Berhampur: In a world where generosity often fades before it is felt, acclaimed Odisha gyanaecologist Dr K. Laxmi Bai illuminated her 100th year with a gesture of remarkable benevolence.
Days before stepping into her centenary year, the revered doctor, who resides at Berhampur’s Bhaba Nagar, gifted Rs 3.40 crore, comprising her lifetime savings, to AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
With a voice touched by humility and hope, Dr. Laxmi Bai shared,
“It is my humble wish that this contribution helps establish a Gynaecological Oncology Programme, shaping future healers and offering hope to countless women,” said the doctor, who is a timeless embodiment of kindness and compassion.
Her words echoed the same tenderness and resolve with which she served generations of mothers and daughters across Odisha.
A legend in her own right, Dr Laxmi’s medical journey spans more than five luminous decades, marked by dedication, discipline and boundless compassion. She is celebrated not only for her clinical excellence but also for empowering women through accessible and dignified healthcare. Her life’s work continues to inspire countless medical professionals and ordinary citizens alike.
Born on December 5, 1926, Dr Laxmi scripted history at a young age — enrolling for the first-ever MBBS batch of SCB Medical College, Cuttack in 1945, and completing the degree in 1950. She finetuned her skills by earning DGO and MD in Obstetrics & Gynaecology from Madras Medical College in 1958.
Her brilliance earned her a coveted one-year stipend to pursue an MPH at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, USA. It was an experience that broadened her horizons and refined her vision of humane medical service.
Her remarkable 36-year-long journey in government service began in 1950 at Government Hospital, Sundargarh, and continued till her retirement in 1986 as Professor of O&G at MKCG Medical College, Berhampur.
Throughout her career, she remained a beacon of healing, compassion and professional integrity.
In recognition of her towering contributions, Dr Laxmi was conferred several prestigious honours, including Lady Eminence of South Odisha 2012, Bharat Jyoti Award, International Friendship Society 2020 and Best Citizen of India Award 2021.
. Thousands of women, mothers, and families continue to remember her as the gentle yet fearless healer who restored health, dignity, and hope.
As Dr Laxmi, whose impact is woven into the very fabric of Odisha’s medical history, steps into her 100th year, she has chosen not celebration but service, not remembrance but legacy. Her extraordinary donation stands as a shining message that a life lived for others is the truest measure of greatness.
