A childhood injury
Dr. Prema Dhanraj’s story is one of the most powerful examples of personal experience turned into medicine. According to government and independent profiles, she was badly burned in a household fire at the age of eight. Several reconstructive operations at CMC Vellore saved her life, and later she made that very field her profession.
Becoming the surgeon
According to her official Padma citation, she earned a BSc (1974), MBBS (1980), MS (1986) and MCh in Plastic Surgery (1988). She worked at CMC Vellore in various roles from 1980 to 2010 and became Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery in 1998, playing an important part in developing its burn unit and MCh training programme.
Agni Raksha
In 1999 she founded Agni Raksha to help burn survivors from poor families, especially women and children, with reconstructive care, rehabilitation, skills and returning to society. She later continued medical teaching and surgical work in Bengaluru.
The heart of her story is not the dramatic line “victim becomes doctor” but long professional skill. Childhood trauma set the direction; years of training, surgery, teaching and rehabilitation work made it a lasting contribution. Burn care does not end with surgery.
Sources
- Padma Awards 2024: official citation
- Agni Raksha: official website
- The Indian Express: burns survivor turned plastic surgeon
- padmaawards.gov.in/Document/pdf/CitationsForTickets/2024/202450.pdf
- agniraksha.org/
- indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/padma-shri-prema-dhanraj-burns-survivor-plastic-surgeon-9134053/
- ndtv.com/video/looks-don-t-matter-life-is-precious-padmashri-awardee-dr-prema-dhanraj-756739