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Indian Express
27-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
A Pune AFMC topper who became paraplegic but did not stop: incredible story of Dr Harinder Dhaliwal, now a neurologist in Canada
'When I look back at my journey—from the lecture halls of the AFMC in Pune to hospitals in Canada and in the US—what stands out most isn't just the academic rigour or clinical milestones, but the people and institutions who believed in me when it would have been easier not to. These institutions didn't just follow accessibility checklists—they extended human kindness. They allowed me to grow, to lead, to make mistakes, and to thrive,' says Harinder Dhaliwal, 48, speaking to The Indian Express from Canada, which has been his home for over 20 years. He may have summed up his life in a couple of minutes, but the journey has been a long and arduous one—from disbelief at the cruel twist of fate that changed his life overnight to deep gratitude for where he finds himself today. It was 1994 when Harinder Dhaliwal walked into the hallowed portals of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune with the distinction of having topped the entrance exam. In his final year, in 1998, while returning from visiting his father Col S S Dhaliwal, posted in the Siachen sector, the Army jeep he was travelling in met with an accident and Harinder suffered grave spinal cord injuries that left him paralysed from the waist downwards. With almost a year spent in treatments, Harinder returned to the AFMC in a wheelchair to finish his medicine degree. However, when he graduated in 2000, it was without a commission and the MBBS degree. As per the rules, anyone not joining the defence forces after graduating from the AFMC would need to refund the fees. And Harinder, with his paraplegic status, was now unfit to join the forces. But he also did not have the requisite Rs 3 lakh, with his father already having spent double that amount on his treatment. It was here that the Ministry of Defence stepped in and waived his fees. His provisional certificate was changed to that of a certified doctor, helping him surmount the first obstacle after graduating and setting the tone for many others in store. 'After my spinal cord injury, there were moments of deep doubt—not just about walking again, but about whether I'd ever be able to practise medicine in the way I had once dreamed,' recounts Harinder, who also went to the US for further treatment. It became clear soon enough to him that he would have to be in a wheelchair forever. But then his life took an unexpected turn. He met Kiran through a matrimonial site on which he had uploaded his details. After communicating for some time, he went to Canada to meet her in 2003. They married, and Harinder shifted to Canada in 2004. Kiran, born and brought up in Canada, was an IT professional and a quadriplegic. 'An accident when she was two years old had paralysed her face downwards. She cannot move her arms or legs but runs an IT company and is completely mobile on her power chair, travelling often for work,' says Harinder, his voice tinged with pride and emotion. Harinder completed his residency at the University of Calgary after moving to Canada and pursued a neurology fellowship at Yale University in 2017, finally achieving super-specialisation in epilepsy. A few years ago, the couple moved to Surrey, British Columbia, where Harinder is now EEG & EMG Lab Director, Neurologist & Clinical Assistant Professor. Anyone who felt a marriage where both partners are disabled would be a very difficult one had only to see Harinder and Kiran as they navigated their journey together. 'The system here is very disability-friendly. There are ramps everywhere —from buses to stations to trains. The government gives us two caregivers each. After I am helped to get ready in the morning, I leave for the hospital after breakfast and am then pretty much on my own, seeing patients in my clinic till evening. Kiran manages wonderfully—though she cannot type, she works with voice-activated devices and runs her entire company,' says Harinder. Kiran's company, which specialises in business optimisation consultation, is called Ray of Light, after her name. 'My success isn't mine alone. It belongs to the mentors who opened doors, the programme directors who said 'let's find a way', the nurses and staff who never questioned why I was in a wheelchair, and the patients who trusted me as their neurologist. They all chose to see my ability before my disability,' says Harinder, remembering how his AFMC classmates would carry him up and down the stairs after his accident and later how his Canadian colleagues always met him with understanding and flexibility. But Harinder's core team consists of his parents and wife. 'My parents moved to Canada to be there for me and lived next door, and my wife has been my constant through every challenge and triumph. Her strength, encouragement, and belief in me kept me grounded and moving forward, even on the hardest of days,' he says. Harinder looks forward to working 10-15 more years and then retiring. 'I love India but will always stay and work in Canada and find ways to give back to this beautiful country that has given me so much,' he adds.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Time of India
Army man missing: Family's search continues in UP
Thrissur: The family members of the Army man from the state, who had gone missing while traveling from Pune to UP are getting increasingly worried as they have not yet been able to locate him even though it is almost a week after his mysterious disappearance. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Farseen Gafoor, 28, who is employed in the Pune Regiment of the , hails from Guruvayur and has been working as nursing assistant at the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune. The family members say that he went missing while he was travelling from Pune to Bareilly, UP by train for a training. The last communication from Farseen was received on July 10. CCTV footage from July 11 captured him in Izatnagar, near Bareilly, appearing visibly distressed. Local autorickshaw drivers reported taking him to a bus stand, where he allegedly planned to board a bus to Delhi. Family members, now in Izatnagar with army support, noted that Farseen was seen carrying only a backpack in the footage, despite starting his journey with additional luggage with crucial service documents. His cousin Sajid expressed concern about Farseen's mental state after potentially losing these important papers. The family has sought intervention from various officials, including Union minister Suresh Gopi and Guruvayur MLA N K Akbar. Sareen has filed a Habeas Corpus petition in HC, which has directed both Kerala and UP police to probe and submit reports by next Monday. The army is providing accommodation and transportation support to his family members in Izatnagar.
Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Exploring use of drones to deliver critical medical supplies: DGAFMS
The Armed Forces Medical Services is exploring the use of drone technology on a pilot basis in delivering critical supplies, such as blood and medicines. It has planned a pilot initiative in challenging hilly terrain. 'We are incorporating technology like telemedicine, using point of care devices to ensure quick medical assistance, especially in remote areas and also help evacuate patients from the points of injury to health care. To enable quicker medical assistance, we are looking at the use of drones for the supply of blood and medicines on a pilot basis in hilly, difficult terrains,' Surg Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Director General, Armed Forces Medical Services, said on Saturday. Regarding medical evacuation via drones, the DGAFMS said it was not yet a reality, but was hopeful about this becoming a promising future possibility. Admiral Sarin was in Pune on Saturday at the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC). She was the reviewing officer of the commissioning ceremony of medical cadets in the Indian Armed Forces. Of the five cadets commissioned, one has been inducted into the Indian Air Force and four into the Indian Army. While speaking with media persons on the sidlines of the event, Admiral Sarin also spoke about how research work was in progress. 'MoUs have been signed with IIT Chennai, IIT Mumbai and others. We are also actively working on areas like sports medicine – mainly sports injury prevention and sleep medicine,' Admiral Sarin said. According to the DGAFMS, it will be important to leverage sports medicine specialists and emerging technologies to reduce injuries during training and operations, thereby preserving manpower and maintaining the fitness of soldiers. 'Armed Forces Medical Services are mandated to look after the troops 24/7 for their health and we continue to do that with dedication and commitment. We are combat ready, credible and cohesive. Call us at any time, we are ready,' Admiral Sarin said. She also narrated the case of Major Bachwala Rohit, a gynaecologist, who was lauded after he helped a pregnant woman deliver a baby at Jhansi railway station. Sarin also spoke about the success of Early Intervention Centres and how they were benefiting children with neurodevelopmental disorders of soldiers, sailors and airmen and helping boost their morale. The Armed Forces Medical Services, as part of the Gaganyaan mission, is involved in addressing the healthcare needs of the astronauts. 'A dedicated team, trained through rigorous and meticulous preparation, is in place. There are teams from Centre for Advanced Research- Space Psychology at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine(IAM) , Bengaluru to address other needs. Experiments are underway and there will be a lot of learnings. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's experience about the Axiom-4 Space mission, including effects of microgravity in space, will be crucial,' Admiral Sarin said. Armed Forces Medical College has set up its state-of-the-art Genome Sequencing Laboratory, equipped with cutting-edge Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) platforms. 'The lab is designed to support advanced research in inherited diseases, oncology, transplant medicine, and reproductive health, enabling precise diagnosis of rare genetic disorders and molecular profiling of malignancies,' Lt Gen Pankaj Rao, Commandant, AFMC said. The college's Department of Medical Research and multi-disciplinary research unit has also been instrumental in launching over a dozen molecular research projects. The projects at DMR also encompass epigenetics in diabetes, microRNA expression in various diseases, gene polymorphisms in cancer and autoimmune disorders. 'This facility will not only serve the Armed Forces but also contribute to the broader medical community through groundbreaking research and improved diagnostics,' Surgeon Vice Admiral Sarin said. She also added that AFMC has made medical simulation an essential part of its training curriculum at all levels with a vision to improve skills and understanding towards imparting holistic care. 'These simulators replicate real-life scenarios, allowing students to practice advanced life trauma support, basic and advanced cardiac life support, surgical, obstetric and laparoscopic procedures in a controlled environment,' Admiral Sarin added. Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More
India.com
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
This actor was named by Jaya Bachchan, later became Rekha's hero, came Mumbai with Rs 1500, became famous villain, name is...
This actor was named by Jaya Bachchan, later became Rekha's hero, came Mumbai with Rs 1500, became famous villain, name is... Every year, several aspiring actors try their luck in films, but only few make it to the silver screens. However, those who struggled to sustain in the industry have now become superstars. Today, we will talk about one such actor, who came to Mumbai with just Rs 1500 in his pocket, and dreamt of becoming a Ghazal singer. However, destiny had its own plans, and he became one of Bollywood's most popular villains. He is none other than Danny Denzongpa, who was born as Tshering Phintso Denzongpa in 1948, in Sikkim. It was Amitabh Bachchan's wife Jaya Bachchan who recommended him to change his name to Danny, as his original name was too difficult to pronounce. Danny wanted to join the Indian Army, and enrolled himself in Armed Forces Medical College, Pune. However, later he withdrew his admission and joined the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). His acting career began when he made debut in BR Ishara's Zaroorat. However, his breakthrough performance came with Gulzar's Mere Apne (1971) , where he portrayed a positive role. In 1973, Danny played the antagonist in film Dhundh, and garnered recognition for his ruthless villainous performance. Following that, from 1984 to the 1990, he played lead antagonist, opposite almost every superstar, including Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Mithun Chakraborty, and others. After completing 20 years of his acting career and working in over 190 films, Danny decided to take a break from acting. He did only 10 films between 2003 and 2009. His last major role was in Sooraj Barjatya's 2022 film, Uunchai, where he shared screen-space with Amitabh Bachchan, Boman Irani and Anupam Kher. Before that, the veteran star starred in Manikarnika , opposite Kangana Ranaut. Danny Denzongpa, who once dominated Bollywood with his intense performances, has now stepped away from the limelight, and prefers to live a quitter life away from the world of glitz and glam.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Struggling to sleep? Turn to THIS Yoga technique
A study reveals that Yoga Nidra enhances sleep and brain function. Practicing this yoga technique for 20 minutes daily improves sleep quality. It also boosts memory and cognitive performance. Participants experienced increased delta-wave activity during deep sleep. They also showed faster responses in cognitive tests. Yoga Nidra improves focus and learning abilities. In this modern time and age, sleep has become a luxury. Amidst the whole rat race, people tend to put sleep on the back burner. Sleep deprivation is linked to an increased risk of chronic health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity, among others. But what if a simple technique could solve the problem? Yes, a guided yoga practice could not only improve sleep quality but also enhance memory and cognitive performance. According to a pilot study published in the journal PLOS ONE , just two weeks of practicing a certain yoga technique for 20 minutes a day was linked to deeper sleep and better brain function. Yoga nidra, aka yogic sleep, is a kind of mindfulness training that shows promise in improving sleep, cognition, learning, and memory. It is a relaxation technique that is part of the yogic tradition, specifically a form of tantric relaxation. It is a guided practice that induces a deep state of conscious relaxation. One can lie down and practise this technique. The goal is to move into a deep state of conscious awareness sleep, which is a deeper state of relaxation with awareness. One could experience the transition through stages of wakefulness, dreaming, and deep rest. A study led by Karuna Datta of the Armed Forces Medical College in India looked into the effects of yoga nidra on sleep. Using objective tools such as polysomnography to measure changes in sleep patterns , the participants were guided through yoga nidra using a pre-recorded 20-minute audio session each day. After two weeks, results showed a significant increase in delta-wave activity during deep sleep, a key indicator of restorative rest. Distinct from other active forms of yoga, which focus on physical postures, breathing, and muscle control, yoga nidra guides people into a state of conscious relaxation while they are lying down. This technique is also reported to improve sleep and cognitive ability. (Pic courtesy: iStock) The polysomnography measures brain activity to determine how long each sleep stage lasts and how frequently each stage occurs. After two weeks of yoga nidra, the researchers observed that participants experienced significantly increased sleep efficiency and percentage of delta-waves in deep sleep. Interestingly, the participants also had faster responses in all cognitive tests with no loss in accuracy and faster and more accurate responses in tasks including tests of working memory, abstraction, fear and anger recognition, and spatial learning and memory tasks. All these add to the previous studies that linked delta-wave sleep to improved sleep quality as well as better attention and memory. Adult Star Bonnie Blue Who Slept with 1,057 Men ARRESTED! Publicity Stunt BACKFIRES? 'Yoga nidra practice improves sleep and makes brain processing faster. Accuracy also increased, especially with learning and memory-related tasks,' the authors said. Next time you have trouble sleeping or focusing, try the low-cost and effective technique - yoga nidra. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
