INDIA FIRST FEMALE DOCTOR ANANDBHAI GOPALRAO JOSHI DIED 1887 FEBRUARY 26

INDIA FIRST FEMALE DOCTOR 

ANANDBHAI GOPALRAO JOSHI 

DIED 1887 FEBRUARY 26

Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi (Marathi: आनंदीबाई गोपाळराव जोशी) (31 March 1865 – 26 February 1887) was one of the earliest Indian female physicians.[1][2] She was the first woman of Indian-origin to study and graduate with a 2 years diploma in medicine in the United States. She is also believed to be the first woman to set foot on American soil from India.[3] She has many variations of spelling of her name, including; Anandibai Joshee and Anandi Gopal Joshee

Early life[edit source]

Joshi was born as Yamuna, in Kalyan of the Thane district in present-day Maharashtra, to an orthodox Hindu family. Her family used to be landlords in Kalyan but lost their economic wealth. As that was the practice at that time, Yamuna was married at the age of nine to Gopalrao Joshi, a widower almost twenty years her senior, due to pressure laid by her family.

After marriage, her husband renamed her Anandi.[citation needed] Gopalrao Joshi worked as a postal clerk in Kalyan. Later, he was transferred to Alibag, and then, finally, to Calcutta (today, Kolkata). He was a progressive thinker, and supported education for women, which was not very prevalent at the time.[4] It was common for Brahmins in those times to be proficient in Sanskrit. However, influenced by Lokhitawadi's Shat Patre, Gopalrao regarded learning English as more pragmatic than learning Sanskrit. Noticing Anandibai's interest, he helped her receive an education and learn English.[citation needed]

At the age of fourteen, Anandibai gave birth to a boy, but the child lived only for ten days because the medical care necessary for his survival was unavailable. This situation proved to be a turning point in Anandibai's life, and inspired her to become a physician.[5]

Towards a medical career[edit source]


Gopalrao encouraged Anandibai to study medicine. In 1880, he sent a letter to Royal Wilder, a well-known American missionary, stating Anandibai's interest in studying medicine in the United States, and inquiring about a suitable post in the US for himself[citation needed]. Wilder offered to help if the couple would convert to Christianity. This proposition, however, was not acceptable to the Joshi couple.

Wilder published the correspondence in his Princeton's Missionary Review. Theodicia Carpenter, a resident of Roselle, New Jersey, happened to read it while waiting to see her dentist. Anandibai's desire to study medicine, and Gopalrao's support for his wife impressed her, and she wrote to them offering Anandibai accommodation in America. An exchange of many letters between Anandibai and Theodicia ensued in which they discussed, among other things, Hindu culture and religion.

While the Joshi couple was in Calcutta, Anandibai's health was declining. She suffered from weakness, constant headaches, occasional fever, and, sometimes, breathlessness. Theodicia sent her medicines from America, without results. In 1883, Gopalrao was transferred to Serampore, and he decided to send Anandibai by herself to America for her medical studies despite her poor health. Though apprehensive, Gopalrao convinced her to set an example for other women by pursuing higher education.

A physician couple named Thorborn suggested Anandibai to apply to the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania. On learning of Anandibai's plans to pursue higher education in the West, orthodox Hindu society censured her very strongly. Many Christians supported her decision, but they wanted her to convert to Christianity.

Anandibai addressed the community at Serampore College Hall, explaining her decision to go to America and obtain a medical degree. She discussed the persecution she and her husband had endured. She stressed the need for Hindu female doctors in India, and talked about her goal of opening a medical college for women in India. She also pledged that she would not convert to Christianity. Her speech received publicity, and financial contributions started pouring in from all over India.

In America[edit source]

Anandibai Joshee graduated from Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania (WMC) in 1886. Seen here with Kei Okami (center) and Tabat Islambooly (right). All three completed their medical studies and each of them was the first woman from their respective countries to obtain a degree in Western medicine.
Anandibai travelled to New York from Calcutta by ship, chaperoned by two English female acquaintances of the Thorborns. In New York, Theodicia Carpenter received her in June 1883. Anandibai wrote to the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania, asking to be admitted to their medical program,[6] (which was the second women's medical program in the world). Rachel Bodley, the dean of the college, enrolled her.

Anandibai began her medical education at age 19. In America, her declining health worsened because of the cold weather and unfamiliar diet. She contracted tuberculosis.[5] Nevertheless, she graduated with an MD on 11 March 1886; the topic of her thesis was "Obstetrics among the Aryan Hindus". On her graduation, Queen Victoria sent her a congratulatory message.[5]

Return to India[edit source]
In late 1886, Anandibai returned to India, receiving a hero's welcome. The princely state of Kolhapur appointed her as the physician-in-charge of the female ward of the local Albert Edward Hospital.

Anandibai died early the next year on 26 February 1887 before turning 22. Her death was mourned throughout India. Her ashes were sent to Theodicia Carpenter, who placed them in her family cemetery in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Bibliography[edit source]
In 1888, American feminist writer Caroline Wells Healey Dall wrote Joshi's biography.[4][7]

Doordarshan, an Indian public service broadcaster aired a Hindi series directed by Kamlakar Sarang named "Anandi Gopal" based on her life.[citation needed]

Shrikrishna Janardan Joshi wrote a fictionalised account of her life in his Marathi novel Anandi Gopal. It has also been adapted into a play of the same name by Ram G. Joglekar.[citation needed]

Marathi writer Dr. Anjali Kirtane has done extensive research on the life of Dr. Anandibai Joshi and has written a Marathi book titled 'Dr. Anandibai Joshi, Kaal ani Kartutva' (meaning: Dr. Anandibai Joshi, her times and accomplishments) published by Majestic Prakashan, Mumbai. The book contains very rare photographs of Dr. Anandibai Joshi.[citation needed]

Legacy[edit source]
The Institute for Research and Documentation in Social Sciences (IRDS), a non-governmental organization from Lucknow, has been awarding the Anandibai Joshi Award for Medicine in reverence for her early contributions to the cause of advancing medical science in India.[8]

In addition, the Government of Maharashtra has established a fellowship in her name for young women working on women’s health.