A journey through twenty years...

In ancient India - that is 'Bharat' - the sacred land of Lord Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Budha, the feet have assumed a very special importance. Humbly submitting with reverenco and sincerety to the sacred feet of Gods, Godesses and parents bring peace, happiness and sublimity to the soul. In all dances of India, classical to folk and those meant for the temples to court-dancing halls, the role of feet has supreme importance. Bare­footed walking and working, so popular in Indian sub-continent, deserve special care in all respects.

With all above consideration, the idea of forming a society of the Foot Surgeons of India was conceived as a challenge on the serene silent streets of Eastbourne, U. K. in 1979. I was not basically a foot surgeon, nor I am essentially today. Trained and groomed in the mixed environments of surgery and Indian Orthopaedic Surgery in its adolescent stage, I was not able to appreciate why Mr. (Prof.) B Helal , the present President of the C.I.P., picked me to invite to attend the C.I.P. Congress at Eastbourne U.K. and rather entrusted me to work something to form the Society of the Foot Surgeons in India. His words were "When lots of monumental works are being done in the fields of Foot and Ankle Surgery by the eminent Indian surgeons, then why they are shy about forming a Society of the Foot Surgeons and join the World Body - the C.I.P. ." With the challenging words or Mr. B. Helal during the parting dinner of C.I.P., Congress at Eastbourne in 1979, I was in a fix to commit anything and took up the challenge silently. While the ideas were roving in my mind, the soft affectionate patting from behind of Dr. Valente Valenti stimulated me and compelled to nod my head in affirmative.

Back home I pondered over it again and again and ultimately dared to circulate a probing letter to 360 orthopaedic surgeons of India. But I got reply from ONLY twelve surgeons, of course they were positive. I got discouraged and took it as my failure in my venture. Rather several of my colleagues in Indian Orthopaedic Association Meetings ridiculed my idea. I took it low-lying, however the fire was alive under the ashes. In the meantime another knocking challenge came from Mr. Helal, when he invited me to join galaxy of International Experts to contribute for an Encycloapedic book "THE FOOT' to be published by Churchill Livingstone U.K.. Believe me, I was pleasantly surprised, shocked and shaken over this unbelievable offer. However, I had to whole-heartedly accept this challenge with all humility. I started digging my capabilities slowly and simultaneously I became doubly alive of my task to organise the Society of the Foot Surgeons of India. Again in 1983, I circulated another probing letter with more enthusiasms among the Orthopaedic Surgeons of India. This time reply was from 23 surgeons and all in affirmative, however I felt that I again failed to push my way through. In the meantime I got the opportunity of visiting Tokyo to deliver the Guest lecture before the Japanese Foot Society, where I got some clues. While I was gathering momentum in this regards, my tail was twisted at the Lausanne-Suisse C.I.P. Congress for my failure in forming the Indian Foot & Ankle Society .

Coming back home a small working group was formed to initiate the activities in 1985 and in the meantime a big boost came with the sudden visit of our one of the best family friend Dr. Valente Valenti, the then Secretary-General of C.I.P., from Rome. I was lucky that Dr. Valenti chose to stay in my humble house as the Emissary of the World Body - C.I.P., worked and operated on several foot problems with me along with his sweet wife Mrs Romana Valenti, prepared the ground work of forming the Indian Foot & Ankle Society , and inspired us to take up certain research projects in his collaborations. Was it not a surprise to many of us (including me), when the Secretary General of C.I.P. announced the official formation of Indian Foot & Ankle Society on OL ll. 1987 / 02.11.1987 at Calcutta Indian Orthopaedic Association Conference in the presence of Revd. Mother Teresa. He also declared that the Works body (C.I.P.) had authorised him to announce the affiliation of the newly formed Indian Foot & Ankle Society to the C.I.P. on its merit, and he did it the same on the same occasion - thus was the birth of the Indian Foot & Ankle Society - a great day in the history of Indian Foot & Ankle Society .

Prof. Dr. Sureshwar Pandey
Secretary General
Indian Foot & Ankle Society