On her 100th birthday, Dr. Lakshmi Bai donates ₹3.4 crore to AIIMS Bhubaneswar to support women’s cancer care, marking a historic act of compassion
OdishaPlus Bureau
When Dr. K. Lakshmi Bai took the Hippocratic Oath many years ago, committing to uphold certain ethical standards in her medical practice and service to the community, it did not encompass any principles regarding the donation of her life savings for the enhanced treatment of women suffering from cancer. Nevertheless, she has undertaken this act without any formal guidelines or doctrines. On the occasion of her centenary birthday celebration, she intends to donate her entire life savings amounting to Rs 3.4 crore to AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
No extravagant parties or opulent gifts, but rather a deliberate choice that appears as remarkable as her extensive dedication to service.
A straightforward letter of commitment, which she signed, was submitted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar and acknowledged by the medical college and hospital in April 2025, remaining with her as a cherished document. She chose to keep her decision private, intending it as a gift for the gynecology oncology patients of AIIMS on her 100th birthday, December 5, 2025. However, her noble act became known within the medical community and subsequently to the broader public, receiving widespread appreciation and admiration.
Professor Dr. K Lakshmi Bai, one of the pioneering female gynecologists in Odisha, harbored a simple yet profound wish. “Let this funding establish a women’s cancer care and treatment center. Even after my passing, my efforts should continue to provide healing,” she expressed in an interview with ETV Bharat.
Born on December 5, 1926, in Berhampur, Dr. Lakshmi Bai was a student at SCB Medical College, Cuttack, as part of its inaugural MBBS class (1945–1950) and later obtained her DGO (Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology) and MD in Obstetrics & Gynecology from Madras Medical College in 1958. Her medical career commenced at the Sundargarh District Hospital in Odisha in 1950, and she ultimately retired from MKCG Medical College & Hospital in 1986.
She was honored by the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru for being the first physician to receive training in laparoscopic surgery for family planning in the United Kingdom. Dr. Lakshmi Bai subsequently performed hundreds of successful surgeries using this technique upon her return to India.
Throughout the years, she has treated thousands of women, assisted numerous mothers in delivering safely, and provided free medical care to the impoverished and vulnerable. Now, at the age of 100, she resides in a simple home in Bhabanagar, Berhampur.
All formal paperwork regarding the donation to the hospital has been finalized. “The fund is to be utilized solely for the treatment and care of women’s cancer. It is not merely a donation, but a continuation of my life’s mission, even after my passing,” she stated.
Her former pupils, senior gynecologists Dr. P. Bharati and Dr. Bharati Mishra, who are aiding in the coordination of this initiative, express that this act exemplifies her remarkable compassion, which will inspire many others.
When inquired about her decision to donate her entire savings, the doctor remarked, “All that I earned was from the people. It should be returned to them, particularly to the women who endure in silence.”
Residents, such as Kailash Chandra Panda, have commended her generosity, describing it as “a blessing for humanity.”
On December 5, she will officially present the donation to AIIMS during her 100th birthday celebration.
For a state that has witnessed her receiving accolades such as the Bharat Jyoti Award, the International Friendship Society Award, and the Best Citizen of India Award in recognition of her commitment to medical sciences, this appears to be the ultimate act of generosity – the crowning achievement of an extraordinary life.
