By TwoCircles.net
Aligarh, July 20: In line with India’s rich heritage of harmony, tolerance and co-existence, 93-year-old, doyen of Hindi poetry and lyricist, Gopal Das Neeraj, who passed away at AIIMS, New Delhi had donated his body for research to AMU’s Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC).
In 2016, the noted poet pledged his body to AMU. Kundanika Sharma, his daughter, said the family will hand over Neeraj’s cadaver to JNMC today to fulfil his wish.
Before him, noted Hindi critic, Professor K P Singh had also donated his body to JNMC.
Expressing his condolences on Neeraj’s demise, AMU Vice Chancellor, Professor Tariq Mansoor said that he is deeply saddened by the poet’s sudden demise and moved by his noble gesture of donating his body to the University’s Medical College. The Vice Chancellor added that Neeraj’s death has left a void, which will never be filled.
Born on January 4, 1925 in Uttar Pradesh’s Etawah, Neeraj wrote several hit Hindi film songs till the 70s and was at the peak of his career when he gave it all up for a quiet life in Aligarh. He continued to be a popular fixture at Kavi Sammelans (poetry meets), winning hearts and applause with his simple and affable style. He also wrote some Ghazals with focus on harmony. Neeraj was awarded Padma Shri in 1991 and Padma Bhushan in 2007.
He is survived by three sons and a daughter.