Fri Sep 13 08:47:09 UTC 2024: ## Veteran Communist Leader Sitaram Yechury Passes Away at 72
**New Delhi:** Sitaram Yechury, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), passed away on Thursday at AIIMS, Delhi, where he was undergoing treatment for an undisclosed illness. He was 72.
Yechury’s health had been deteriorating in recent days. In a testament to his commitment to medical advancements, his family has donated his body to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences for educational and research purposes.
**What Happens to Donated Bodies?**
Donated bodies undergo a process of preservation using formalin, which helps eliminate bacteria and microorganisms. This process transforms the body into a durable structure, preventing decomposition. Medical students utilize these bodies for anatomical studies, gaining invaluable insights into the human body.
While the body is used for educational purposes, it eventually deteriorates due to repeated exposure to air. The family is then informed and offered the option to retrieve the remains for final rites. Alternatively, the hospital may conduct the final rites and return the ashes to the family.
**The Significance of Body Donation**
Donated bodies serve a crucial role in advancing medical knowledge and improving patient care. Medical students and professionals utilize them to study human anatomy in detail, while surgeons and medical practitioners use them to practice new techniques, refine existing procedures, and develop safer surgical methods.
Scientists and researchers also rely on donated bodies to study diseases, the impact of medical conditions on different organs, and develop new treatments and medications.
**Tributes Pour In**
Tributes have poured in for the late communist leader, with many praising his commitment to social justice and his contribution to Indian politics. Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, expressed his condolences, noting Yechury’s profound understanding of the country and his role as a protector of India’s values.
First Piper 