Who Was India's First Woman Doctor?

Anandi Gopal Joshi, born on 31st March 1865 in Kalyan, Maharashtra, is the first female doctor of India. Her inspiring struggle to become a doctor is proof of her strong will and refusal to accept limitations imposed by society in 19th-century India.

Early Life and Marriage

Anandi was born as Yamuna Joshi to a conservative Marathi Chitpavan Brahmin family. She experienced societal limitations since childhood. At the tender age of nine, she was wedded to Gopalrao Joshi, a widower close to 20 years her senior. Her husband changed her name to "Anandi" after marriage. Gopalrao was a very advanced thinker for his generation and a firm believer in women's education. He made Anandi learn to read and write in Marathi, English, and Sanskrit, providing the foundation for her future educational endeavors.

At the age of 14, Anandi gave birth to a son. Tragically, the child passed away within ten days due to inadequate medical care. This personal loss became a turning point in her life, inspiring her to pursue a career in medicine to address the lack of healthcare for women in India.

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Academic Pursuits

Gopalrao’s unwavering support was instrumental in Anandi’s journey. In 1880, he wrote to an American missionary seeking guidance for Anandi’s medical education in the United States. With financial assistance from Theodicia Carpenter, an American well-wisher, Anandi set sail for America at the age of 18. Her decision to study abroad faced severe criticism from orthodox Indian society. Yet she allayed these fears in a speech at Serampore College Hall, calling for the need for female doctors in India.

Anandi joined the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania and started her medical studies at the age of 19. Despite cultural and health issues in a new country, she earned an MD degree in March 1886. Her thesis was on "Obstetrics among Aryan Hindus," combining Western medical science with Indian traditional practices. Queen Victoria herself congratulated her on this success.

Legacy and Early Demise

Anandi returned to India as a qualified physician at the age of 21. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis during her studies and succumbed to the illness on February 26, 1887, at just 22 years old. Despite her untimely death, Anandi’s pioneering efforts left an indelible mark on Indian society. She symbolized women’s empowerment and inspired future generations to break barriers and pursue higher education.

Her life has been etched in the history books in the form of biographies and films that extol her remarkable life and contributions to the field of medicine. Anandi Gopal Joshi is now remembered not just as India's first woman doctor but also as a pathbreaker who broke down barriers to gender equality in education and medicine.

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