Dr. Vijayalakshmi Deshmane was born in 1955 and grew up in a Naatikeri slum in Gajipur of Gulbarga city. She completed her MBBS at Karnataka Medical College, Hubli in 1980 and did her MS at Bellary in 1983. Her mother, Rathnamma, was a vegetable vendor and her father, Baburao Deshmane, influenced by Indian Freedom Movement worked in the MSK Mill.
Dr Vijayalaksmi has six sisters and a brother. They grew up in extreme poverty, which is why as a child, she used to help her mother sell vegetables. Today, her brother, Ajay Ghosh, is a lawyer and her sisters- Samatha, Jagrathi, Nagarathna, and Jayashri are PhD holders! All of them have excelled in their field of choice.
Dr. Vijayalakshmi Deshmane is considered to be India’s foremost Cancer expert with many successful surgeries and numerous awareness camps to her credit. She serves as Vice President in Karnataka Cancer Society and is now available there for 15 days in a month for free consultation.
Dr. Vijayalakshmi worked in Kidwai Institute of Oncology, Bangalore, rose in ranks, and retired as the Head of the Department. She has also worked in Tata Memorial Hospital. In 1993, she received FAIS (Fellowship of Association of Indian Surgeons) fellowship. She has been honoured with numerous awards like Rashtriya Ratan, Shiromani National Award, Gold Medal by International Study Circle, Woman of the Year awarded by American Biographical Institute, USA, Kalash Award in recognition of outstanding service in the field of cancer from Rotary Group, and Rajyotsava award.