Every morning before heading to school, a young girl in a village helped her mother sell fruits and vegetables on the streets. The family lived in a slum, money was scarce, and every member contributed to making ends meet. Few could have imagined that this girl would one day become one of India’s most respected cancer surgeons and receive the Padma Shri.
That girl is Dr. Vijayalakshmi Deshmane.
Born on 10 April 1955 in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, Dr. Deshmane belonged to the Madiga community. Her father, Babu Rao Deshmane, was a freedom fighter and social worker, while her mother, Ratnamma, sold fruits and vegetables to support their large family. Despite their hardships, her parents believed education was the only path to a better future.
Life tested her early. She studied in Kannada medium, helped her mother sell vegetables before and after school, and even failed Physiology in her first year of MBBS. Devastated, she returned home believing her dream was over. It was her younger sister who persuaded her to give herself another chance.
The family faced another hurdle when they couldn’t afford her medical college admission. Her mother sold her mangalsutra to pay the fees—a sacrifice Dr. Deshmane has never forgotten.
She completed her MBBS from Karnataka Medical College, Hubballi, and became the first woman to earn an MS in General Surgery from Government Medical College, Ballari. She later trained in surgical oncology at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, and earned a fellowship from the Association of Surgeons of India.
Her career at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, broke several barriers. She joined as its first woman Senior Resident in Surgical Oncology, became the first woman faculty member, later headed the department, and eventually served as Director (In-charge). Over three decades, she performed thousands of cancer surgeries, mentored young surgeons, and became a leading name in breast cancer research.
As Principal Investigator, she led international breast cancer research projects published in global medical journals and presented her work at conferences in India and abroad.
Her commitment to society extended far beyond the operating theatre. She led breast cancer awareness campaigns, especially for women in underserved communities, served as President of the Karnataka Cancer Society, and continued mentoring and educating even after retirement.
A philanthropist, she used her pension savings to build the Shri Krishna Mandir in Bengaluru and has been working towards establishing a goshala near Hubballi. She has also served on the Boards of Governors of institutions such as NIPER, IIIT Kottayam and IIITDM Kurnool.
Her remarkable life inspired the feature film Matangi Deevatige, which was screened at the Bengaluru International Film Festival and later received the Dadasaheb Phalke Achievers Award.
Her decades of service have earned her several honours, including the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, an honorary Doctor of Science degree, international recognition for breast cancer research, and the Padma Shri in 2025.
For Dr. Vijayalakshmi Deshmane, success was never about overcoming poverty alone. It was about ensuring that every hardship she endured became a reason for someone else to receive better treatment, better care, and a better chance at life. That is the legacy she continues to leave behind.
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