Chennai war veteran’s body to further medical research

CHENNAI: It was a foggy winter morning at Ambala Cantonment when the young IAF pilot set out to join his base during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. Before leaving, he told his family that he may not return; or that his body may be found among some mangled remains of an air crash. He returned alive. And he resolved to serve the nation in his death, by donating his body for medical research.

Honorary flight lieutenant S T Mariappan died on May 12, at the age of 82. His body was draped in the Tricolour along with the IAF emblem, and a senior officer placed a wreath. Soon, a team from Stanley Medical College and Hospital received the war veteran's body.

But it was not an easy decision for the family. "There was always this psychological hurdle. We had to brace ourselves and stick to the decision of giving away his body for research. Now we are proud that we have fulfilled his wish," said his daughter Dr Manju Gnanasekaran, a gynecologist. "When we all dithered, it was our mother, Chandra Mariappan, who stood firm and signed all the documents to hand over the body," she said.

"During the course of wars, and also at peace postings, my parents attended to a lot of wounded pilots. They went to the hospital along with their families to provide them support. At times there were dead bodies of officials being killed in a crash. All these took away the fear of death. My parents believed the human body has to find a purpose in death," said Manju.