Gift of time: Anish’s watch joins hands he donated

KOCHI: Lakshmi and Anju pressed Gokulapriyan's hands to their faces and kissed them. Then they fastened a watch around his left wrist. It was their beloved brother Anish's favourite watch. A year ago, Anish's hands had been transplanted onto Gokulapriyan. Now, his watch too...

On October 22, 2025, the hands of A.R. Anish (38), a native of Parassala in Thiruvananthapuram, were transplanted onto Gokulapriyan, a native of Salem. The surgery was performed at Amrita Hospital under the leadership of Dr. Subramania Iyer.

Anish was a Deputy Prison Officer at Poojappura Central Prison. During a pilgrimage to Sabarimala, he suffered an epileptic seizure, fell and sustained serious injuries. After he was declared brain-dead, his family consented to donate his organs. Seven people are now living with the organs he donated.

In 2018, Gokulapriyan's hands were burnt in an electric shock accident. He had registered with Amrita Hospital, which performs hand transplant surgeries, hoping to receive a transplant. That was how, years later, he received Anish's hands.

Gokulapriyan had expressed to the hospital authorities his wish to meet Anish's family. The hospital authorities arranged a meeting. Gokulapriyan's mother was also present.

Rajya Sabha MP C. Sadanandan was the chief guest. Dr. Prem Nair, Group Medical Director of Amrita Hospitals; Dr. Subramania Iyer of the Department of Plastic Surgery; and Dr. Noble Gracious, Executive Director of K-SOTTO, were among those who attended.

Over the past 11 years, Amrita Hospital has successfully performed 41 hand transplant surgeries on 23 patients.