An old photograph of a Pune resident, who once suffered from a severe jaw deformity, has resurfaced online and is now being misused to spread racist comments against Indians. The man, Rajendra Panchal, lived for 38 years without being able to open his mouth properly due to a childhood accident. His story had once gained attention because of the rare surgery that finally restored his jaw movement and allowed him to eat solid food for the first time in decades. However, instead of highlighting his recovery, several X (formerly Twitter) users have used his pre-surgery photo to mock Indians.
The Rare Condition That Affected Rajendra Panchal
Panchal suffered from Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) ankylosis, a rare medical condition in which the jaw joint becomes fused to the skull. Because of this, he could not chew food properly and survived mostly on liquid and semi-solid meals for many years. The lack of proper nutrition also left him malnourished.
His health struggles continued until a long-lasting toothache forced him to seek medical help. Doctors then identified the underlying condition and recommended corrective surgery.
Life-Changing Surgery in Pune
A team of surgeons at MA Rangoonwala College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre performed the rare and complex procedure nearly eight years ago. The surgery restored Panchal’s jaw movement, allowing him to open his mouth fully and eat normally after decades.
Importantly, the operation was done free of cost, as Panchal did not have the financial means to pay for the treatment.
Photo Misused on X to Target Indians
Profile pic: Location: pic.twitter.com/vzGLt0jUeu
— Not Jerome Powell (@alifarhat79) November 24, 2025
In recent days, Panchal’s old pre-surgery photograph has been picked up by several accounts on X, especially from the United States. The image is being used to make racist and insulting comments about Indians, leading to widespread criticism online.
One of the posts misusing his picture gained over 11 million views in just 48 hours. Many users have condemned the behaviour, calling it insensitive and dehumanising.
Social Media Users Speak Out Against Racism
A number of X users spoke up in support of Panchal and against the trend of using images of people with medical conditions for mockery.
This is Rajendra Panchal from Maharashtra. When he was 1, he fell and his jaw fused shut. His family was too poor for surgery.
For 38 years he could only drink liquids and faced constant bullying.
Choose kindness, not racism. https://t.co/73FqirgPRA pic.twitter.com/PL8Llfa5jC
— Mr Hindu You 🇮🇳 (@MrHinduYou) November 26, 2025
Several American X accounts have used these images recently to openly put out rac¡st posts targeting Indians.
— Akash Srivastava (@isrivastavas) November 26, 20
The person shown in the photo is Mr. Rajendra Panchal, who works as a helper in Maharashtra.
At the age of one, he fell on his face and broke his jaw, which remained… pic.twitter.com/1PPk2cCfdP
“Using images of disfigured or disabled people to mock a group of people is despicable behaviour that should not be tolerated,” one user wrote.
