Muthulakshmi Reddy—A Trailblazer in Surgery and Women's Rights is the story of a pioneer path-creator for women. She was the first girl student in Maharaja’s School for Boys in Pudukkottai, the first Indian woman surgeon from Madras Medical College, the first Indian member of the Women’s Indian Association, the first woman member of legislature of Madras Presidency, the first woman deputy speaker and the first alderwoman.

In this book, the author describes the indomitable spirit of a woman who campaigned to get rid of the practice of wet nurses, fought for girls’ education and widow remarriage, equal property rights for women, education reform, and rural healthcare for women. She took up the case of getting the practice of dedicating young girls as Devadasis, abolished.

This monograph describes how Dr Reddy established Avvai Home for poor and destitute girls, from where thousands have graduated and found their feet. Thereafter, following a successful career as a specialist in gynaecology and obstetrics, she founded the Cancer Institute in Adyar, Chennai, which has grown to be an iconic hospital for cancer treatment throughout Asia.

This book is a part of the series - Pioneers of Modern India. Other books in the series:
a) Homi J. Bhabha: A Renaissance Man among Scientists

b) Heisnam Sabitri:The Way of the Thamoi

c) RK Laxman: Back with a Punch

d) Jamini Roy:A Painter Who Revisited the Roots

e) Sarada Devi: Holiness, Charisma and Iconic Motherhood

f) Charu Majumdar: The Dreamer Rebel

g) Rani Gaidinliu: Legendary Freedom Fighter from the North East

About the author

V R Devika is a well-known story teller, educationist and Gandhi scholar, with a PhD on M.K. Gandhi’s communication strategies. She is known as a cultural activist, having been associated with the inception of Chennai’s Dakshinachitra Heritage Museum and Tamil Nadu INTACH.