In the bustling city of Pune, India, where the hum of life never quite stops, Dr. Ganesh Rakh has been quietly rewriting the story of what it means to welcome a daughter. His journey, sparked by a deep-rooted desire to challenge societal norms, has transformed him into a beacon of hope, delivering over 2,400 baby girls free of charge at his Medicare Hospital. This isn’t just a biography—it’s a tale of grit, compassion, and a man who chose humanity over profit, inspired by his mother’s wisdom and driven by a mission to save the girl child.
A Humble Beginning
Born to a coolie—a porter carrying heavy loads for a living—Dr. Rakh grew up knowing hardship like an old friend. His family scraped by, but his sharp mind and relentless drive earned him scholarships that carried him through medical school. “I wasn’t supposed to be a doctor,” he chuckles, leaning back in his chair at Medicare Hospital. “I wanted to be a wrestler, you know? Big dreams of throwing opponents to the mat!” His eyes sparkle with the memory, but then soften. “My mother, though—she had other plans. She’d say, ‘Ganesh, become a doctor. Protect those angel girls. They need you more than the wrestling ring does.’”
Her words stuck. They weren’t just a suggestion; they were a call to action. In 2007, Dr. Rakh opened Medicare Hospital in Pune’s Hadapsar area, a modest maternity and multispecialty facility. But it wasn’t until 2012 that his true mission took shape, sparked by a reality he couldn’t ignore.
The Spark of a Revolution
Dr. Rakh saw it every day: the joy of families when a boy was born, sweets passed around, laughter filling the hospital corridors. But when a girl arrived? Silence. Sometimes tears. Occasionally, outright anger. “I’d walk into the room to deliver the news,” he recalls, his voice heavy. “And I’d see their faces fall. ‘It’s a girl,’ I’d say, and it felt like I was delivering bad news. Mothers would cry, relatives would vanish. Some even refused to pay the hospital bill.”
The 2011 Indian census hit him hard: only 914 girls for every 1,000 boys under seven. Female foeticide was a silent epidemic, fueled by a cultural preference for sons. “It’s like a genocide,” he told a colleague one evening, staring at the numbers. “Six crore cases in a decade. How can we call ourselves civilized?” His colleague shrugged, saying, “That’s just how it is, Ganesh.” But for Dr. Rakh, “just how it is” wasn’t good enough.
On January 3, 2012, coinciding with the birth anniversary of social reformer Savitribai Phule, he launched the Mulgi Vachva Abhiyan—Marathi for “Campaign to Save the Girl Child.” “I told my staff, ‘From today, if a girl is born, we charge nothing. Zero. And we celebrate her like she’s royalty.’” His team thought he was mad. “You’ll bankrupt us!” they protested. But Dr. Rakh, with a glint in his eye, replied, “I’ve lived with less. I know how to survive. This is about saving lives, not money.”
A Celebration for Every Angel
At Medicare Hospital, the birth of a girl became a festival. The staff decorated the ward with flowers and balloons, cut cakes, and handed out sweets. They’d sing, shower petals on the newborn, and call her an “angel.” Dr. Rakh remembers one father, a daily wage laborer named Santosh, who arrived in 2021, terrified he’d have to mortgage his home for his wife’s cesarean section. “Doctor, what is it?” Santosh asked, his voice trembling after the delivery. Dr. Rakh smiled warmly. “You’ve been blessed with an angel.” Santosh hesitated, then whispered, “The bill, sir?” Dr. Rakh placed a hand on his shoulder. “When angels are born, I don’t charge a fee.”
Santosh fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face. “Sir, you are God,” he choked out. Dr. Rakh laughs recounting it, waving off the praise. “God? No, I’m just a man trying to do what’s right.”
Since 2012, Dr. Rakh has delivered over 2,400 girls without charging a paisa, waiving fees that could cost ₹25,000 for a normal delivery or ₹50,000 for a cesarean. Each birth is a statement: girls are not burdens; they’re blessings. “I see every girl as my own daughter, Tanisha,” he says, his voice softening. “When parents come back years later and say, ‘Doctor, my girl is thriving,’ that’s my paycheck.”
A Movement That Crossed Borders
What started as a “small thing” in a Pune hospital grew into a global movement. Dr. Rakh’s Beti Bachao Janandolan (Save the Girl Child Movement) spread like wildfire. He reached out to doctors across India, urging them to join. “Do one free delivery,” he’d plead. “Just one.” Thousands responded—over 400,000 doctors, 13,000 organizations, and 2.5 million volunteers worldwide, from Bangladesh to Sudan, Canada to Nepal. In Bangladesh, inspired by Dr. Rakh, hospitals began offering free treatments for girls, tackling child marriage and gender discrimination.
His work caught the eye of Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan, who called him a “real hero.” The BBC featured him in their 2016 “Unsung Indians” series, with journalist Geeta Pandey writing, “Dr. Rakh’s tiny contribution is changing minds in a big way.” Industrialist Anand Mahindra, moved by a 2025 post on X, dubbed him “an angel of grace and generosity,” sharing the story of the laborer who called him God. “This man’s compassion,” Mahindra wrote, “reminds us how to start a week with purpose.”
Dr. Rakh shrugs off the fame. “I didn’t expect this,” he admits, sipping chai in his cluttered office. “I just wanted to change a few minds. But when people like Mahindra or Bachchan notice, it amplifies the message. That’s what matters.”
Challenges and Triumphs
It wasn’t all smooth sailing. His family worried about the financial toll. “My wife, Trupti, runs the hospital’s operations like a magician,” he says, grinning. “She makes it work despite the losses.” Staff initially resisted, fearing the hospital would fold. And then there were the families—some who walked away without paying for boys’ deliveries, others who saw girls as curses. Dr. Rakh recalls a chilling moment: a husband slapping his wife in the ward, furious she’d birthed a girl. “He screamed he’d marry again for a son,” Dr. Rakh says, shaking his head. “That’s when I knew this fight was bigger than me.”
But change came. Families who once shunned daughters began returning with gratitude. “One mother told me, ‘I was going to abort her, but you made me see her worth,’” he shares, his eyes misting. By 2022, he noted a drop in female infanticide cases, a sign of shifting attitudes. His marches through Pune’s streets, rallying for daughters, drew crowds. “We’d shout, ‘Beti Bachao!’” he says, mimicking the chant. “People joined in. It felt like we were waking up a city.”
A Legacy of Love
Today, at 51, Dr. Rakh remains unstoppable. His daughter, Tanisha, now a teenager, is his biggest cheerleader. “She tells me, ‘Papa, you’re saving my sisters,’” he says proudly. His hospital, though small, is a symbol of hope, where every girl’s birth is a victory over prejudice. He’s inspired doctors like Dr. Satish Andhale Patil, who’s delivered girls for free since 2017, and Dr. Sachin Sanap, who’s celebrated 250 free deliveries with cakes and baby care kits.
Dr. Rakh’s dream? A world where he can charge fees again. “The day people celebrate daughters like sons,” he says, leaning forward, “I’ll know my work is done. Until then, I’ll keep ordering cakes.” His laugh fills the room, but his resolve is ironclad.
A Final Word
Dr. Ganesh Rakh isn’t just a doctor; he’s a revolutionary in a white coat, turning societal sorrow into joy, one baby girl at a time. His story, lauded by the BBC, Anand Mahindra, and countless families, proves that small acts can spark massive change. “I’m no hero,” he insists, but the 2,400 girls he’s delivered—and the millions he’s inspired—would beg to differ. As he puts it, “If I can save one girl, maybe she’ll grow up to be a prime minister. Who knows?”
Stay blessed, Dr. Rakh. Your angels are changing the world.
Dr. Ganesh Rakh: The “Unsung Indian” Featured in BBC’s Series
Dr. Ganesh Rakh, an Indian gynecologist profiled in the BBC’s “Unsung Indians” series. This series, launched in 2016, highlights ordinary people making extraordinary contributions to society in India. Dr. Rakh was the inaugural feature, recognized for his pioneering campaign to combat gender bias and female foeticide by providing free deliveries for baby girls at his hospital in Pune, Maharashtra.
Background and Inspiration
Dr. Ganesh Rakh, born into a poor family in Maharashtra—his father was a porter and his mother a domestic worker—overcame hardships to become a doctor. He initially aspired to be a wrestler but pursued medicine after his mother’s encouragement. In 2007, he founded Medicare Hospital in Pune’s Hadapsar area. As a gynecologist, he witnessed firsthand the societal preference for sons, which led to a declining child sex ratio in India: from 976 girls per 1,000 boys in 1961 to just 914 in 2011, according to census data. Families often celebrated boys with sweets and joy but reacted with disappointment or even refusal to pay bills for girls, sometimes leading to neglect or worse.
Shocked by the 2011 census and inspired by his own nine-year-old daughter (his only child), Dr. Rakh launched the “Mulgi Vachva Abhiyan” (Save the Girl Child Campaign) on January 3, 2012—the birth anniversary of social reformer Savitribai Phule. His “tiny contribution,” as he calls it, was simple yet revolutionary: waive all delivery fees (normal: ₹25,000; C-section: ₹50,000) if a girl is born, and celebrate the birth with cakes, flowers, songs like “Happy Birthday Dear Angel,” and sweets distribution. This turned a potentially somber event into a joyous one, challenging deep-rooted biases.
Impact and Achievements
- Scale of the Initiative: In the first four years (by 2016), 464 girls were born at his hospital without charge. By 2021, this rose to over 2,000; by 2022, 2,430; and as of 2025, over 1,000 more, totaling well beyond 3,000 free deliveries. The campaign has inspired over 400,000 doctors, 13,000 NGOs, and 2.6 million volunteers across India through the Beti Bachao Jan Andolan (BBJA) network.
- Changing Attitudes: Families who once shunned daughters now visit Dr. Rakh to share stories of their girls’ successes, crediting the initiative for saving lives. For instance, a daily wage laborer in 2025 avoided mortgaging his home after a free C-section for his daughter, calling Dr. Rakh “God.” Other doctors, like Dr. Satish Andhale Patil and Dr. Sachin Sanap in Pune, have adopted similar policies, delivering hundreds of girls for free.
- Global Reach: The campaign has spread beyond India. In 2024, Dr. Rakh was invited to Bangladesh by the Bangladesh Private Clinic and Diagnostic Owners Association (BPCDOA), where he conducted awareness sessions in villages. Hundreds of clinics there now offer concessions for girl births, addressing issues like child marriages and gender discrimination. It has also inspired efforts in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Pakistan, Nepal, and African countries.
- Challenges Overcome: Initially, his family and staff opposed the financial losses, but his wife Trupti now manages operations, and his daughter Tanisha inspires him. Dr. Rakh funds it personally, stating, “What kind of doctor thinks about money over saving lives?” He plans to resume charging fees only when society fully celebrates daughters.
BBC’s “Unsung Indians” Feature
The BBC article, titled “Ganesh Rakh: The doctor who delivers India’s girls for free,” was published on January 30, 2016, by journalist Geeta Pandey. It detailed a visit to his hospital during the celebration of a girl’s birth to parents Nisha and Rahul Khalse, a construction laborer who chose Dr. Rakh’s facility despite closer options for the free service. The piece highlighted the gender ratio crisis, female foeticide as a “national shame” (as called by then-PM Manmohan Singh), and Dr. Rakh’s role in the broader fight. This launched the “Unsung Indians” series, which later profiled others like cancer counselor Mark Rego and a volunteer firefighter in Kolkata. A Hindi version was available on BBC Hindi, with social media extensions on Facebook and Twitter.
The story gained traction amid ongoing issues, like the 2017 discovery of 19 female foetuses in Maharashtra, which Dr. Rakh cited as evidence of persistent “genocide-level” foeticide.
Recent Recognition (2025)
On August 25, 2025—just a day before the current date—industrialist Anand Mahindra shared the story on X (formerly Twitter), calling Dr. Rakh an “angel of grace and generosity” and his “Monday Motivation.” As a father of two daughters, Mahindra emphasized how the initiative turns potential sorrow into celebration, urging reflection on community impact. The post went viral, with netizens praising it as true heroism and calling for government awards. IAS officer D. Prasanth Nair’s original post detailed a recent free delivery, amplifying the story globally.
Dr. Rakh’s work aligns with national campaigns like “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” (launched 2015), but he stresses mindset change over laws, as sex-selective abortions persist despite bans. During COVID-19, he noted potential rises in such practices due to delayed censuses and overburdened systems.
How to Support or Learn More
- Contact: Visit drganeshrakh.com for details on donations or involvement. The hospital is at Medicare Hospital Foundation, Hadapsar, Pune.
- Inspiration: Dr. Rakh urges everyone—doctors, influencers, citizens—to act in their spheres. “If my story inspires you, save a girl in your way—even one life matters.”
- Broader Context: India’s child sex ratio improved slightly to 929 girls per 1,000 boys by 2020 (NFHS-5), but challenges remain, especially in urban middle-class areas.
Dr. Rakh embodies quiet heroism, proving individual actions can spark societal change. If this isn’t what you meant or you need more details (e.g., videos or specific aspects), let me know!
‘As a father of two daughters..’: Anand Mahindra hails Pune doctor who charges no fee for girl child births
By
Mahipal Singh Chouhan
Published on: Aug 25, 2025 06:24 pm IST
Anand Mahindra praised Pune doctor Ganesh Rakh, who waived delivery fees for over 1,000 baby girls, calling him an angel of grace and generosity.
Industrialist Anand Mahindra turned his Monday Motivation post into a powerful message of compassion by highlighting the extraordinary work of a Pune-based doctor who has dedicated his career to protecting the girl child.
Anand Mahindra hailed Dr Ganesh Rakh, who delivered baby girls free of charge.
The story was first shared by D Prasanth Nair on X, where he narrated the moving account of a daily wage labourer whose wife underwent a caesarean delivery at Dr Ganesh Rakh’s hospital. Fearing an unaffordable bill, the man was left speechless when Dr Rakh told him, “When angels are born, I don’t charge any fee.” Overcome with emotion, the labourer fell at his feet, calling him “God.”
(Also read: ‘Nothing lasts forever’: Anand Mahindra shares timeless lesson from 44 years in business)
Nair further revealed that Dr Rakh has followed this practice for over ten years, delivering more than a thousand girls free of cost. Inspired by his mother’s words, “Become a doctor and protect these angel girls,” Dr Rakh proudly calls his initiative a mission to save daughters.
Mahindra’s praise
Sharing the story, Mahindra wrote on X: “As a father of two daughters, I know twice over what it’s like when an angel is born in your house. But this Doctor is also an angel. An angel of Grace and Generosity. And this post has reminded me that there is no more powerful way to start a week than by asking yourself how your goals and your work will positively impact your community. Doctor Ganesh Rakh is my #MondayMotivation.”
Check out the post here:
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