Minister for Health M. Subramanian visits the family in Saidapet
The Rangasayee family in Saidapet has been setting an example for eye and body donation. On October 9, when 85-year-old Prema R died her three sons — Vasudevan, Ethirajan and Ranganathan — decided to hand over her body for anatomical studies and her eye for donation, a voluntary act they did even when their father died in 2017.
The joint family live in a 100-year-old house at Perumal Koil Street in Saidapet and have had conversations about pledging organs and seeking consent from family members well in advance.
R. Prema and R. Kamalanabhan
The three brothers have read many news reports that highlighted the shortage of cadaver bodies for educational use.
Sankara Nethralaya thanked the brothers for informing them promptly even in their hour of grief and donating the eyes of their mother. The body was given to Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute.
Ranganathan says his paternal grandmother had also donated her eyes after her death.
“My mother had pledged to donate her eye in 2014 itself; it was important that family members agree to fulfil that wish in the midst of their grief,” says Ethirajan, a certified coach with International Table Tennis Federation. The TT player is an active blood donor for three decades. He says to encourage more people to donate bodies of their deceased family members the procedure should be made easier; and as is done in the case of organ donation, their contribution must be acknowledged in some way.
“We want to send out the message that more people should come forward to do this form of donation,” says Ranganathan.
Minister for Health M. Subramanian paid last respects to the departed, visiting the family’s house.
Published – November 01, 2025 05:22 pm IST
