Jaipur is not only crowned for its many achievements in art, food and culture but it is also renowned for its scientific development of the prosthetic leg. It all started with the efforts of Pandit Ram Chandra Sharma with the support of Dr P.K. Sethi, an orthopedic surgeon. While visiting the SMS Hospital in Jaipur, Pandit Ram Chandra Sharma came across a lot of amputees that were being provided with unfeasible prosthesis which led to his immense interest in its evolution. His involvement in the making of the famous ‘Jaipur Foot’ has made lives easy for innumerable people around the world.
You would appreciate it more when you come to know about its simple design and many advantages. The making of the artificial limb incorporates rubber that is vulcanized and attached to a wooden part. Now the development involves the forming of a plaster of Paris mould which is made according to the stump of the patient. A plug is then designed corresponding to the socket obtained which would now produce an imitation of the leg. The next step requires the warming up of a High Density Polyethylene Pipe after which it is extended over this plug. Finally, the rubber leg is bound to the amputee’s body with the help of fastening straps. The body gets used to it and attains comfort in a few hours.
The Foot is beneficial in more than one way. It fits quite easily and is lightweight. It looks just like a natural limb and so it can also be put on with shoes. It will work for as long as three years or even more. Apart from these qualities, it also provides proper mechanical positioning that allows the person to not only stand but also to move in different positions, like squatting. It is also water proof but the most appealing aspect of this prosthesis is that it is very reasonable in price.
Although the Jaipur Foot was very efficient but it did not reach the masses until an incident that happened in 1969. Devendra Raj Mehta, a young and very talented IAS officer met with a terrible road accident in which he was badly injured. With almost 40 fractures, he was bed ridden for months, after which also he had to visit the hospital (SMS) many times. There, he noticed the countless poor and disabled people who would come for prosthesis but faced a lot of difficulty as they had to wait for days to finish the formalities.
He then resolved to open an organization with the sole purpose of providing the deprived population with artificial limbs and other aids like wheel chairs and crutches, completely free of cost. Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Samiti (BMVSS) is now the world’s largest organization for the disabled. This non-profit establishment carries out scientific research works and also conducts various seminars on prosthesis for universities and other institutions. It is not only the ‘free of charge service’, that has made it so popular, but also the approach of the people working there. When a person with disability arrives, the registration is done without delay after which he/she is given proper bedding as well as food. A caretaker is assigned to each patient until the Foot is fitted. Because of all the noble efforts that this organization has put in, it has won numerous awards such as the ‘Tech award for Innovation for the benefit of humanity, ‘Dr PK Sethi Award Innovation Award’ among others.
The Jaipur Foot has been a part of many physically challenged people’s journey in leading a dignified life. One such person is the iconic Bharatnatyam dancer, Sudha Chandran, who also used the Jaipur Foot when she met with an accident in Tamil Nadu. The loss of a leg did not deter her from pursuing her passion of dancing and with the help of the Foot she not only performed internationally at many events but also became an inspiration for a lot of people.
The Jaipur Foot has surely helped differently abled people to walk with pride!