Meet the World's Youngest Surgeon: A Journey Began at Age Seven

In 2000, the name Akrit Jaswal entered the international spotlight. Though he was merely seven years old at the time, he had already been celebrated with the prestigious title of 'the world's youngest surgeon.'

Jaswal, born in 1993 in the Indian region of Himachal Pradesh, led an extraordinary, albeit challenging, life from the start.

His parents recounted how Akrit had learned to speak and walk by the tender age of 10 months. "By two, he could read and write, and by five, he was reciting Shakespearean plays and medical texts from memory," they shared.

As they watched in awe, observing their son comprehend the complex terminology of medical literature, they introduced him to a doctor-friend. This introduction marked the inception of his career. "Doctors in my hometown suggested my parents bring me along to observe a surgery on an eight-year-old girl. It wasn't very conventional, but then again, I wasn't the typical child, and my parents embraced that," Jaswal recalled.

The girl's family couldn't afford her surgery, yet despite being unlicensed at that time, Akrit's understanding of surgical procedures amazed the medical staff. He knew exactly what to do, where to touch, which tools to employ, and how to protect healthy tissue.

The doctors allowed Akrit to take charge of the surgery, at just seven years old, and to everyone's astonishment, he successfully executed the task—an accomplishment that was unparalleled for any child, but not for an acknowledged prodigy like him.

At twelve, Akrit enrolled at Chandigarh University, becoming its youngest student and further cementing his legacy. In media interviews, he spoke passionately about his profession, expressing his aspiration: "I hope to find a cure for cancer"—a statement that garnered him admiration worldwide.