In 1981, classical dancer Sudha Chandran, at the age of 17 lost her right leg in a bus accident that led to gangrene and amputation due to poor management at a local hospital. She feared she may never dance again.⁽¹⁾ However, with fitting of a Jaipur Foot prosthesis, physiotherapy, and modifications to suit her ability to dance, she regained her mobility and returned to the stage.
Dr. Pramod Karan Sethi, an orthopaedic surgeon at Sawai Man Singh Medical College, Jaipur, co-invented the Jaipur Foot in 1968 with artisan Ram Chandra Sharma.⁽²⁾ They designed a prosthetic limb that would be affordable, adaptable to local terrain and customs, and allow natural movements important for rural and cultural life, squatting, walking barefoot, sitting cross-legged.
Key design features include:
A rubber-based flexible foot portion that replaces the rigid wooden keel used in earlier models. The rubber allows some dorsiflexion (bringing toes up) and plantar flexion (pointing toes down).⁽³⁾
Use of rubber at heel and forefoot, left outer coating with a thin layer of vulcanised rubber, often with tyre-cord reinforcement.⁽³⁾
An aluminium shank (later versions also use high-density polyethylene) that connects the foot to the residual limb. The materials are chosen for durability, light weight, and ability to withstand wet, muddy, or rough conditions.⁽¹⁾
Dr. Sethi intentionally did not patent the Jaipur Foot, so that its technology could spread freely and be accessible for low-income amputees.⁽¹⁾
Sudha Chandran, then a young Bharatanatyam dancer, sustained her injury in the bus accident. Five months after the amputation, and following an extended hospital stay and physiotherapy, she discovered the Jaipur Foot. She contacted Dr. Sethi, who welcomed her to his limb-fitting and rehabilitation centre in Jaipur.⁽¹⁾
Sudha asked whether dancing again would be possible. Dr. Sethi said yes, and with modifications to the usual prosthetic model, for more flexibility, spring, and response to sudden weight shifts, he and his craftsmen adapted the Jaipur Foot for her dancing needs.⁽¹⁾
About 20 months after her amputation, she performed publicly again. Her modifications included adjustments in the ankle section and using more flexible materials in the foot to tolerate dance movements.⁽¹⁾
The Jaipur Foot quickly became one of the leading low-cost prosthetic limbs for below-knee amputees, especially in India, Southeast Asia, and many developing countries.⁽⁴⁾
According to a 2008 clinical review, the Jaipur Foot can be assembled quickly (often in about one hour), using local materials and artisans. It proved to be durable, comfortable for many users, especially in rural or semi-urban settings.⁽⁴⁾
Challenges include variation in quality and fitting since there is no formal standardization or patent; the local artisan-based fabrication can lead to inconsistencies in alignment, durability, and comfort for heavier users.⁽¹⁾
A study published in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (British Volume) evaluated the Jaipur Foot’s performance in barefoot amputees. The study reported high user satisfaction and daily usage extending many hours, often capable of walking over 1 km per day. However, about 27% of prosthetic feet in that study needed replacement after some time, often due to wear in rubber blocks or other structural parts.⁽⁴⁾
Another technical review described how Sethi’s design used an aluminium socket, patellar tendon bearing top, vulcanised rubber foot, and improved liners in later versions to improve comfort and reduce drawbacks of wooden shank or rigid designs.⁽¹⁾
Sudha Chandran’s story inspired films: Mayuri (1984, Telugu) was based on her life, and Naache Mayuri (1986, Hindi) was a remake in Hindi. She acted in both, performing as herself. Her journey drew public attention to prosthetics, rehabilitation, and how design innovations can empower amputees.⁽²⁾
Dr. P. K. Sethi received accolades for his work, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in 1981, and the Padma Shri the same year.⁽²⁾
While the Jaipur Foot meets many functional needs for daily living in many environments, it has limitations:
It is less suited for high-performance or athletic activities because the rubber materials and design provide less stiffness or energy return compared to modern carbon composite feet.⁽³⁾
Its lifespan varies; depending on usage, terrain, weight of user, and care, parts like rubber blocks degrade. Users may require replacement or repair after some years.⁽¹⁾
Fit and alignment are crucial; poorly fitted prostheses can lead to pressure sores, discomfort, gait problems. Local fabrication by artisans can sometimes lead to misalignment if artisans are not well-trained.⁽¹⁾
The Jaipur Foot demonstrates that medical devices adapted to local cultural, functional, and economic conditions can have large impact. For example, features such as squatting or going barefoot matter in many communities, and earlier prosthetic designs failed to allow those.⁽³⁾
Rehabilitation needs go beyond provision of prosthesis; physiotherapy, fitting, training, emotional and psychological support are essential. Sudha Chandran’s recovery required extended therapy and determination to relearn dance.⁽¹⁾
The non-patented model has enabled wide dissemination of Jaipur Foot through organizations like Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) and many rural camp-based services.
“When Mayuri Put Her Best Foot Forward,” India Today, May 8, 2024. https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/from-the-india-today-archives-1985-when-mayuri-put-her-best-foot-forward-2536698-2024-05-08.
R. Bhargava et al., “The Jaipur Foot and the ‘Jaipur Prosthesis’,” PMC: National Center for Biotechnology Information, article PMC6394196 (2019). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6394196/doi:10.1186/s13047-019-0337-y.
“Dr. P K Sethi – Jaipur Foot,” Jaipur Foot & Caliper. https://www.jaipurfootandcaliper.com/dr-p-k-sethi/ jaipurfootandcaliper.com
“Jaipur Foot: the low-cost prosthetic that revolutionised medical care in India and beyond,” Science Museum Blog, November 28, 2017. https://blog.sciencemuseum.org.uk/jaipur-foot-the-low-cost-prosthetic-that-revolutionised-medical-care-in-india-and-beyond/.
(Rh/Eth/TL/MSM)