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Dr. V.J.S. Vohra
Senior Consultant (Prosthetics-Orthotics)
Certified by: Rehabilitation Council of India
Hony. Prosthetic Adviser:
Govt. of Punjab
Govt. of Haryana
Chandigarh Administration
Govt. of Himachal Pradesh |
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Col. D.S Vohra
Consult Dr. V.J.S. Vohra - Online
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Colonel D.S. Vohra
31 Oct. 1919 - 31 Jan. 1998
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Other Social Activities/Services |
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Padmashri Colonel D.S. Vohra is basically an Engineer from the Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Indian Army. Since there were no facilities for the rehabilitation of the disabled persons, a team of experts from England, visited this country, after World War in 1945, to assess the situation, especially with regard to the rehabilitation of the disabled soldiers. Upon their recommendations, Col. Vohra was selected and underwent an extensive training course in human anatomy, the `Ideal Stump', manufacture and fitting of artificial limbs and other orthopaedic aids/appliances and rehabitation of the disabled at the Queen Mary's Hospital, J.E. Hanger & Co. and Hugh Steepers Ltd., all at ROEHAMPTON, LONDON, in 1946-47. He also visited other similar institutions in Europe including M/S Otto Bock Orthopadische Industrie in Germany. He is thus, the first Indian to qualify in this field.
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On return to India, he established the Artificial Limb Centre, POONA on 11 Feb 1948 as its Founder-Director, under the Ministry of Defence, Govt of India. This is the first institution of its kind in this part of the world. Here, he was responsible for the rehabilitation of thousands of disabled soldiers from World War-I (1914-18), World War- (1939-45) and Indo-Pakistan Wars - besides the disabled soldiers from Burma and Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and some civilian.
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To study their latest methods of production and technique, Colonel Vohra was again sent abroad, on a Refresher Course in 1949-50 at the above institutions. He was graded `OUTSTANDING'. Besides, he has attended other training programmes in foreign countries including in the USA.
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In 1973, Colonel Vohra became the Founder and his eldest son, Dr. V.J.S. Vohra as Co-Founder of Nevedac Prosthetic Centre, which was established on the outskirts of Chandigarh. One of the first innovations in this institution was the Mechanical hand that Col. Vohra designed for upper limb amputations. This was the first artificial hand of its kind in India. Being groomed by his father, Dr. V.J.S. Vohra had developed an electronic hand, which also was the first of its kind in India. This father & son team worked together for 25 years to serve the disabled patients by providing them artificial limbs at Nevedac Prosthetic Centre till the demise of Col. Vohra in 1998. Now since 1973, Dr. V.J.S. Vohra is still carrying on the noble profession of providing artificial limbs and serving the disabled persons.
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Col. D.S. Vohra had also served with distinction in the country's Armed Forces for 31 years. He was commissioned in Army in the corps of then I.E.M.E. (now E.M.E.) in the year 1944, and attached to 6 DCO Lancers. He raised No. 4 E.M.E. Centre in Kamptee (Nagpur) in record time in the year 1963, being its first Commandant.
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Colonel Vohra is the first Indian to be accepted as ;
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(a) A Fellow of the British Institute of Surgical Technologists.
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(b) A Fellow of the Society of Artificial Limb Fitters (Great Britain)
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(c) A Fellow of the Orthotics-Prothetics Society in India (OPSI).
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(d) A Member of the Orthotics Werks, Berlin (Germany)
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(e) Member of the International Society for Prosthetics-Orthotics, (ISPO), Copenhagon (Denmark);
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(f) Doctorate in Therapeutic Philosophy, awarded by the World University, Arizona (USA);
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Upon sponsorship by the United States Department of Education and Rehabilitation Services (NIDRR), the World Rehabilitation Fund, New York, awarded a Fellowship to Colonel Vohra for visiting various institution/universities in the USA, dealind with research and rehabilitation sciences during Aug 1990. He also gave a talk on the Nevedac Electronic arms/hands in the Rehabilitation Centre, Northern-Western University, Chicago, USA.
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Colonel Vohra has been appointed Hony. Prosthetic Adviser to the; (a) Govt of Punjab (b) Govt of Haryana (c) Govt. of Himachal Prradesh (d) The Union Territory of Chandigarh. He was also S.T.Consultant with the World Health Organisation, SEARO for assessing the disability and requirements of aids/appliances in some of the Developing countries in South East Asia.
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He was appointed Prosthetic Adviser to the National Industrial Corporation Ltd., New Delhi, in the initial stages of planning of the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation at Kanpur ( a Govt of India Enterprise). He has also been on its Board of Directors when he made substantial contribution, towards streamlining their production, quality and administrative services.
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He was also appointed as;
(a) a Member on the Executive and National Councils of the National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and research (NIRTAR)
(b) A Member on the Executive Council of Physically Handicapped Institute, New Delhi,
(c) A Member on the `Technical Advisory Group' (TAG) and associations for the rehabilitation of the handicapped persons - all under Ministry of Welfare, Govt. of India.
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Colonel Vohra was nominated as a Member of the Governing Body as well as on the Executive Council of the Himachal Pradesh Govt's Primary Education Society by the Govt of India, Department of Education, Ministry of Human Resources Development.
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Colonel Vohra was nominated by His Excellency, the Governor of Punjab, as a Councillor of the first ever, Municipal Cooporation in the Union Territory of Chandigarh, for further development of facilities, ammenities for its citizens and beautification in this, `CITY BEAUTIFUL'.
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In recognition of Colonel Vohra's services in the cause of the disabled persons and the suffering humanity, he has been given the following NATIONAL Awards; presented by the President of India;
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PADMA SHRI, one of the highest National Awards in India.
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As an OUTSTANDING Employer of the handicapped.
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As an OUTSTANDING Employee', given to one of Colonel Vohra employees; a bilateral arm amputee.
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NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY Award, carrying cash prize of Rs. 20,000/-, a certificate and a citation
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The BEST INSTITUTION Award to Nevedac Prosthetic Centre
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AWARD OF HONOUR (an impressive army Momento), presented by Lt.General R de S Daluwatte, RWP, RSP, USP Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, in apprecation of his services, towards the rehabilitation of their disabled soldiers.
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Nominated as PAUL HARRIS FELLOW (PHF) by the Rotary International, in recognition of his services to the suffering humanity and the destitutes.
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Besides the above, Colonel Vohra has received several other Awards/Honours from the Red Cross, Lions and Rotary Clubs and similar other Associations/Organisations. Letters of appreciation, from the disabled persons.
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Colonel Vohra has widely travelled within India and abroad including through sponsorships by The Govt of India, UNICEF and the World Health Organisation, SEARO as latter's S.T. Consultant. He has been in contant touch with the developments in Prosthetic - Orthotics and rehabilitation of the handicapped services with most of institutions, abroad.
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Was WHO, S.T.Consultant to MONGOLIA during November 1990 to assess existing facilities, regarding the rehabilitation of their orthopaedically handicapped persons and to advise on modernizing these for better services.
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Colonel Vohra visited MONGOLIA again on an assignment from the Asssociation, Italiana Aamici di Raoul Follereau (ALFO - ITALY) for short Term Consultancy in July 1993, to help in the establishment of Prosthetic - Orthotic services in that country and upgradation of the National Orthopaedic Workshop in Ullanbattar (Mongolia).
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Colonel Vohra had a similar WHO, SEARO assignment as (ST Consultant) to Indonesia during Dec 91.
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At the initiative of the President of Sri Lanka and request by the Sri Lanka Army authorities, Colonel Vohra visited that country, duly sponsored by WHO, SEARO in Sept 1996 to assess their requirements of disabled persons (mostly war casualities) from LTTE operations, with a view to exploring the possibility of setting up a Prosthetic - Orthotic Workshop and rehabilitation of their disabled soldiers. He also visited MALE (Maldives) on his way back to India.
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As President of the Orthotic - Prosthetic Society of India, (1987-1991), his emphasis was on quality training of Prosthetic-Orthotic Engineers, for this comparatively, young profession which, in turn, improved the quality of rehabilitation of orthopaedically handicapped persons.
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He has attended several national and international Conferences/Seminars, giving talks in Scientific Sessions, besides showing Documentary Films/Video Casettes, on the rehabilitation technology.
Attended the International Congress on Prosthetic Techniques and Functional Rehabilitation, held at VIENNA (Austria) from 19-24 Mar 1973. Documetary Film, `They Live Again' was also exhibited at the Congress.
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On an assignment by UNICEF, Colonel Vohra participated in the Vth World Congress of the International Rehabilitation Medical Association, held at MANILA (Phillipines) from 16-21 Feb'1986. He also read a paper on, Development of Prosthetics in India, with speical reference to Upper Extremity cases and Rural Rehabilitation.
Took part in the Vth World Congress of the International Society for Prosthetic and Orthotics, on WHO,SEARO assignment, held at Copenhagen (Denmark) from 29 Jun - 04 Jul 1986.
On an invitation from the International Society for Prosthetics - Orthotics, Colonel Vohra attended the International Seminar on Prosthetic and Orthotics (Traumattic Amputations) held at HERZLIYA (Israel) from 06-10 Sept 1987. He also read a paper on , Development of Prosthetic in India, with special reference to Rural Rehabilitation, followed by screening his Video Casette, titled, `THEY LIVE AGAIN'.
Was invited to attend the VIth World Congress of International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics, held at KOBE (Japan) from 12-17 Nov 1989, where also, he read a paper in the Scientific Session.
At the invitation of the Rehabilitation International, he attended IX Asia/Pacific Congress of the Rehabilitation International, held at Beijing (China) during Oct 1990.
Attended a Workshop of the SAARC countries on, `Rehabilitation Techniques', organised by the Ministry of Welfare, Govt. of India, at Secunderabad from 28 November - 02 December, 1994. He also read a paper on `Rehabilitation of Arm Amputees in the Developing Countries' (Mechanical and Electronic Systems).
Upon sponsorship by the World Health Organisation (SEARO) Colonel Vohra attended the Eighth World Congress of the International Society for Prosthetic and Orthotics, at Melbourne, Victoria (Australia) from 02-07 April 1995. During the scientific session, he read papers on, `Psyche and rehabilitation of the arm amputees, including Electronic (Switch Control System) and Squatting Artificial Leg , followed by the screening of the Video Cassette, `THEY LIVE AGAIN'.
Invited by the Ministry of Welfare, Govt. of India, to attend the International Workshop on; `Indigenous Production and Distribution of Assistive Devices', organised under the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) Agreement from 05-06 Sept 1995. During the Seminar, he gave a talk on; `Myo-Electric Arms - (the Indian Scenario), which was highly appreciated by the delegates.
He was also invited by the Govt of Oman, to attend the `Combined Pan-Arab/GCG Orthopaedic Congress' held at MUSCAT from 11th to 14th September 1995, in connection with the celebrations of 25th year of His Majesty, Sultan Gaboos' rule of the Sultanate. He read a paper on; `Prosthetic-Orthotics, with Appropriate Technology in the Developing Countries , followed by the screening of the Video Cassette, `DISABILITY IS NO MORE A LIABILITY'.
Was invited by the Govt. of India, Ministry of Welfare to attend India-China Seminar as a delegate from India side, on Multi - Sectoral Collaborative Action on People with Disabilities, held at Ashoka Hotel, New Delhi from 25 Mar - 02 Apr 1997. An exhibition was also organised at the Seminar, displaying products of the Nevedac Prosthetic Centre. As these were highly appreciated by all the delegates, the Ministry asked him to organise another exhibition of the NEVEDAC products at the Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 12 - 20 Apr 1997 for the general public. It was a great success.
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In addition to the rehabilitation of the disabled persons, Colonel Vohra has also, contributed a lot in various social activities, to serve the cause of the suffering humanity. A few of these are given in the following paragraphs.
Colonel Vohra was a life member of the Indian Red Cross Society, Punjab State Branch and also, of the Union Territory of Chandigarh, besides;
(a) Co-opted Member of the Managing Body of the Indian Red Cross Society, Punjab State Branch, Chandigarh.
(b) Co-opted Member of the Executive Committee of St. John Ambulance Association, Punjab State.
Colonel Vohra had been associated with the profession of Prosthetics-Orthotics for over 53 years. He has been the founder of the modern concept of this profession in India. He had dedicated his life for this profession and for the disabled persons, so that:
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THEY LIVE AGAIN , to feel that
Disability is no more a liability .
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