AGRA: Doyen of Hindi poetry, Gopal Das Neeraj , who died on Thursday, wished to be of use even after his death. His bereaved family will be fulfilling his wish to donate body to AMU’s JN Medical College to enable students learn “the intricacies of the God’s greatest creation” on Saturday.According to Neeraj’s daughter, Kundanika Sharma, “My father had given in writing to donate his body to the medical college. We will go to Aligarh on Saturday to fulfill his wish.”The poet breathed his last at the AIIMS trauma centre in the national capital. He was 93. A Padma Bhushan awardee, Neeraj had suffered a head injury following a fall at his house in Agra and was undergoing treatment at a hospital there,” said Dr Rajesh Malhotra, chief of the AIIMS trauma centre. “He was shifted to the trauma centre on Wednesday night in a critical condition. He had kidney failure, infection all over his body and head injury.” he said.The poet’s decision has again proved that he had not only lived as a great human being but died as one too. By opting to donate his body, Neeraj also set an example for others to follow.Earlier, Sharma had told TOI that her father’s body will be donated to the JN Medical College in Aligarh as per his own wish. “His body will be kept at our Balkeshwar residence in Agra for people to pay their last respects before it is donated,” she had said.According to figures given by the Anatomy department of JN Medical College, nearly 141 persons had got themselves registered for body donation over the past six years, but the hospital has received only six cadavers till date. The department actually needs at least five bodies every year for students’ training, said medical college authorities.Head of the Anatomy department of JN Medical College, Prof Tariq Zaidi told TOI that Neeraj had filled the donation form on September 15, 2016. He had signed on stamp paper in the presence of a witness and his sons. “All arrangements will be made and the body will be embalmed for preservation to be used at the right time,” he said.Before him, noted Hindi critic, Professor K P Singh, had also donated his body to JNMC.Offering his condolences on Neeraj's demise, AMU vice-chancellor, Professor Tariq Mansoor, said he is deeply saddened by the poet's sudden demise and moved by his noble gesture of donating his body to the university's Medical College. The VC added that Neeraj's death has left a void, which will never be filled.

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