M A I N   N E W S

A hard push for life after death
Sarbjit Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Among the public spirited souls being talked about include Asian gold and silver medallist in 400 metres and 200 metres, respectively, Ajmer Singh. The other is Amrik Singh Gill, who has served in various countries as agriculture adviser, his wife Rajinder Kaur Gill, who retired as professor in biology from Government College, Ludhiana, and Brig H.S. Cheema (retd) and his wife Rajinder Kaur Cheema.

(From left) Prof Rajinder Kaur Gill, Ajmer Singh and Amrik Singh Gill. — Tribune photo by Vicky Gharu

They all have decided to donate their bodies to medical colleges and research institutes for an effective classroom and laboratory training of students and to sustain an optimal pace of medical research.

Talking to The Tribune, Ajmer Singh, who won medals in the Asian Games held in Bangkok in 1966 and also represented the country in the Olympics, said, “My friend Amrik Singh Gill has motivated me to join the body donation campaign.”

He said he had informed his family members about his decision and got the necessary formalities completed from the PGI.

Amrik Singh Gill said, “God has very kind to me. I am a fulfilled person. But I do not want to follow the beaten track. I am keen that my body should be utilised for some social purpose,” he adds.

In fact, on the call given by Amrik Singh, the Welfare Association of Phase-2, Mohali, has decided to observe year 2008 as the year for creating general awareness among the public in favour of voluntary donation of bodies to medical colleges. “A great happening is occurring in a small part of Mohali,” adds Ajmer Singh.

Gill said there were others also who had got themselves registered with the PGI with the purpose of donating their bodies. “My body donation registration number is -3189,” he adds. “Donating dead bodies for training of medical students and for research is morally correct, socially sustainable and environment friendly. Burning them not only further adds to the environmental pollution but also heavily draws on an already scanty tree cover. Whereas international norms recommend 33 per cent tree cover, Punjab has only 3 per cent. Therefore, it is in tune and consistent with the need of the time if the benefits of donating dead bodies are highlighted,” says Amrik Singh Gill

Gill earlier started a scholarship in memory of his teacher and also got imported furniture worth Rs 20 lakh from China for Government Senior Secondary School, Talwandi Dasonda Singh, near Amritsar.