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Against All Odds | A Pune AFMC topper who became paraplegic but did not stop: incredible story of Dr Harinder Dhaliwal, now a neurologist in Canada

Dr Harinder Dhaliwal’s journey has been a long and arduous one—from disbelief at the cruel twist of fate that changed his life overnight to deep gratitude for where he finds himself today.

6 min readPuneUpdated: Jul 27, 2025 10:20 PM IST

In British Columbia's Surrey, Harinder is now EEG & EMG Lab Director, Neurologist & Clinical Assistant Professor. (Express photo)

“When I look back at my journey—from the lecture halls of the AFMC in Pune to hospitals in Canada and in the US—what stands out most isn’t just the academic rigour or clinical milestones, but the people and institutions who believed in me when it would have been easier not to. These institutions didn’t just follow accessibility checklists—they extended human kindness. They allowed me to grow, to lead, to make mistakes, and to thrive,” says Harinder Dhaliwal, 48, speaking to The Indian Express from Canada, which has been his home for over 20 years.

He may have summed up his life in a couple of minutes, but the journey has been a long and arduous one—from disbelief at the cruel twist of fate that changed his life overnight to deep gratitude for where he finds himself today.

Harinder shifted to Canada in 2004. Kiran, born and brought up in Canada, was an IT professional and a quadriplegic.

Harinder, who shifted to Canada in 2004, is married to Kiran, an IT professional and a quadriplegic. (Express photo)

It was 1994 when Harinder Dhaliwal walked into the hallowed portals of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune with the distinction of having topped the entrance exam. In his final year, in 1998, while returning from visiting his father Col S S Dhaliwal, posted in the Siachen sector, the Army jeep he was travelling in met with an accident and Harinder suffered grave spinal cord injuries that left him paralysed from the waist downwards.

With almost a year spent in treatments, Harinder returned to the AFMC in a wheelchair to finish his medicine degree. However, when he graduated in 2000, it was without a commission and the MBBS degree. As per the rules, anyone not joining the defence forces after graduating from the AFMC would need to refund the fees. And Harinder, with his paraplegic status, was now unfit to join the forces. But he also did not have the requisite Rs 3 lakh, with his father already having spent double that amount on his treatment. It was here that the Ministry of Defence stepped in and waived his fees. His provisional certificate was changed to that of a certified doctor, helping him surmount the first obstacle after graduating and setting the tone for many others in store.

“After my spinal cord injury, there were moments of deep doubt—not just about walking again, but about whether I’d ever be able to practise medicine in the way I had once dreamed,” recounts Harinder, who also went to the US for further treatment. It became clear soon enough to him that he would have to be in a wheelchair forever.

But then his life took an unexpected turn. He met Kiran through a matrimonial site on which he had uploaded his details. After communicating for some time, he went to Canada to meet her in 2003. They married, and Harinder shifted to Canada in 2004. Kiran, born and brought up in Canada, was an IT professional and a quadriplegic.

Harinder completed his residency at the University of Calgary after moving to Canada and pursued a neurology fellowship at Yale University in 2017.

“An accident when she was two years old had paralysed her face downwards. She cannot move her arms or legs but runs an IT company and is completely mobile on her power chair, travelling often for work,” says Harinder, his voice tinged with pride and emotion.

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Harinder completed his residency at the University of Calgary after moving to Canada and pursued a neurology fellowship at Yale University in 2017, finally achieving super-specialisation in epilepsy. A few years ago, the couple moved to Surrey, British Columbia, where Harinder is now EEG & EMG Lab Director, Neurologist & Clinical Assistant Professor.

Anyone who felt a marriage where both partners are disabled would be a very difficult one had only to see Harinder and Kiran as they navigated their journey together.

“The system here is very disability-friendly. There are ramps everywhere —from buses to stations to trains. The government gives us two caregivers each. After I am helped to get ready in the morning, I leave for the hospital after breakfast and am then pretty much on my own, seeing patients in my clinic till evening. Kiran manages wonderfully—though she cannot type, she works with voice-activated devices and runs her entire company,” says Harinder.

Kiran’s company, which specialises in business optimisation consultation, is called Ray of Light, after her name.

CAVE HARRY

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“My success isn’t mine alone. It belongs to the mentors who opened doors, the programme directors who said ‘let’s find a way’, the nurses and staff who never questioned why I was in a wheelchair, and the patients who trusted me as their neurologist. They all chose to see my ability before my disability,” says Harinder, remembering how his AFMC classmates would carry him up and down the stairs after his accident and later how his Canadian colleagues always met him with understanding and flexibility.

But Harinder’s core team consists of his parents and wife. “My parents moved to Canada to be there for me and lived next door, and my wife has been my constant through every challenge and triumph. Her strength, encouragement, and belief in me kept me grounded and moving forward, even on the hardest of days,” he says.

Harinder looks forward to working 10-15 more years and then retiring. “I love India but will always stay and work in Canada and find ways to give back to this beautiful country that has given me so much,” he adds.

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More

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