By his own telling, Professor Ajay Rane says his is a long story when asked to give a gist of his career. True enough. For a man who has literally transformed women’s healthcare not just in Australia but globally, and who has won numerous accolades for his humanitarian work, including being part of the Nobel Peace Prize team, his is a narrative of profound impact.
Speaking over Zoom from Townsville amidst his busy schedule, Rane shares in detail what has shaped his journey, his life, and his philanthropy. He also voices a grievance: despite global recognition, his country of origin, India, has yet to honour him, which he finds quite sentimental.
Born in England to an Indian father and a European mother, Rane spent his late childhood and early adulthood in a village in Maharashtra, India. His father, Murlidhar Rane, was a dedicated doctor who founded a charitable hospital in the village of Bhalod near Jalgaon. For 33 years, his father served the community before passing away.
Reflecting on his father’s legacy, Rane says, “He was my hero. Caring for him at the end of his life was as special as the birth of my two children.”
Not surprising then that his father was the catalyst for his journey. “Moving from England to a village without electricity was a significant transition, but it ignited my passion and commitment to improving healthcare in underserved communities.”
His decision to study medicine at B J Medical College in Pune stemmed from these stark inequalities he witnessed between rich and poor patients.
“I realised that women were often treated worse than men, both in India and globally, particularly those suffering from childbirth trauma or genital trauma from rape. I wanted to help these women,” he says. This realisation led him to train in England, where he spent ten years becoming a specialist pelvic surgeon.
During a global tour to address pelvic floor trauma, Rane had his first encounter with Australia in 1991, on his way to Papua New Guinea and Fiji. “I liked Australia,” he says. “In 1997, I was invited to help set up the medical school in Townsville and never left.”
Interestingly, in Townsville, Rane met Dr Sanjay Patole, with whom he co-produced the Bollywood film “Riwayat” (2010) to promote Indian women’s health. The film was selected at several film festivals, including Cannes, and won five awards at international festivals.
In 2018, Rane was over the moon when Dr Denis Mukwege, with whom he had been collaborating in the Congo since 2016, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for leading the team’s work on gender-based violence. Rane’s charity, Flourishing Women, founded in Australia, provides care for victims of such violence.
That’s not all—Rane has also made significant innovations in women’s health. He created the world’s first height-adjustable squat platform, Duneze, designed to optimise the ‘evacuation angle’ while using the toilet. He developed this patented design after extensive research at James Cook University.
Another innovation, the Peri Table, is a wooden table with collapsible legs donated to every operating table for gynaecological surgery.
A new, simple paper protractor called Episiometer is also in development, which helps ensure precise cuts during surgery. After a successful trial in Pondicherry, this cost-effective tool is set for global distribution.
Remarkably, Rane has been working pro bono since 2004, dedicating his expertise to improving women’s lives worldwide.
Rane is aware that the opportunities he has had are extraordinary. “One must be fortunate to not only see the need but also act on it. Life is comfortable here; there might be no need to take these steps. Yet, you can choose to build a hospital in the slums of Chennai in 2003 and run a fistula hospital pro bono for over 400,000 patients in the past 20 years and feel truly fulfilled by it.”
Indeed, Rane has many incredible stories that highlight the profound impact of his work. One such story involves a woman in Nasik who had lost all hope. She was a beggar suffering from a bowel fistula and, despite previous attempts to repair it, the procedure had failed twice.
Remarkably, she spoke to Rane in English, seeking help. Once a nurse, she had been cast out by her family due to her condition. Rane successfully repaired her fistula, and today, she works with a friend of his at a hospital in Nasik.
Rane’s charity, Flourishing Women, focuses on four key areas: combating female infanticide and foeticide, addressing genital mutilation, treating fistula and childbirth trauma, and tackling gender-based genital violence across 15 countries. Domestically, the charity also supports regional Australian education empowerment and assists Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities in women’s health.
The results of Rane’s global work are substantial. “We have achieved a 57% reduction in female genital mutilation, a 64% decrease in infanticide and foeticide over the past 20 years, an 80% reduction in birth trauma fistulas, and a 25% decrease in gender-based near-lethal rape,” he says.
Rane’s spiritual motivation lies in witnessing tangible changes and empowering doctors to become self-sufficient. “My drive is to ensure we reach even the most remote corners of this beautiful country,” he explains.
His perspective on life and work has also evolved significantly. “ Be human to human; it’s both simple and profound,” he reflects, capturing the essence of his approach.
In addition to his professional achievements, Rane is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at James Cook University, a Consultant Urogynaecologist at The Townsville Hospital, and a Visiting Medical Officer at various centres.
Outside of work, he remains active through triathlons, mountain climbing, and golf. “I have a lot of sharks in my tank,” he says with a laugh. “I also play the saxophone and am currently at Level 2 training to become a Buddhist monk, with four more years to go.”
Rane’s accolades include the Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Award for Humanitarian Work in Women’s Health in 2016, the Pride of Australia medal in 2019, and the Queensland Great honour in 2021, among many.
There is speculation that Rane may soon receive the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (PBS), the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians. While he says he is unaware of this possibility, he welcomes awards as opportunities “to tell our story.”
He adds, “I do yearn for recognition from my country, which is somewhat disheartening. Nobody should have to yearn. When your mother runs her hand over your head, it is the most precious.”
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Professor Ajay Rane @realpelvicguru has significantly advanced women's #healthcare globally, innovating & working pro bono. Despite international recognition, he seeks acknowledgment from India, his country of origin. 🩺🌏🏆👩⚕️🇮🇳 #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/b4oBI6mi5T
— The Indian Sun (@The_Indian_Sun) August 2, 2024
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