Write Comment     |     E-Mail To a Friend     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Print

The husband-wife duo, who died within days of each other, trumped deep-rooted tradition to set an example

Rajendra Kumar and Sundar Devi Golecha were ’the’ couple among family and friends. Married for 36 years, husband and wife died within a few days of each other. In a move which transcends community borders and deep-rooted tradition, both donated their bodies to medical science — a brave decision considering that the Jains cremate their dead. However, their children — a son and two daughters — are hardly surprised by their parents’ decision.
 
“We come from a conservative community, but my father was very liberal. It was not that he disregarded tradition, but he had a more pragmatic approach to it and believed in changing with the times,” said Sunil Jain, the couple’s son.  “He had talked about donating his body for years. It is significant because we cremate our dead. But he believed that it would be a waste to do that when his lifeless body could help save people.”
 
During a routine visit to his doctor in April this year, Rajendra pledged his body to St John’s Medical College. "He signed the papers and told us about it when he came home," says daughter-in-law Rupa.
 
Perhaps Rajendra had a premonition of his death. He had struggled with diabetes and hypertension and was going through a particularly difficult time in September. On Sept 15, he was admitted to St John’s hospital for complications with diabetes, died of a cardiac arrest. He was 59.
 
"He had told us not to bring him home," said Meena, his daughter. "Since he was admitted to St John’s Hospital, we completed the donation process and returned home."
 
Sundar, who had struggled with heart problems, finally lost her battle on Nov 22. She was 58 when she died. “After my father donated his body, mother too wanted to donate hers,” said Beena, one of the daughters. “But my father told her to wait and take her own decision. She had not pledged her body, but she had told us a number of times since my father passed away to donate her body. So we did not bring her body home either. It was donated to M S Ramaiah Medical College."
 
Although their parents never asked them to follow their example, the children too are now thinking of donating their bodies to medical research.