House of Muthulakshmi Reddy, India’s first woman medicine graduate, in a dilapidated state

Sitting among large tamarind trees and mounds of clay is a run down building on Besant Avenue in Adyar in which Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy, the first woman from India to graduate in medicine and the force behind the founding of the Cancer Institute (W.I.A.) Adyar, lived for over 30 years form 1936.

The land on which it sits belongs to the Tiruvannamalai Sri Arunachaleswarar temple. The land had no compound wall or security for such a large place, and when this reporter visited the place, someone was plucking tamarind from a tree.

“Water stagnates during rain and the place is infested with insects and snakes. There have been incidents of men hiding among the trees. It should be cleaned and steps should be taken to provide some lighting,” said Ananth, a local resident.

V. R. Devika, who has written a book on Dr. Reddy, said the doctor was the first woman legislator in British India. She took land from the Arunachaleswarar temple on lease to build the Avvai Home and another piece of land adjacent to it from the temple to build a home for her family. So many girls who studied in the home have gone into become nurses and teachers. “In 1942, when some soldiers who had camped near the Adyar River tried to harass the girls, she stood vigil with a big stick in her hand. She then went to the local British commandant and told him she will hold him responsible if something happens to the girls. The house urgently needs repairs and maintenance,” she said.

Senior advocate N.L. Rajah explained that Justice M. Dhandapani “was kind enough to grant the prayer of the Avvai Home for Girls and the Cancer Institute (W.I.A.), Adyar” to maintain the house in which Dr. Reddy resided on land belonging to the temple and has already been handed over to them. The works will be taken up using funds from the Institute.

Temple and heritage enthusiast Padmapriya Baskaran said that the house could be restored into a memorial as a testimony for Dr. Reddy’s service to girls and women. It is August, and with Madras Day nearing, it would be great if the restoration is taken up soon, she added.

Sources in the Avvai Home and Institute said they were ready to take up the renovation of the building. “We need access to the structure. We have written to the temple authorities seeking permission. Once that is obtained, we can go ahead with the work. We would like to put the building to good use. Maybe have a free dispensary, a library, or provide some kind of training for women.”

Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments P.K. Sekarbabu assured that he would inspect the site soon. “The government headed by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has taken steps to safeguard lakhs of acres of lands belonging to temples. This land will be put to proper use,” he said.