Chandigarh, October 23, 2026:In a deeply moving gesture of compassion, faith and service to humanity, the family of 90-year-old Mr. Harbans Singh, a retired government school mathematics lecturer from Gurdaspur, donated his body to the Department of Anatomy, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, on October 17, 2026, in accordance with his long-held wishes.

For Mr. Singh, the decision to donate his body was not an afterthought but a carefully considered commitment to society. He had formally recorded his wishes in a legal will on September 4, 2015, expressing his belief that even after death, the human body could continue to serve humanity through medical education, research and teaching. His three daughters, Mrs. Yadvinder Kaur, Mrs. Amandeep Kaur and Dr. Harsimran Kaur, along with other family members, honoured his wishes with pride and conviction.

Recalling their father’s decision, the daughters shared that the family felt proud to fulfil his wish. For them, the donation was not merely a final act of giving but a reflection of the values he had practised and instilled throughout his life. Even as the family coped with the loss of their beloved father, they found comfort in knowing that his final wish would contribute to the education of future doctors and the advancement of medical science.

Mr. Singh’s life was marked by a deep commitment to learning, spirituality and social responsibility. A distinguished academic, he held four postgraduate degrees in Mathematics, Political Science, History and Education. As a government school lecturer, he devoted his professional life to education, while his personal beliefs reflected a strong sense of compassion and service. He was deeply spiritual and firmly rooted in Sikh values, which shaped his outlook towards humanity and the responsibilities individuals have towards society.

For the last 12 years of his life, Mr. Singh had been living with Alzheimer’s disease. Yet, the family’s account of his life reflects the enduring influence of the principles he cherished. He held the medical profession in high regard, took a keen interest in medical science and considered the work of doctors a noble service to humanity. His commitment to helping others also found expression in his regular donations to Pingalwara, the charitable organisation known for caring for people in need.

Importantly, Mr. Singh did not believe in superstitions surrounding death. Instead, he viewed body donation as a meaningful way to give back to society, even after life had ended. His belief that the body could serve a larger purpose through medical teaching and research became the foundation of a decision that his family has now helped bring to fruition.

His daughters’ decision to honour his wishes underscores the importance of family support in body donation and highlights how an individual’s values can continue to inspire others beyond their lifetime. Their gesture also serves as a reminder that body donation is a valuable contribution to medical education, enabling medical students to develop a deeper understanding of human anatomy and strengthening the foundations of future healthcare.

The Department of Anatomy, PGIMER, Chandigarh, expressed its gratitude to the family for this noble contribution. Mr. Singh’s final act of generosity stands as a testament to his conviction that service to humanity transcends the boundaries of life and death.