Dear Sir,
I’m Nahin Sani, and I’m an instructor in the Anatomy department of this medical college. How are you? I hope you’re doing well and that your home, i.e., the steel refrigerated container you live in, is nice, cold, and comfortable.
I hope you haven’t had trouble making friends, despite the thick containers attenuating your voices — or perhaps you communicate in a different, unusual way? Either way, do let me know once you receive this letter, although I believe there is a communication gap between us. Hopefully that will sort out soon, and I can receive your response.
Why You’re Getting This Letter
You must be wondering why you are receiving this letter from me — a random medical student — and why I’m addressing you as Sir. You’re probably also wondering why you are being kept in a freezing container, only to be let out for people to stare at every inch of your rotten, decomposed, formalin-infused body, poke at you, and talk fancy jargon across you.
Multitudes of questions must be engulfing and picking at you like a swarm of bees. But I, with my limited knowledge, will try my best to answer whatever questions you may have.
I don’t want to call you “Dead body,” “Cadaver,” “It” — as if your respect died with your name and your life.
Why I’m Calling You Sir
I’ve written this letter to you to thank you. For what, you say? I’ll get to that.
Why am I addressing you as Sir? Because it’s an honour to make your acquaintance. Unfortunately, I am unaware of your name, so I don’t know what to call you. I’m also unaware of how you lived and died — I hope you lived a good life, with no disappointments, guilt, or regrets.
To honour and respect you, I officially knighted you when no one was watching. (I took the Queen’s permission beforehand, so don’t ask any more questions.) ……… I’m joking. I just thought the best way to address you should be Sir. Send me a letter if you’d like a different name.
The Part Where I Explain Myself
Now you’ll be wondering what a wacko I am, and why I’m paying so much attention to your concerns and well-being while you’re dead — and knighting you without your permission (joking). Getting back to the point, as I mentioned: I’m a medical student.
Why Anatomy Cannot Be Learned from a Textbook Alone
To become a skilled, successful doctor who can truly benefit others, I need to understand the human body deeply — its anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, everything. And medical student anatomy is not something that can be absorbed through text reading and rote memorisation alone.
It requires a human body. Understanding how different systems are organised, how muscles group and attach, how big or small the bones are, through which vessels blood flows — none of that can be felt or grasped from a diagram on a page.
The human body is an amazing, complex, beautiful creation — and it isn’t just a necessity to study it at this level. It’s a privilege.
A Letter of Gratitude — and Apology
So, to whoever you are: thank you for allowing us to study the human body and become better, more capable doctors for those in dire need.
You may not have asked for your body to be cut open and exposed to the world. But know that we do not mean to place you in an uncomfortable position for the rest of your — whatever you call it. Every student comes to you to learn more about themselves through you, and if we handle you roughly at times, it is only to resolve the questions in our minds that might otherwise hinder our learning. If it hurts, I apologise.
In a way, you have become a teacher. Every inch of your body holds wisdom — a great deal of which we have yet to fully discover. Through cadaver dissection, you remind us not only of how the body works, but of something far more profound.
You remind us that death is inevitable — that the very beauty of our bodies will one day give way, and all that will remain is something that either returns to the earth or, like you, continues to serve as a teacher for others.
So you teach us far more than we ever imagined. And I believe, far more than you ever imagined too.
What Body Donation Education Gives Back
I hope you consider it a privilege — being who you are, doing what you do, knowing that even in death you are of genuine service to others. That your contribution to body donation education extends far beyond any single student, any single year, any single graduating class of doctors.
If not — I hope you find what you’re looking for. I hope you find peace.
And if you ever want to talk, I’m waiting anxiously for your response. Or — who knows — perhaps one day I’ll be your neighbour.
Yours sincerely,
Your Humble Student
Yours sincerely, Your humble — This was originally posted here.
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