Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 2: A tenth standard student from the city has exemplified her selflessness by donating her body for scientific research. The girl student, who was in tenth standard, has risen to the stature of a role model for youngsters like her by her munificent act in the larger interests of the society.

Prathiksha (16), a brilliant student, was from Ashoknagar here. She was being treated for an ailment. After she felt that death was closing in on her, she requested her parents to donate her body if she did not survive. That was her last wish. After she breathed her last, her parents, Kumaraswamy Kokkada and Vandana, fulfilled her wish on Thursday November 1.

Prathiksha is survived by her parents, as well as an elder brother, Prajwal Krishna, who is a second year degree student of St Aloysius College here, and Preetham, her twin-brother. Both Prathiksha and Preetham were tenth standard students of Sharada Vidyalaya at Kodiyalbail here.

Prathiksha suffered from bone cancer when in sixth standard. After a treatment lasting two years, she had fully recovered. However, within a year thereafter, the condition returned to haunt her. Prathiksha continued her studies, when fighting with bone cancer. Even after a courageous fight against this illness for a total of five years, she lost the battle and breathed her last on Wednesday night in a private hospital.

Prathiksha and her siblings were very good at studies and extra curricular activities. They also were trained in music, Yakshagana and Bharatanatyam. Prathiksha had cleared junior grade examination in Carnatic classical music. She also scored well in her studies.

It is said that Prajwal Krishna, who has immense interest in social service activities, had inspired his sister to go for donating her body. Kumaraswamy revealed that president of Sharada Vidyalaya also had encouraged such a proposal. Prathiksha reportedly asked her mother about 20 days back to donate her body to KMC Hospital if she breathed her last, and the parents met her wishes on Thursday.