93-year-old from Kolkata becomes the 'first Indian woman' to have her body donated for COVID-19 research

A 93-year-old woman from Kolkata named Jyotsna Bose has possibly become the 'first Indian woman' whose body is donated for research on the novel coronavirus affects human beings. This piece of news was broken by a non-profit organization in West Bengal called 'Gandarpan' that facilitates pathological autopsy for such purposes.

While Bose may be the first-ever woman in India, she is the second one in the state. The first person in West Bengal to do so was the organization's founder called Brojo Roy. After Jyotsna Bose, an ophthalmologist named Dr. Biswajit Chakravorty's body was donated for research as he succumbed to COVID-19.

The former trade union leader contracted the deadly virus and was admitted to a hospital situated in North Kolkata on May 14. However, she breathed her last two days later.

"The pathological autopsy of my grandmother was conducted at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Tuesday. Hers is the first female body in the country donated for a pathological autopsy following her death due to COVID-19," her granddaughter, Dr. Tista Basu, told PTI.

Further, she also added that her grandmother had pledged her body to the above-mentioned organization around 10 years ago.

Her other granddaughter named Ranjini Basu paid her respects on Twitter as well. She wishes to carry on her legacy.

Jyotsna Bose was born in 1927 in Chittagong, which is now in present-day Bangladesh. According to the news agency, her family went through a crippling financial crisis because of which she could not complete her studies. She started working with British Telephones as an operator.

It is from there where her stint as a trade union leader started. She took part in the famous All India Post and Telegraph Strike in 1946.

Under Ranjini Basu's tweet, many lauded her late grandmother's resolve. One even called her a 'superwoman granny.'