Google features Muthulakshmi Reddy in doodle

PTI, Jul 30, 2019, 7:40 PM IST

Chennai: The most-used search engine on the internet, Google dedicated its doodle on Tuesday to Muthulakshmi Reddy, known for firsts, on her 133rd birth anniversary.

Born in 1886 in Pudukottai princely state, Reddy is one of the country’s first set of successful women doctors in the early 20th century and the first woman legislator.

The doodle illustration by a Bengaluru-based guest artist Archana Sreenivasan shows the Padma Bhushan awardee (1956) carrying a book in her right hand while her left is shown guiding other women in the background.

Despite several restrictions, Reddy completed her education and was admitted into the medical profession in 1912.

After her stint in the medical profession, Reddy joined Madras Legislative Council in 1926 and became the first legislator in the country.

In 1954, she founded Adyar Cancer Institute in Chennai and died in 1968 at the age of 81.

“Constantly breaking barriers throughout her life, Reddy was a trailblazer who devoted herself to public health and the battle against gender inequality, transforming the lives of countless peopleespecially young girls,” the Google said in its description.

Sreenivasan said the main inspiration for this doodle was Reddy herself, adding: “I tried to let a sense of her energy, determination, and clarity shape this doodle.”

Tamil Nadu government announced July 30 as ‘Hospital Day’ to honour Reddy’s contribution to society and medicine.