Dr. Vijayalaxmi Deshmane Honored with Padma Shri for Medical Contributions

President Droupadi Murmu presented four Padma Vibhushan, 10 Padma Bhushan, and 57 Padma Shri Awards for the year 2025 at the Civil Investiture Ceremony, held at the Ganatantra Mandap of the Rashtrapati Bhavan on 28th April.

Dr. Vijayalaxmi Deshmane, a famous oncology surgeon, also received Padma Shri, fourth highest civilian award for her contribution to the field of medicine, especially for research activity in the field of Breast Cancer.

Born on 10 April 1955 in a slum at Kalaburagi, a backward district in Karnataka State, Dr. Vijayalaxmi belongs to Scheduled caste [Madiga] Community. Her mother was fruits and vegetables seller, and her father was freedom fighter from Kalaburagi. She received her MBBS from Karnataka Medical College Hubli (1980) and she was the first Lady MS student at government Medical College Bellary. She received her oncology training at Tata Memorial Hospital Mumbai.

Dr. Vijayalaxmi has served for 3 decades in the Department of Surgical Oncology at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology Bangalore. She joined there as the first lady senior resident and went on to serve as Director (In charge) of Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology.

She has led international breast cancer research projects, published in global journals, and presented her findings worldwide. From the pension benefits she has built a Shri Krishna Mandir at Banashankari Bangalore and planning a goshala as well.

Her inspiring life story was captured in the award-winning film Matangi Deevatige, which earned the Dadasaheb Phalke Achievers Award.

Dr. Vijayalaxmi has received numerous honors, including the Rajyotsava Award from the Government of Karnataka and an honorary Doctorate of Science for her outstanding service in surgical oncology.

She is currently Chairperson of BOG (Board of Governors) of IIIT Kottayam, Kerala [2023] and the Chairperson of BOG of IIITDM (Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design& Manufacturing) Kurnool, Andra Pradesh (Additional Charge) 2024.

Even after retiring from surgical practice in 2015, Deshmane remained dedicated to public service and a dedicated philanthropist by raising breast cancer awareness among the general public and serving as the president of Abalashrama, a shelter in Bengaluru that equips orphaned girls with essential life skills for self-sufficiency.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Dr. Thersa Lily Thomas/MSM)