Human Limbs have Spares

In the Year 1984, a movie released in Telugu film Industry but became a sensation in the entire country. The movie name is “Mayuri” starred by Sudha Chandran. It was dubbed into other southern languages, finally remade in Hindi in 1986. The movie is probably one of the first biographies of a person, that too a living one in Indian Cinema.

The movie is the story of a classical dancer, Sudha Chandran who lost her left leg during an accident. But her passion to dance was alive. She yearned to dance again but it is impossible to dance on a single leg. If a vehicle loses a part, there are spares to replenish it. But for humans, the Doctors said, Human Organs don’t have Spare parts. Many lost hopes but she didn’t.

Maybe her dreams were mighty. Maybe, the Saying “When there is Will there is a Way” The dreams were big enough for the creator to show a way for her.

All know, human limbs have no spares. But an agency in Rajasthan, Jaipur has a facility where they produce prosthetic organs for the disabled. Those are low-cost prosthetics, but available to many in the Country. The Jaipur leg put to her made her dream possible, she could again dance and give performances. The Movie became a success because of Sudha Chandran and Sudha Chandran became successful because of Jaipur Leg.

 Since civilization began, there were always chances of accidents and human organs/limbs used to get damaged, but the evolutionary trait makes it impossible for the organ/limb to grow back. And human limbs never have duplicates nor they can re-grow. This makes many people maimed throughout their life and never enjoy the freedom they used to have. Ancient history also has some traces of prosthetics but in modern era. A French surgeon is credited for starting prosthetics.

By 1968, an Indian Mr Sharma and Surgeon Pramod Karan sethi started the prosthetic design with rubber based for prosthetics below the knee. It is highly const effective and can be used for many poor in the entire country. Dr. PK Sethi received honorary awards for the same. But in the first 7 years less than 100 limbs could be fit to the needy. This is very very far from the requirement. As the cause is a noble one, history finds a way to accelerate it.

Sawai Man Singh a young men saw the troubles of people at Jaipur foot factory. He was determined to help the needy. After he became a principal secretary to CM of Rajasthan, requested the CM to do something for this. There was no place to do, old ambulance vehicles were used for the process. 1975 was the year of 2,500 year birth anniversary of Mahavira, the founder of Jainism. The CM office wanted to do in homage to the great saint and founder. Bhagwan Mahavir Viklang Sahayata Samiti was found in 1975 to accelerate it. Mr Sharm known as panditji again came back on BOARD and helped in acceleration. They first chose to eliminate all bureaucratic hassles and support the needy mostly comprise of daily labor and poor people.

Once during a visit to Hyderabad, Guruji came to know about HDPE which is more flexible and usable. He reinvented the limb and helped in making more and more. Now centers are being made in many parts of the country with schedules listed. Even the fitment is done at the door steps of the needy.