Muthulakshmi Reddy was born on 30 July 1886 in Thirukokarnam, Pudukkottai (then a princely state, now in Tamil Nadu, India). Her father, S. Narayanaswami Iyer, was Principal of Maharaja’s College; her mother, Chandrammal, was born into the Devadasi tradition. From her earliest years Dr. Reddy displayed intellectual curiosity and a strong resolve to pursue education even when social expectations for girls were restrictive.
Muthulakshmi Reddy’s schooling began in her childhood under her father’s support. When she reached puberty, she had to leave formal schooling but she continued her studies from home. She passed the Matriculation Examination at a young age.
She applied to Maharaja’s College, Pudukkottai, though it was then a men’s college. Her admission faced objections but the Raja of Pudukkottai, Martanda Bhairava Thondaman intervened, and she was admitted under certain conditions. She excelled in her studies. Later she joined Madras Medical College in 1907 as the only female medical candidate in her year. She completed her medical degree in 1912, winning distinction, multiple gold medals and accolades. After graduation Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy became the first woman House Surgeon at the Government Maternity and Ophthalmic Hospital in Madras.
In 1914 she married Dr. Sundara Reddy under the Native Marriage Act of 1872. From the beginning she insisted on being treated as an equal and that her husband respect her choices.
Her family background, particularly her mother's Devadasi heritage, influenced her compassion and her lifelong efforts to reform oppressive social systems.
After becoming a qualified doctor, Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy extended her concern beyond medicine into social reform. She opposed the practice of the Devadasi system, child marriage, trafficking of women and children. She was an early advocate for raising the minimum age of marriage for girls. She also worked to have medical inspections in schools, improve sanitary conditions, promote health care for women and children, and support access to education for underprivileged girls.
She helped found the Women’s Indian Association (WIA) in 1917, aligning with leaders like Annie Besant. Later she took on leadership roles in organisations concerned with women’s rights and welfare.
In 1926 Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy was nominated to the Madras Legislative Council, making her one of the first women legislators in British India. She used her legislative role to introduce policies and motions to protect women and children, to advance public health, and to change laws that discriminated on the basis of gender. Among her important legislative successes was contributing to the enactment of the Devadasi Abolition Bill in 1947.
She also resigned from the Council in 1930 in protest of the arrest of Mahatma Gandhi during the Civil Disobedience Movement.
One of the defining moments came in 1930 when three Devadasi girls came to her seeking refuge. Since schools and hostels refused them on caste grounds, Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy opened her residence to them. Out of that experience Avvai Home (also known as Avvai Illam) was born. It provided shelter, education, vocational training for girls and orphans. Over the years it grew, moving to Adyar and continuing to shelter many.
The death of her sister from cancer profoundly impacted her decision to create a dedicated institution for cancer treatment. Working with the WIA she helped found the Adyar Cancer Institute in 1954. She envisioned it as a place where people from all socioeconomic backgrounds could receive care. The institute now is one of India’s leading cancer care, research and teaching centres.
Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy remained active in social welfare throughout her life. She was appointed the first Chairperson of the State Social Welfare Advisory Board, first woman Deputy President of the Madras Legislative Council and held other pioneering roles in governance and welfare.
Her work earned her high honours. In 1956 she was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India.
She died on 22 July 1968 in Madras (now Chennai). Her life continues to inspire through institutions like Avvai Home and the Adyar Cancer Institute, through reforms she initiated, and through the many lives she touched.
Her birth date, 30 July, is observed in Tamil Nadu as Hospital Day in her honour.
On 30 July 2019, Google celebrated her 133rd birth anniversary with a commemorative Doodle. Illustrated by Bangalore-based guest artist Archana Sreenivasan, it highlighted her contributions as an educator, surgeon, legislator, and reformer, bringing her legacy to global attention.
The building she lived in, known as ‘Shanti’, located on the Avvai Home campus, has fallen into a state of disrepair. The two-storeyed structure in Indo-Saracenic style bears traces of its former grandeur but has been neglected. The property lies on land owned by the Tiruvannamalai temple devasthanam and issues of rent, maintenance and legal custody have complicated restoration efforts. Many who lived there in their childhood recall its high ceilings, portico, stained glass and its calm atmosphere.
Meanwhile Avvai Home continues its mission. Recent school batches have achieved excellent academic results; many of the girls are supported into higher education through scholarships. The Home shelters orphaned, deserted and underprivileged girls, offering them education and protection.
Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy’s journey from the daughter of a Devadasi to a doctor, legislator, and reformer reflects courage and determination. She remains an enduring icon of women’s empowerment and social justice in India.
References:
“Contributions of Dr S Muthulakshmi Reddy.” ResearchGate. Accessed September 15, 2025. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358470471_Contributions_of_Dr_S_Muthulakshmi_Reddy.
“Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy.” Cancer Institute (WIA), Adyar. Accessed September 15, 2025. https://cancerinstitutewia.in/doctor/late-dr-muthulakshmi-reddy/.
IIC Occasional Publication 44: “Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy – A Pioneer in Women’s Rights.” India International Centre, January 21, 2013. https://aws-static.iicdelhi.in/s3fs-public/2020-11/22612January212013_IIC%20Occasional%20Publication%2044.pdf.
Indian Express. “How Muthulakshmi Reddy Became British India’s First Woman Legislator and Madras Presidency’s First Woman Doctor.” The Indian Express, July 30, 2023. https://indianexpress.com/article/research/how-muthulakshmi-reddy-became-british-indias-first-woman-legislator-and-madras-presidencys-first-woman-doctor-9894758/.
Nayar, K. Balaji. “House of Muthulakshmi Reddy, India’s First Woman Medicine Graduate, in a Dilapidated State.” The Hindu, March 12, 2023. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/house-of-muthulakshmi-reddy-indias-first-woman-medicine-graduate-in-a-dilapidated-state/article69891056.ece.
Sundararaman, V. “The Incredible Story of India’s Revolutionary Feminist Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy (1886–1968).” Cureus 16, no. 6 (2024). https://www.cureus.com/articles/256584-the-incredible-story-of-indias-revolutionary-feminist-dr-muthulakshmi-reddy-1886-1968#!/.
Sundararaman, V., and D. R. Subramanian. “Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy: A Feminist Icon of Modern India.” Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India 74, no. 1 (2024): 1–3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11258213/.
“Today in Medicine: Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy.” CME India. Accessed September 15, 2025. https://cmeindia.in/history-today-in-medicine-dr-muthulakshmi-reddy/.