In 1965, An eight-year-old girl Prema was playing in the kitchen, and the stove burst on her face. Half of her body was burnt. No one knew if she would survive. The burns were so deep, that neither her face nor her life would ever be the same. She was taken to Christian Medical College, Vellore. Prof Joseph treated her with care. She survived but required 14 surgeries over several years. It only strengthened her resolve. She completed her MBBS in Hubli, and Dr. Prema Dhanraj eventually landed in the same CMC, Vellore as an MCh Plastic Surgery Resident. Dr Joseph was her guide & mentor! Ultimately she became the Head of Plastic Surgery at CMC Vellore, the very same hospital that pulled her life from the jaws of death. Dr Prema Dhanraj was a visiting professor at the University of Texas, sharing her expertise. In 1999, she started Agni Raksha, India’s only not-for-profit organization dedicated to the total care & rehabilitation of burns victims, mostly women & children from poor families. On this republic day, she was awarded Padma Shri, one of the most deserving. डर मुझे भी लगा फ़ासला देख कर, पर मैं बढ़ता गया रास्ता देख कर, खुद ब खुद मेरे नज़दीक आती गई, मेरी मंजिल मेरा हौंसला देखकर। 😊 #DrPremaDhanraj #DrJoseph #UniversityofTexas #PadmaShriAwarded2024 #DrSureshKPandeyKota #DrVidushiSharmaKota #SuViEyeHospitalKota