Sahgal was born on 24 October 1914 as Lakshmi Swaminathan in Chennai, Madras Presidency, British India. Her father was Dr. S. Swaminathan, a lawyer who practiced criminal law at Madras High Court. Her mother was A.V. Ammukutty, better known as Ammu Swaminathan, a social worker and independence activist from the prominent Vadakkath family of Anakkara in Palghat, Kerala.
Sahgal chose to study medicine because of her desire to be of service to the poor, especially poor women. She received an MBBS degree from Madras Medical College in 1938. A year later, she received her diploma in gynaecology and obstetrics.
In 1940, she left for Singapore, where she established a clinic for the poor, most of whom were migrant laborers from India. It was at this time that she began to play an active role in the India Independence League. Read more