M A I N   N E W S

Saroop Krishen to live beyond death
Yoginder Gupta
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 11
He practised what he preached. As willed by him, the body of Mr Saroop Krishen, the first Chief Secretary of Haryana, who died at his residence here last night, was sent to the PGI for research and other medical purposes. He was 91.

Immediately after the body was brought to the PGI, the doctors removed his eyes for giving sight to a needy person.

A member of the Indian Civil Service (ICS), once known as the steel frame of the country, Mr Krishen lived a life shorn of pretensions and full of selfless service.

The decision to donate the body was taken on November 21, 2006, when Mr Krishen and his wife, Mrs Kanta Saroop Krishen, celebrated their 61st marriage anniversary. Both decided to donate their bodies to the PGI. After receiving consent from the PGI, Mr Krishen wrote his "first and last will in respect of my body” on November 30, 2006. He had earlier prepared a will in respect of his property.

He wrote: "I hereby declare that after my death, my body shall be placed at the disposal of the institute, which shall be at liberty to deal with or dispose off my body in any manner it takes and my heirs and relatives shall not have any objection to such manner of disposal of my body.

"If my death takes place at place other than the institute, my heirs shall be responsible for informing the institute about my death and making my body available to the institute within the shortest time.

“I have firm belief that putting of dead body at the disposal of the institute shall be better than consigning it to the flames. This is my earnest desire that this will, executed by me, is noted upon by all heirs without any reservation. My heirs will have no claim of any kind over my dead body.”

The will was witnessed by his son-in-law, Mr Manmohan Lal (Mac) Sarin.

An identical will was executed the same day by Mrs Saroop Krishen also. Incidentally, she is the founder Secretary of the Chandigarh Blood Bank Society. She was awarded Padmashri in 1971 for voluntary service.

Mr Krishen verbally directed members of his family that after his death no one should cry and no religious function should be held.

In deference to his wishes, a simple memorial meeting will be held at his residence, 83, Sector 8, Chandigarh, tomorrow. Mr Mac Sarin has appealed to the admirers of Mr Krishen to “come and light a candle” in his memory between 12 noon and 1 p.m.

The people of the region, Haryana in particular, have a lot to remember about Mr Krishen. He showed brilliance right from his childhood. After doing his masters in English, he did his LL.B.

Mr Krishen topped the Indian Civil Service examination in 1939 and joined service in November 1940. After serving in various posts, he rose to become the Financial Commissioner (Planning) in joint Punjab.

After Haryana came into existence in November 1966, Mr Krishen became its first Chief Secretary and continued in the post till his retirement in March 1973.

Unlike today’s bureaucrats and politicians, Mr Krishen meticulously followed the rules. When his younger daughter, Niti, was married to Mr Mac Sarin, now a senior advocate and former Advocate-General of Haryana, Mr Krishen told the boy’s family that since the Guest Control Act was in force, the marriage party should not exceed 50.

When their only son, Sanjiv, got married, the Krishens donated the money which they would have spent on hosting a reception to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.

Mr Krishen was a regular contributor to The Tribune. In fact, he was writing a piece for the newspaper when the death came.

The donation of Mr Krishen’s body was not without hitches. The PGI in its acceptance letter had given certain telephone numbers on which the information regarding his death could be conveyed. Last night it took Mr Sarin about two hours to inform the PGI about the death. The telephone numbers given by the PGI remained unanswered in the night.

To encourage those who may like to emulate Mr Krishen, the PGI should have a 24-hour telephone number for such cases, says Mr Sarin.

His will on body donation

Whereas I, Saroop Krishen s/o Mr Sarb Krishen resident of 83, Sector 8, Chandigarh District U.T., Retd C.S. Haryana, want to make my last Will in respect of my body. I hereby declare as under.

This Will does not cover my last Will in respect of my body. I hereby declare as under.

This Will does not cover my moveable or immoveable property.

This Will is my first and last Will regarding the disposal of my body.

That I had offered to the PGI, Chandigarh that after my death, my body would be at the disposal of the Institute and now, as that there would be no dispute regarding it and my heirs may not have any objections regarding the disposal of my body. I hereby declare that after my death, my body shall be placed at the disposal of the Institute and the Institute shall be at liberty to deal with or dispose of my body in any manner it takes and my heirs and my relatives shall not have any objection to such manner of disposal of my body.

If my death takes place at place other than the Institute, my heirs shall be responsible for informing the Institute about my death and making my body available to the Institute within the shortest time.

This Will I have made at my free will and without any pressure of any kind and because I have got first belief that putting of dead body at the disposal of the Institute shall be better than consigning the dead body to flames. This is my earnest desire that this Will executed by me is noted upon by all heirs without any reservation. My heirs will have no claim of any kind over my dead body.

Executed at Chandigarh today the 30th Nov., 2006 in the presence of witnesses who have signed in my presence.

Self drafted by Executor
Witness:
1. M.L. Sarin
Senior Advocate, 48, Sector 4, Chandigarh - 160001
Sd/- Executor