From vegetable stalls to Padma Shri: Dr. Vijayalakshmi Deshmane's rise in cancer surgery
Dr. Vijayalakshmi Deshmane, who overcame poverty and early academic setbacks, became a pioneering surgical oncologist and was awarded the Padma Shri in 2025.
Vijayalakshmi Deshmane grew up in a financially strained family in Karnataka, assisting her mother Ratnamma in selling fruits and vegetables while attending a Kannada-medium school. Despite early difficulties, including a failed physiology exam and language challenges, she persisted, completing her MBBS at Karnataka Medical College and becoming the first woman to obtain an MS in General Surgery from Government Medical College, Bellary.
Her surgical training continued at Tata Memorial Hospital, after which she joined Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in Bengaluru, where she rose to become the institute's first female professor and later head of the Department of Surgical Oncology. The deaths of her mother and sister from cancer motivated her to focus on breast-cancer research and early-detection initiatives, training generations of doctors along the way.
After retiring from surgery in 2015, she remained active in cancer awareness and social work, including leading the orphan-girls organization Abalashrama. In 2025, the Government of India recognized her lifelong contributions with the Padma Shri award.
Why it matters
Her story shows how determination can overcome poverty and gender bias, inspiring future doctors and highlighting advances in cancer care.
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