my last breath. I am happy now I will continue to serve even after my death,” Mr. Basu had written while pledging to donate his body at the function.

Mr. Basu had also pledged his eyes, which were removed after his death on Sunday by doctors of Sushrut Eye Foundation at Salt Lake. “Basu’s corneas have been kept for the Muktakeshi eye foundation,” CPI(M) sources said.

“Basu’s body will be used for medical study and research by students and research fellows,” doctors at the hospital said, while declining to give further details.

- Asian Tribune -