This Made-in-India Bionic Arm Is Helping People Without Limbs Live Independently |
When he was just 16, Vamsi Kolapaka lost his lower arm to an electric shock. The accident shattered his world.
His father, Mahender, worked as a security guard in an apartment complex, while his mother, Bharati, was a homemaker. In the aftermath, Vamsi withdrew completely.
Bullying forced him to drop out of school. He stopped stepping out of the house and survived on a monthly pension of Rs 2,000 — barely enough to meet basic needs. Dependent on his mother and stripped of confidence, life felt like it had come to a standstill.
Today, at 24, Vamsi’s life tells a very different story.
For the past two years, everything changed after Vamsi was fitted with KalArm, a bionic prosthetic arm developed by Makers Hive, a Hyderabad-based deep-tech start-up.
Now the brand ambassador for KalArm, Vamsi counsels others who have undergone amputations and demonstrates how the device enables everyday activities. Beneficiaries also receive five days of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) training to help them adapt with confidence.
With KalArm’s support, Vamsi lives independently. He cooks for himself, opens bottle caps, writes, and even cycles to work. Once shy and withdrawn, he now carries quiet confidence — and earns up to Rs 30,000 a month.
His journey mirrors that of Azim Patel, another beneficiary who lost both hands in a devastating fire. Azim underwent 16 painful surgeries on his long road to recovery.
What once felt like the end of independence became a new beginning when he was fitted with KalArm. Through determination and training, Azim relearned everyday tasks. Today, he drives an auto-rickshaw — reclaiming not just his livelihood, but his dignity.
Vamsi’s and Azim’s stories reflect KalArm’s core purpose: restoring independence, confidence,........