Dr. Thanjavur Santhanakrishna Kanaka, better known as Dr. T. S. Kanaka (1932-2018), was a revolutionary force in Indian neurosurgery. As the first female neurosurgeon in Asia, she blazed a path for women in a field dominated by men and introduced advanced neurosurgical techniques in India long before they gained global popularity.
Dr. T. S. Kanaka was born on March 31, 1932, in Madras (now Chennai), into a family deeply rooted in education and social values. Her father, Santhanakrishna, was the Deputy Director of Public Instruction. She was one of eight siblings and developed an early interest in spirituality and learning.
Kanaka completed her MBBS in 1954 from Madras Medical College, followed by a Master of Surgery in General Surgery in 1963. In 1968, she earned her MCh in Neurosurgery, becoming the first woman in Asia to achieve this feat.
Kanaka was one of the earliest female neurosurgeons in the world. She obtained her MCh in Neurosurgery in 1968, following only Diana Beck (United Kingdom, 1939)¹⁵ and Aysima Altinok (Turkey, 1959).¹⁶
She later obtained a PhD in 1972 for her research in stereotactic surgery on cerebral palsy patients, marking one of the earliest doctoral works in this subspecialty in India.¹
Dr. Kanaka is widely regarded as one of the earliest few women globally to enter the field of neurosurgery and is often referred to as a founding mother of neurosurgery in India.⁹
Dr. T. S. Kanaka entered neurosurgery at a time when very few women ventured into surgical disciplines. She faced gender-based discrimination, including repeated exclusion from operation theaters and the need to retake exams to prove her competence. Despite these challenges, she persisted with quiet determination and academic excellence.
Her mentors included eminent neurosurgeons such as Dr. B. Ramamurthi, Dr. A. Venugopal, and Dr. V. Balasubramaniam. Under their guidance, Kanaka joined the early stereotactic surgery team in Madras, contributing to what would become India’s first functional neurosurgery unit.²
She also played a key role in mentoring and training young neurosurgeons in frame-based stereotactic techniques, making such advanced skills accessible in India at a time when formalized training in functional neurosurgery was virtually nonexistent.¹⁰
Dr. T. S. Kanaka played a crucial role in introducing and expanding functional neurosurgery in India. She performed over 1,700 stereotactic surgeries, primarily for movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease.³ She was also among the first Indian surgeons to perform deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedures as early as 1975, a technique that would become a standard for managing certain neurological conditions decades later.⁴
Her contributions placed India on the global map of neurosurgical advancement at a time when resources were limited and global exposure minimal.
When stereotaxy began in Madras in 1960, she was a member of Dr. B. Ramamurthi's surgical team that conducted the first stereotaxic procedures in India.¹⁷ In 1973, she undertook a Colombo Plan Fellowship in Tokyo, where she was trained in advanced techniques like diaphragmatic pacing and phrenic nerve stimulation.¹⁸
Dr. Kanaka’s work laid the foundation for modern stereotactic and functional neurosurgery in India. Her methods were later recognized by neurosurgical communities globally.¹³
In 1962, Dr. Kanaka briefly served as a commissioned officer in the Indian Army during the Sino-Indian conflict. She later returned to Madras Medical College, where she remained a committed academician and surgeon until her retirement in 1990.⁵
Even after retiring from government service, she refused to engage in private practice. Instead, she dedicated herself to charitable work. In 1990, she founded the Sri Santhanakrishna Padmavathi Health Care and Research Foundation in Chromepet, Chennai. She remained dedicated to public service even after retirement, founding and running her charitable trust with the core mission of offering equitable, accessible care to marginalized populations.¹² The foundation aimed to provide free or low-cost medical services to the economically disadvantaged.⁶
Dr. Kanaka's humanitarian spirit extended beyond medicine. She was listed in the Limca Book of Records for donating blood 139 times, setting a national record.⁷ She also held honorary positions such as the President of the Asian Women’s Neurosurgical Association in 1996 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Neurological Society of India in 2014.⁸
In addition to Indian honors, she was posthumously recognized by the Asian Women’s Neurosurgical Association and the Asian Young Neurosurgeons Society for her trailblazing role in advancing the presence of women in neurosurgery.¹¹
After completing her MS in General Surgery, Kanaka lost her younger brother to illness at the age of nine. This personal tragedy deeply affected her and strengthened her resolve to remain unmarried and dedicate her life to medicine.¹⁴
Dr. T. S. Kanaka passed away on November 14, 2018, at the age of 86. Her journey continues to inspire generations of doctors, particularly women entering neurosurgery. Her life story remains a powerful reminder that excellence in medicine is not limited by gender but is driven by commitment, courage, and compassion.
As one of the very few women in a male-dominated field, Kanaka faced significant gender bias. During her postgraduate training, she was often passed over for surgeries and denied emergency room responsibilities. She had to reappear multiple times for examinations before being taken seriously. ¹³
In a world where women still face hurdles in surgical specialties, Dr. Kanaka’s legacy is not only medical but deeply social. She transformed adversity into achievement and left behind a blueprint of resilience for the next generation.
References:
Thirunavukkarasu, M., S. Rajapriya, and K. Sudhakar. “Dr. Thanjavur Santhanakrishna Kanaka: Asia’s First Female Neurosurgeon and a Pioneer of Functional Neurosurgery.” Cureus 11, no. 6 (2019): e4916. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.4916.
Ramamurthi, B., A. Venugopal, and T. S. Kanaka. “Development of Functional Neurosurgery in India.” Neurology India 40, no. 3 (1992): 123–28.
Chaurasia, R. N., and P. K. Maurya. “Historical Milestones in Indian Neurosurgery.” Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice 4, no. 1 (2013): 3–8. https://doi.org/10.4103/0976-3147.105601.
Rao, B. R. “Deep Brain Stimulation in India.” Asian Journal of Neurosurgery 9, no. 1 (2014): 15–20.
Sharma, Neeta. “Dr. T. S. Kanaka – First Lady Neurosurgeon of Asia and Pioneer in Functional Neurosurgery.” CME INDIA, June 1, 2023. https://cmeindia.in/history-today-in-medicine-dr-t-s-kanaka/.
“Sri Santhanakrishna Padmavathi Health Care and Research Foundation.” The Hindu, August 23, 2002.
Limca Book of Records. “Most Blood Donations by a Woman.” Limca Book, 2001 Edition.
Neurological Society of India. “Award Recipients.” NSI Archives. https://www.neurosocietyindia.com/awards.
Chidambaranathan, Rajalakshmi. “Dr. TS Kanaka: A Founding Mother of Neurosurgery.” Value Veda, June 17, 2019. https://womeninscienceday.org/ValueVeda/index.php/2019/06/17/dr-ts-kanaka-a-founding-mother-of-neurosurgery/.
Rajshekhar, Vedantam. “Functional Neurosurgery in India: A Tribute to T. S. Kanaka.” Journal of Neurosurgery 136, no. 4 (2022): 1164–1165. https://doi.org/10.3171/2021.7.JNS211981.
Asian Young Neurosurgeons Society. “Obituary: Prof. Thanjavur Santhanakrishna Kanaka.” Accessed June 29, 2025. http://asianyns.org/news/obituary-prof-thanjavur-santhanakrishna-kanaka.
Asian Women’s Neurosurgical Association. “Prof. T. S. Kanaka (1932–2018).” Obituary Tribute. 2018. http://asianyns.org/sites/default/files/Obituary_Prof_Thanjavur_Santhanakrishna_Kanaka.pdf.
Subash, M., and A. T. Ganesan. “T. S. Kanaka: The Pioneer of Functional Neurosurgery in India.” World Journal of Surgery 46, no. 3 (2022): 456–457. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-021-06286-y.
India Medical Times. “Interview: Dr T S Kanaka, Asia’s First Female Neurosurgeon.” India Medical Times. Accessed June 4, 2025. https://indiamedicaltimes.com/2021/03/10/interview-dr-t-s-kanaka-asias-first-female-neurosurgeon/.
Gilkes, Catherine E. “An Account of the Life and Achievements of Miss Diana Beck, Neurosurgeon (1902–1956).” Neurosurgery 62, no. 3 (2008): 738–742. https://doi.org/10.1227/01.NEU.0000317324.71483.e5.
Balak, Naci, and İbrahim Elmaci. “A Pioneering Female Neurosurgeon: Dr. Aysima Altınok.” Acta Neurochirurgica 149, no. 9 (September 2007): 943–948. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-007-1252-8.
Chidambaranathan, Rajalakshmi. “Dr. TS Kanaka: A Founding Mother of Neurosurgery.” Value Veda, June 17, 2019. https://womeninscienceday.org/ValueVeda/index.php/2019/06/17/dr-ts-kanaka-a-founding-mother-of-neurosurgery/.
Rajshekhar, Vedantam. “Functional Neurosurgery in India: A Tribute to T. S. Kanaka.” Journal of Neurosurgery 136, no. 4 (2022): 1164–1165. https://doi.org/10.3171/2021.7.JNS211981.
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