From severe burn victim at age eight to a medical legend. 

That’s the story of Dr. Prema Dhanraj who gave online followers the details in a Zoom call on March 6 and left them with a message of hope and inspiration.

When little Prema Dhanraj poured fuel on a fire in a kitchen stove, the flames that erupted severely burned her face and neck and even reached her larynx.  That ended her dream of being a singer.  She spent 15 hours in surgery that saved her life at CMC Vellore.

Yes, the singing dream was gone, but the catastrophe didn’t stop her from dreaming, thanks to her mother’s support and inspiration.  Her mother told her she had a choice: she could give up any ambitions, feel sorry for herself, and have a miserable life of dependency, or she could have a happy and satisfying life by applying herself through work, optimism, and faith in God.

The mother’s message: “Have faith in God and confidence in yourself.  Work hard, trust God, and be humble.  Take life as it comes and seek the best.  And, remember, happiness is contagious.”

Her mother said she made a deal with God, “Heal my little girl and I’ll see that she becomes a doctor.”

And, what a doctor she became!  As a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, she conducted more than 25,000 free surgeries for poor patients in a 30-year career at CMC Vellore, while also becoming head of the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.  She won numerous awards in India (including the country’s fourth highest) and in the UK and US.

At age 74, she still performs some surgeries although retired from her hospital post.  And she stays in touch with many of the physicians she taught and monitored.

CMC Vellore presented the online lecture in celebration of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day 2026.  It was, after all, a woman, Dr. Ida Scudder, who founded CMC in 1900 and set it on a path to becoming one of India’s largest and most prestigious medical institutions.