Who Is Pune Man Rajendra Panchal? His Old Photo With Fused Jaw Is Being Misused Online To Target Indians

Who Is Pune Man Rajendra Panchal? His Old Photo With Fused Jaw Is Being Misused Online To Target Indians

A photograph of Pune resident Rajendra Panchal, taken before he underwent a rare jaw surgery nearly eight years ago, has again circulated online, but this time it is being used to target Indians with racist remarks. Several accounts on X have shared the old image, stripping it of context and turning it into material for mockery.

Panchal spent 38 years unable to properly open his mouth after an accident in childhood left him with a severe jaw deformity. He lived with Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) ankylosis, a condition in which the jaw joint fuses with the skull. Because he could not chew food, he survived mainly on liquid and semi-solid meals, leading to long-term malnutrition. A persistent toothache eventually pushed him to seek medical help, and doctors recommended immediate surgical intervention.

The Indian meme guy is Rajendra Panchal from Pune. At the age of 1, he fell on his face and misaligned his jaw. His parents were unable to get him medical attention. His jaw fused together, he had difficulty speaking and subsisted on a liquid diet for the next 38 yearsIn 2018,… https://t.co/MlVMVY1Fgw pic.twitter.com/1O9g16GHQp

— Derek Fine Allen🛑 (@DFine2002) November 25, 2025

Specialists at Pune's MA Rangoonwala College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre carried out the complex treatment that finally restored movement to his jaw. The procedure was offered free of cost as Panchal could not afford it, and the surgery allowed him to eat solid food for the first time in decades.

Several American X accounts have used these images recently to openly put out racist posts targeting Indians.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/7B761ewqJb

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) November 25, 2025

Despite this recovery story, the pre-surgery photo has now resurfaced for the wrong reasons. A section of US-based users on X has circulated the image to ridicule Indians, with one post gathering more than eight million views.

pic.twitter.com/FwOsbm712z— Secular Talk (KyleKulinskiShow@bsky.social) (@KyleKulinski) November 23, 2025

The misuse of Panchal's image has sparked strong criticism online. One user wrote, “Mocking an entire country or community by using the image of someone who suffered a life changing disfigurement isn't humour, it's cruelty built on prejudice. It reflects the same dehumanising mindset that fuels extremist hate, where human suffering becomes a prop for mockery."

Mocking an entire country or community by using the image of someone who suffered a life changing disfigurement isn't humour it's cruelty built on prejudice. It reflects the same dehumanising mindset that fuels extremist hate, where human suffering becomes a prop for mockery— Sethukrishnan (@The_Architexxt) November 25, 2025

Another comment also condemned the trend, stating, “This image is being widely circulated by racists to relentlessly attack Indians. I am not surprised though, what else do you expect of lowlifes?"

This photo being widely circulated is the photo of a disabled man who lost his ability to eat after an accident during his infancy. This image is being widely circulated by racists to relentlessly attack Indians.I am not surprised though, what else do you expect of lowlifes? https://t.co/L6kDLTVt3I pic.twitter.com/hezchyFu2Y— Mayukh (@mayukh_panja) November 25, 2025

A different user called the act “deeply hateful," saying, “What has been done to this man is unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. Using someone's image, especially of a person who has already endured immense hardship, to fuel racist, dehumanising narratives is cruel, irresponsible and deeply hateful."

What has been done to this man is unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. Using someone's image—especially of a person who has already endured immense hardship—to fuel racist, dehumanizing narratives is cruel, irresponsible, and deeply hateful— Nightmare♟️ (@memer_hon) November 25, 2025

The emotional impact of the resurfaced photo was echoed in yet another response: “I found out about this today and, God, his story is so heartbreaking," wrote a user, adding that those “who used him as a meme deserve hell."

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I found out about this today and God, his story is so heartbreaking. Ppl who used him as a meme deserve hell https://t.co/PvWH2QTzxB— 🇩🇯₊˚ʚ (@youarethekibo) November 25, 2025

The circulation of Panchal's old photo has highlighted how easily personal images can be stripped of context and weaponised online. While users across X have strongly condemned the racist remarks, the episode also serves as a reminder of the real human stories behind such images, and the responsibility that comes with sharing them.

Source: News18
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