Bhakti Yadav

Dr. Bhakti Yadav (3 April 1926 – 14 August 2017) was an Indian physician renowned as the first female doctor of Indore and one of the earliest women in Central India to earn a medical degree. Affectionately known as “Doctor Dadi”, she dedicated her entire life to serving humanity, especially the poor and underprivileged, providing free medical care for over seven decades. Her extraordinary compassion, simplicity, and selfless service made her an enduring symbol of dedication in the field of medicine.

Early Life and Education

Bhakti Yadav was born on 3 April 1926 in the small village of Mahidpur, in the Ujjain district of Madhya Pradesh, India. Coming from a traditional family background, she grew up in a period when girls’ education was often discouraged. However, her father, a strong believer in education, encouraged her to pursue schooling despite social constraints.
She attended a local school and later moved to Indore for higher studies. Determined to become a doctor, she joined Holicross Medical College, Mhow, where she excelled academically. In 1948, she graduated with a degree in medicine, becoming the first female MBBS doctor from Indore and among the first women doctors in Madhya Pradesh.
Her achievement was not just a personal milestone but also a landmark moment for women’s empowerment in post-independence India, breaking barriers in a profession then dominated by men.

Medical Career and Service

After completing her medical studies, Dr. Bhakti Yadav began her career as a government doctor at the Nandalal Bhandari Maternity Home in Indore. Later, she worked with the Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital, where she served tirelessly in the field of gynecology and obstetrics.
Throughout her career, she remained deeply committed to social service. In an era when medical access was limited, she provided free medical care to countless patients from economically weaker sections of society. Her guiding principle was simple yet profound — no patient should be denied treatment for lack of money.
In the 1980s, she established her own clinic, the Vimla Nursing Home, named after her late friend, where she continued to serve patients without charging consultation fees. Many women, especially from rural and marginalised communities, relied on her for medical care.
Over the course of her life, it is estimated that Dr. Yadav delivered more than 1.5 lakh babies (150,000) and treated thousands of patients free of cost, often visiting homes to assist those who could not travel.

Philosophy and Values

Dr. Bhakti Yadav believed that medicine was a calling of compassion rather than commerce. She viewed every patient as a member of her own family, treating them with empathy, patience, and personal care.
Her humility was legendary — she lived a simple life, never sought wealth or recognition, and continued to treat patients even in her 80s and 90s. For her, service to humanity was the greatest form of devotion.
She often said:

“A doctor’s true reward is the smile of a cured patient.”

Her humanitarian approach inspired generations of doctors and healthcare workers to view medicine as a moral and social duty.

Awards and Recognition

Dr. Bhakti Yadav’s lifelong service to society earned her several awards and honours:

• In 2017, she was conferred with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, for her contribution to medicine and social service.
• She received numerous state and local awards from medical and social organisations recognising her humanitarian efforts.
• Even after her retirement from formal government service, her work continued to be celebrated as a model of selfless dedication to community health.

When the Padma Shri was announced, she humbly remarked that she had never sought any award, only the goodwill of her patients.

Personal Life

Dr. Yadav was married to Dr. CS Yadav, who was also a medical professional. The couple shared a common passion for service and worked together for several years. They had children who also pursued careers in medicine, continuing their parents’ legacy of compassion and service.
Despite her busy professional life, Dr. Yadav was deeply involved in family and community welfare. She balanced her roles as a doctor, wife, and mother with remarkable grace and energy.

Final Years and Legacy

Even in her later years, when her health began to decline, Dr. Bhakti Yadav continued to treat patients from her home. She passed away on 14 August 2017 at the age of 91, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy of service and compassion.
Her death was widely mourned across India, especially in Indore, where thousands of her former patients, colleagues, and admirers paid tribute to her. The government and medical institutions honoured her as a pioneer of women in medicine and a true servant of humanity.

Significance and Inspiration

Dr. Bhakti Yadav’s life represents the highest ideals of the medical profession — selflessness, service, and empathy. At a time when healthcare is often seen through the lens of business and technology, her example reminds society of the moral essence of healing.
Her work contributed to:

• Promoting women’s education and entry into medicine.
• Expanding maternal and child healthcare in Central India.
• Encouraging community-oriented medical practice rooted in compassion.