Vithal Nagesh Shirodkar Biography 
Vithal Nagesh Shirodkar was an Indian physician, obstetrician and gynaecologist, best known for Shirodkar Cerclage. Operations for prolapse repair, tuboplasty and creation of neovagina are a few more contributions, and he published many medical books related to gynecology and related subjects. In 1971, government of India honoured him with Padmabhushan for his overall contributions towards the field of medicine. He has earlier received Padma Bhushan in 1960. Known for the establishment of Family Planning Association of India, he served as a member of the Shantilal Shah Committee on Abortions. He was also known as V. N. Shirodkar, and he lived during the period, 1899-1971.
V. N. Shirodkar was born on 27 April 1899 in Shiroda, Goa. He completed his graduation in medical studies from Grant Medical College. For advanced studies he moved to United Kingdom and obtained his Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1931. Later he returned to India and started his career as a physician and continued with his research works as well. He joined J.J.Group of Hospitals in 1935 as Honorary Obstetrician and Gynecologist, where he continued years of medical service alongside research works. He invented Cervical cerclage, which was named as "Shirodkar cerclage”, for which he is known most. It was then regarded as a milestone invention, which helped to avoid many abortions and miscarries.
He studied the cervix in the non-pregnant and pregnant states, and understood the changes in anatomy and physiology. He was interested in the changing nature of cervix in normal pregnancy from a fibrous one to a dynamic muscular organ. His findings to the problem of habitual second trimester abortion was a surgery which put him and India firmly on the map of operative obstetrics and gynecology.
Published: September 17, 2018
Updated: September 17, 2018
