NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, JAN 19
Senior oncologist and chairperson of the Adyar Cancer Institute Dr V Shanta passed away in the early hours on Tuesday at the age of 93.
Dr. V Shanta will be remembered for her outstanding efforts to ensure top quality cancer care. The Cancer Institute at Adyar, Chennai is at the forefront of serving the poor and downtrodden. I recall my visit to the Institute in 2018. Saddened by Dr. V Shanta’s demise. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/lnZKTc5o3d
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 19, 2021
The veteran oncologist was admitted to a private hospital in the city last night after she complained of chest pain.
Her body has been kept at the old Cancer Institute premises, which she helped, build along with her mentor Dr. Krishnamoorthy.
Dr. V Shanta, chairperson of the Adyar Cancer Institute is no more. Forever in service of the poor and needy, she lived in a room within the hospital premises, with the singular mission of cancer cure. A saint, no longer among us. 🙏🏽
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) January 19, 2021
Dr Shanta was born on March 11, 1927, in Chennai to a family of two Nobel laureates in Physics. She completed her school education at National Girls High School and decided to take up medicine as a career. She pursued her degree from Presidency College in Chennai and enrolled for MBBS at Madras Medical College. She completed MBBS in 1940, DGO in 1952 and MD in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1955.
With the sad demise of renowned oncologist Dr V Shanta, we have lost a great humanitarian.
As Chairwoman of the Cancer Institute at Adyar, Chennai, she championed the cause of providing health to those without wealth.
My deepest condolences to her family.y pic.twitter.com/ywP0kfXv4k
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 19, 2021
In the early 1940s, Dr Shanta had shared in multiple interviews that women were not allowed to pursue a career and there was only a little knowledge on cancer treatments in the country.
Photo 1/3: Flash back to Sept 2016 . Silver Jubilee Celebrations of our Centre when we honoured Dr V Shantha with a Lifetime Contribution Award. She was so happy and gave a great speech. May her gentle soul in peace🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/MWQI2MXnNR
— Dr.V.Mohan (@drmohanv) January 19, 2021
In 1954, Muthulakshmi Reddy, MD, the first woman medical graduate of India along with Women’s India Association founded a first cancer centre – Cancer Institute – in the southern states and Dr Shanta soon joined the institute as the medical officer.
https://twitter.com/Vijayabaskarofl/status/1351367127798726656
After three years, she moved into the Cancer Institute and has been associated with Institute since April 13, 1955. Besides medical field, she was also administered the Avvai Home, an NGO for orphan girls and an aided institution attached to the Home in Adyar in Chennai.
மருத்துவ சேவையை ஆலயமாக உருவாக்கி ஆலமரமாக வளர்த்தவர். மருத்துவ சேவைக்கு ஒரு முன்னுதாரணமாக திகழ்ந்தவர். அவரை இழந்து வாடும் அவரது குடும்பத்தினருக்கும், அவரது பயனாளிகள் அனைவருக்கும் எனது ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கலையும், ஆறுதலையும் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன். (2/2)
— Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan (@DrTamilisai4BJP) January 19, 2021
Members of the medical fraternity as well as politicians have expressed condolences on social media after the demise of Dr Shanta.