Deepak Kumar Paswan was born in a village in Bihar, one of India’s least developed states, with a rare congenital condition known as a parasitic twin. An underdeveloped identical twin remained attached to his abdomen, giving him four arms and four legs but only one head and one functioning body.

The extra limbs grew at the same rate as Deepak’s own, adding significant weight to his small frame. This caused constant pain, difficulty walking, and recurring skin infections. Socially, the condition brought mixed reactions: some people in the community discriminated against him, while others treated him as a living incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu, who is traditionally depicted with multiple limbs. Pilgrims visited the family home to worship him, something his parents found deeply uncomfortable.

Deepak’s father, Viresh Paswan, a construction worker, and the family publicly sought help for surgery so their son could live a normal life free from both physical burden and religious objectification. In 2010, Fortis Hospital in Bangalore offered to perform the complex operation free of charge.

On May 30, 2010 (with reports confirming the procedure around early June), a team of approximately 15 specialists, led by surgeon Dr. Ramcharan Thiagarajan, carried out a four-hour operation. Imaging had shown that Deepak did not share major organs with the parasite, though a significant artery supplied blood to it. Surgeons carefully separated the extra limbs and dissected shared intestinal tissue while controlling the risk of severe bleeding.

The surgery was a success. Within days, Deepak was walking, playing with his younger sister, and beginning to experience life without the extra weight. His father described the outcome as a “miracle” and said his dream of seeing Deepak attend school like any other boy of his age had finally come true.

Deepak’s case highlights both the medical challenges of parasitic twinning and the transformative impact of accessible specialist care. After years of physical pain and social complexity, the successful removal of the parasitic twin allowed him the chance at an ordinary childhood.

Sources

• The Telegraph, India Today, National Post / AFP, and Deccan Herald reports (June 2010)
• Statements from Deepak’s father Viresh Paswan and lead surgeon Dr. Ramcharan Thiagarajan at Fortis Hospital, Bangalore