CHENNAI: S T Mariappan, an ex-serviceman, not only pledged his body for research but also inspired his family members to follow suit.
The honorary flight lieutenant who served in the Indian Air Force for 36 years, passed away on May 12, aged 82. Stanley Medical College received his mortal remains from family members soon after. “It was my father’s wish. My father believed that even after death, a human being should serve some purpose. He believed that it can be achieved by donating one’s body to help medical research,” said his son, Captain M Kannan, in a memorial meeting held in Mariappan’s honour.
Old habits really did die hard for Mariappan. He was a strict disciplinarian, who led a healthy life till his last breath, recounted Kannan. “For a serviceman who had witnessed proceedings of the Indo-China and Indo-Pakistan war of the 60s and 70s, Mariappan used to spend some of his retirement time watching conflict films and documentaries,” he added.
“He used to remark at the bodies piled up and say that they would all be going to waste, if it were cremated or buried. And that is when he decided to give up his body after he died. Though he didn’t make a pledge by himself, we knew that it is what he would have wished. In fact, our mother came forward to donate,” said Mariappan’s daughter, Dr Manju Gnanasekaran.
She also recounted how her father’s deed has persuaded herself and other family members to donate their bodies. “We are all set on that. Even the next generation in our family would prefer to do so, though it is their individual choice,” she added.
