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Rather than chasing the well-known “American dream,” one Indian technologist discovered a different kind of purpose in his homeland — one that has had a profound impact on the lives of disadvantaged people.
Prashant Gade, the founder of the Inali Foundation, made a bold decision: he abandoned plans to study robotics in the United States and instead stayed in India to address a pressing social problem — the prohibitive cost of prosthetic limbs.
Gade’s turning point came when he met a seven-year-old girl born without arms. Upon learning that a standard prosthetic limb could cost around ₹24 lakh — far beyond the reach of most families — he was deeply moved.
Driven by this experience, he quit his job and started working on affordable prosthetics. The transition wasn’t easy. With little money and no support, Gade faced hardship, at times sleeping on railway platforms and eating sparingly to save costs. Despite this, he set up a small workshop in his garage and began designing prosthetic arms that could be made for roughly the price of a smartphone — a dramatic reduction from the original cost.
Today, the prosthetic arms developed by his foundation are provided for free to individuals who cannot afford them, dramatically improving mobility and quality of life for recipients.
Reflecting on his journey, Gade says he didn’t forfeit his American aspirations — he simply found a new dream in India. Seeing children use the prosthetics to eat, play, and embrace their loved ones gives him the deepest sense of fulfilment, something he believes no overseas job could offer.
