Meet Kamala Selvaraj, Doctor Who Commissioned South India’s First Test-Tube Baby

Renowned for commissioning South India's first test-tube baby in August 1990 and India’s first surrogate baby in 1994, Dr Kamala Selvaraj’s identity shines beyond being the daughter of yesteryear superstar Gemini Ganesan. In an era where many children of celebrities follow in their parent's footsteps, few stand out as exceptional examples of individuals who forge their unique paths to success. One such inspiring figure is Dr Kamala Selvaraj, a renowned gynaecologist based in Tamil Nadu, whose remarkable achievements in her field inspire many women.

Who Is Dr Kamala Selvaraj?

Dr Kamala Selvaraj was born on December 13, 1948, to the celebrated actor Ramasamy Ganesan, famously known by his stage name Gemini Ganesan, and his wife Alamelu. Gemini Ganesan, affectionately called "Kaadhal Mannan" (King of Romance), was renowned for his romantic roles in Tamil cinema. Dr Kamala was raised alongside her sisters—Revathi and Jayalakshmi, who both became doctors, and Narayani, a journalist. Dr Kamala is also the half-sister of superstar Rekha, who is the daughter of Gemini Ganesan with his second wife, actor Pushpavalli.

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She attended Sacred Heart Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Chennai and went on to pursue her MBBS at Kasturba Medical College, Karnataka, graduating in 1967. She later completed her house job at Madras General Hospital and her PhD in Reproductive Physiology, marking the start of her distinguished medical career.

An Ace Gynecologist

After undergoing training in IVF in Australia and Singapore, Dr Kamala Selvaraj established a fertility research centre with Assisted Reproductive Technology at GG Hospital named after her father in 1989. Since then, she has done groundbreaking research and technological advancements at her Chennai-based hospital. She commissioned India’s third and South India’s first test tube baby by IVF in 1990. Four years later, she made another groundbreaking achievement by delivering the first surrogate baby in India in 1994. 

She also used her very own concept of the FROOTI Technique to programme and deliver a baby in 1995. 

Miracle Twins: Southeast Asia’s First Surrogate Births For MRKH Patient

The Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) Syndrome is a congenital condition that impacts the reproductive system in females. It is marked by the underdevelopment or absence of the uterus and the upper portion of the vaginal canal, while the external genitalia remain typically formed and the ovaries function normally.

On January 19, 2001, Dr Kamala Selvaraj made history by becoming the first in Southeast Asia to deliver twins via surrogacy for a patient with MRKH Syndrome. Known as ‘The Godmother’ to thousands of couples, Dr Kamala Selvaraj has enriched countless lives by bringing the priceless gift of motherhood to fruition. Her late husband, Dr Somiah Francis Victor Selvaraj, a renowned cardiologist and physician used to work alongside Selvaraj at GG Hospital. 

Her son, Dr Prof. Deepu Rajkamal Selvaraj, serves as the Managing Director and an Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeon, while her daughter, Dr Priya Selvaraj, follows in her mother’s footsteps, advancing research in reproductive technology.

Dr Kamala Selvaraj’s remarkable journey serves as an inspiration to women who take tough paths and achieve great success.