Deepak Paswan was born in one of the least developed parts of India with a rare medical condition that made him a spectacle. He had a parasitic twin conjoined to his abdomen, which meant he had four legs and four arms but one head.

Hindu worshippers from the vicinity of his village in the state of Bihar used to visit Deepak’s home to venerate him as a manifestation of Vishnu, who is commonly depicted with multiple limbs. While the pilgrims venerated him, the reality was that Deepak was always in pain.

Deepak’s family was uncomfortable with the attention that their son was receiving, so they appealed publicly for help to remove the unwanted limbs.

Their wish was granted when a hospital in the southern city of Bangalore stepped forward and offered to bear the cost of the complicated and dangerous procedure. The surgery to remove Deepak’s extra limbs was a success, and it changed his life forever.

The surgery was not an easy feat. It was a rare and complicated procedure that lasted for more than eight hours. A team of 40 medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, and anaesthesiologists, was involved in the surgery.