NEW DELHI: The family of GN Saibaba informed on Sunday that the body and mortal remains of the deceased 54-year-old ex-DU professor would be donated to the state-run Gandhi Medical College.
“That has always been his wish. We have already donated his eyes to LV Prasad Eye Institute (in Hyderabad), and his body will also be donated tomorrow,” Saibaba’s daughter Manjeera told news agency PTI.
The ex-DU professor, roughly seven months after steering clear of having links with Maoists, passed away on Saturday night due to post-surgery complications at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences hospital.
Saibaba was diagnosed with a gallbladder infection and underwent surgery two weeks ago, but later experienced complications.
Following his release from jail, he received medical care in Delhi for several health issues that arose due to his extended imprisonment.
“When I went to prison, I had no ailment other than my disability. Now, my heart is 55% functional… liver, gallbladder and pancreas have also been affected,” he had said at the time of his release from jail.
‘Hoped for another miracle to happen’
His daughter recalled that the last time she spoke with her father was the day before evening and he told that it was going to be fine. “None of us, not even he could have anticipated something like this would have happened.”
‘We were hoping for another miracle to happen, it did not happen this time. His body had borne too much all these years,” Manjeera told news agency PTI.
Meanwhile, GN Saibaba’s brother told news agency ANI: “NIMS doctors declared his death at 8:36 pm today because of many ailments. He had his gallbladder surgery in NIMS. The surgery was successful and he was able to talk to us able to move freely in the wheelchair he was very good for the last five days after surgery. But all of a sudden we don’t know what happened a pus formed inside and he started getting fever and severe abdominal pain for five days doctors did some medical medication but still either pain or temperature control. They found that a pus inside and then they did a procedure to remove the pus two days back…But later the next day they found that there was internal bleeding in the stomach and they made a procedure to stop it. But after stopping also he could not recover”.
‘Fighter’
His friends and colleagues remembered Saibaba, whom they fondly called Sai, as a fighter.
“He got polio when he was five years old. That is when his struggle began and never ended,” said Nandita Narain, former St Stephen’s College professor.
“I learnt about him when I was elected member of DU’s Executive Council from 1996 to 2000. He once came to my house with his wife when he didn’t have a wheelchair. He was just dragging himself, but had a big smile on his face.”
Narain added, “Those 10 years in jail left him completely broken. He was thrown around and dragged when he got arrested. He had 21 ailments when we last counted. They did this to him because he spoke up on issues that nobody spoke about. They wanted to crush his voice. He still had the determination. In the prison, he used to teach inmates.”
She also remembered, “When he came out of prison, he made pickles with lemons from Medak himself and gave them to me. He said it would be good for my health.”
Made fragile in prison
Saibaba had a strong presence and he drove things, recalled Karen Gabriel, vice principal of St Stephen’s. “We had common issues that we were fighting like land grabbing, illegal mining, etc., and we became good friends”.
Gabriel said Saibaba hadn’t ever been fragile. “Then we saw how fragile they made him in prison. He was barely able to lift his right arm when left jail. His organs were damaged,” she said. “I spoke to his family and they are in a shambles.”
‘Key role in several people’s movements’
“Saibaba played a key role in several people’s movements like pro-reservation protests in 1989-90, democratic rights of prisoners in 1993, movement to support the rights of Adivasis, and several others. Though he hailed from Andhra Pradesh, he led a huge public meeting in support for the formation of separate Telangana in 1997,” said K Ravi Chander, convener for Forum Against Repression.
‘Tireless advocate for the oppressed’
Meanwhile, there were political reactions too, with Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin hailing the ex DU professor as an “tireless advocate of the oppressed”.
“Prof. G.N. Saibaba’s passing away is a profound loss for the human rights community. A tireless advocate for the oppressed, he fearlessly fought against injustice, even when his own freedom and health were at risk. His courage in defending civil liberties, despite many challenges, will be remembered as an enduring example of integrity. My sincere condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time,” Stalin wrote on X.
‘His death was also partly a result of the UAPA’
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi blamed the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for the death of former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba. “Prof Saibaba’s death is also deeply concerning,” Owaisi wrote on X. “His death was also partly a result of the UAPA that allows cops to keep you in prison for lengthy periods without any evidence.”
“It is very disheartening to hear about the cowardly attack on Baba Siddique, in which he unfortunately lost his life. This shows the complete lack of will of political parties. This clearly shows that the current state government is not at all concerned about providing safety to the common people of Mumbai and Maharashtra in general… They are only concerned about saving their chair and their skin so that they can win the next election… What happened to Baba Siddique is a complete failure of law and order,” he said news agency ANI.
‘Murder’
TMC MP Saket Gokhale called his death a “murder” and added, “This murder was perpetrated by the govt which framed him in a false case & then the judicial system which denied him personal liberty for over 10 years & “stayed” his acquittal.”
‘Denied bail for years’
The CPM of Kerala, meanwhile, alleged that the Union government was responsible for his demise, while mourning his death.
“He was denied bail for years. He was denied medical treatment urgently required for a person with such acute disabilities. His was a life dedicated to fighting for justice, facing torture with courage. The responsibility for his death lies with the govt. In sorrow and anger at the injustice he suffered we salute this brave fighter for justice. We express deep condolences to his wife, Vasantha, and daughter, Manjeera,” the party said in a post on X.
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