Dr. Pramod Karan Sethi was a renowned Indian orthopaedic surgeon and humanitarian, best known as the co-creator of the Jaipur Foot, an affordable and life-changing prosthetic limb. He was born on 28 November 1927 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and devoted his life to improving the mobility and dignity of people with disabilities, especially the poor.
While working at SMS Hospital, Jaipur, Dr. Sethi noticed that conventional artificial limbs were expensive, uncomfortable, and unsuitable for the lifestyle of many Indians who needed to squat, sit cross-legged, or walk barefoot. Determined to find a solution, he collaborated with craftsman Ram Chandra Sharma to develop the Jaipur Foot in the late 1960s. This prosthetic was lightweight, durable, waterproof, and extremely low-cost, making it accessible to millions.
To expand this work, Dr. Sethi helped establish Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) in Jaipur. Through this organization, free or low-cost artificial limbs and aids have been provided to people not only in India but across many countries, restoring mobility and self-confidence to countless lives.
Dr. Pramod Karan Sethi received numerous national and international honors for his service, including the Padma Shri (1981) and the Ramon Magsaysay Award (1982). His work is regarded as one of the finest examples of socially relevant medical innovation.
He passed away on 25 January 2008, but his legacy lives on through the Jaipur Foot and the millions whose lives were transformed by his compassion, innovation, and commitment to humanity.