The girl with eight limbs.

Date:
2008
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About this work

Description

In 2005 in a remote village in Northern India a little girl was born to Poonan Tatua who had 4 arms and 4 legs. Revered as the reincarnation of Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth and fortune, the villagers have accepted and worshipped her. However, paediatric surgeon Dr. Sharan Patis believes she should undergo surgery as he thinks that the extra limbs belong to a parasitic twin which will prove fatal if left untreated. There have only ever been a handful of parasitic twins known about in the world and an operation to separate them has never occurred in India, neither has there been a case in which the parasitic twin is joined at the pelvis to the host twin. Medical science and society clash here as her parents and the villagers who worship her are opposed to the surgery. The parents agree to the surgery and leave the village for the first time to travel 2000 miles to the modern city of Bangalore. The programme includes detailed surgical footage of the separation, which is successful. The parents move away from the village and are helped to have a much better quality of life. However, they go on believing she is the Goddess Lakshmi.

Publication/Creation

UK : Channel 4, 2008.

Physical description

1 DVD (60 min.) : sound, color.

Contributors

Copyright note

Zig Zag Productions

Notes

Broadcast on 20 February, 2008.

Type/Technique

Languages

Where to find it

  • LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores
    4052D

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