Crusader for tribal rights, plastic surgeon who made a mission out of personal tragedy in Padma Awards list

Tribal rights activist and burn victim turned surgeon from Karnataka named Padma awardees on Republic Day.

Two people from Karnataka — Somanna, a tribal rights activist from Mysuru district, and Prema Dhanraj, a plastic surgeon who treats burn victims from Bengaluru — are on the list of Padma awardees announced on the eve of Republic Day.

A burn victim turned surgeon, Dr. Dhanaraj, 72, originally from Vellore, Tamil Nadu, and a resident of J.P. Nagar, Bengaluru, survived with 50% of burns at the age of eight when a stove burst while she was playing in the kitchen. She triumphed over the personal tragedy to become a driving force of change.

She underwent more than 14 surgeries as a child at Christian Medical College, Vellore, and went on to become a Surgeon and Head of the Department (HoD) at the same hospital. After she completed her 10+2 education, she joined the MBBS course at KIMS, Hubballi. She completed her MD in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery from Christian Medical College at Ludhiana, Punjab, after which she returned to Christian Medical College, Vellore in 1989 as a surgeon.

She also served in Rajarajeshwari Medical College, Bengaluru, and became a visiting professor at Texas College in America. For nearly 30 years, she served as plastic surgeon, surgically repairing burnt bodies and reviving them.

To help burn victims, Dr. Dhanjraj and her sister Chitra established Agni Raksha, a non-government organisation (NGO), in 1999 to provide medical treatment and holistic rehabilitation for burn victims of economically weaker sections, especially women and children. Through the Agni Raksha, she provided free surgery to 25,000 burn victims. She also established Ethiopia’s first burns unit and educated doctors in Kenya, Tanzania, Norway and Ethiopia.

Speaking to The Hindu, Dr. Dhanraj expressed her happiness at being chosen for the award. “I am very happy that they have recognised me. I was quietly working without expecting anything, but this was very surprising. I don’t even know who nominated me to this great award,” she said.

The second awardee from Karnataka is Somanna who belongs to the Jenu Kuruba tribe from Motta haadi near H.D. Kote in Mysuru district. He has participated in various struggles for upliftment of the tribal community.