Overview
- Indian outlets identified the man as Rajendra Panchal and reported the medical context behind the photo now circulating on X.
- Several mainly US-based accounts shared the decontextualized image to ridicule Indians, with one post surpassing 10 million views within 48 hours.
- Doctors at Pune’s MA Rangoonwala College performed a complex procedure nearly eight years ago that let Panchal open his mouth and eat solid food.
- The surgery was provided free of cost because he could not afford treatment after decades on a liquid and semi-solid diet.
- Users across X condemned the posts as racist and dehumanizing, and as of the latest reports there were no platform takedowns or legal actions noted.