Introduce yourself to Mr Chiropodist

SCIENTIFIC PEDICURE

From a celebrity to a commoner, from His Excellency to Her Highness and from politicians to public, he takes care of everyone’s feet.

He is not an MBBS but no less equipped to be certified as  a doctor. When it comes to feetcare, he is the name for all the problems. Meet Dharminder Kumar Wadhera, a Chiropodist.

Though the dictionary defines Podiatry as another name for Chiropody, the two are different as chiropody cures feet problems and does minor surgery without bleeding or pain.

Though the art of chiropody was introduced in India by British it was only Bata Shoes who decided to take further the legacy. Dharminder then an employee of Bata was sent to the company’s training institute in Kolkata to learn the art.

He says that the knowledge of chiropody is rendered through guru-shishya parampara, “I used to assist R R Sharma and V K Arora at the original outlet in Connaught Place and when they retired, I went for training to Kolkata in 2000 and acquired the skill of chiropody.”

Dharminder explains that his work requires “a lot of skill and patience” as he deftly cuts “a nail like an artisan who carves a jewel” and therefore calls it “scientific pedicure which is different from cosmetic pedicure available at beauty parlours.”
 
But what does he do? “A chiropodist treats corns, callouses and warts, indulges in diabetic footcare; nail care; foot surgery and almost all the problems of the feet area below the ankle.” And all this sans any pain! A boon for those suffering from various problems of the feet.

He has treated a number of people in his two decade old career. But the man believes in serving society and does not want to quit despite it being not a very lucrative job. He lists amongst his clients Kiran Bedi, Shabana Azmi, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, Rajya Sabha MP, Ram Vilas Paswan and former Speaker Lok Sabha Somnath Chatterjee to name just a few.

Yet, his hi-profile clientele does not mean an increase in fees.  
Sharing Kiran Bedi’s case Dharminder recollects, “When she became the first lady police officer, the shoes given to her along with uniform caused corns which used to give a lot of pain. After a successful treatment, she was extremely happy.”

The chiropodist shares the instance of Shabana Azmi, “Due to high heels, Shabana ji developed pain which was cured.” Likewise, there are several incidents that this humble professional remembers.

But what upsets him the most is people’s lack of awareness about “feet care. Most feet problems arise due to wrong footwear. Feet bear the weight of the whole body and yet are the most neglected body part.”