1. Early life

2. Academic life

3. In the United States

4. Return to India

5. Legacy

6. References

7. Bibliography

8. External links

Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi (31 March 1865 – 26 February 1887) was one of the earliest Indian female physicians.^[1][2][3][4] She was the first woman from the erstwhile Bombay presidency of India to study and graduate with a two-year degree in western medicine in the United States.^[5] She was also been referred as Anandibai Joshi and Anandi Gopal Joshi where Gopal came from Gopalrao which is her husband's first name. She is referred as the first lady doctor of India.

Early life

Originally named Yamuna, Joshi was born, raised and married in Kalyan where her family had previously been landlords before experiencing financial losses. As was the practice at that time and due to pressure from her mother, she was married at the age of nine to Gopalrao Joshi, a widower almost twenty years older than her.^[6] After marriage, Yamuna's husband renamed her 'Anandi'.^[7] Gopalrao Joshi worked as a postal clerk in Kalyan. Later, he was transferred to Alibag, and then, finally, to Kolkata (Calcutta). He was a progressive thinker, and, unusually for that time, supported education for women.^[8] Unlike other husbands of his time who beat their wives for not cooking, for example, Gopalrao beat his young wife for not studying because he was focused on the idea that his wife would go to medical school.^[9]

At the age of fourteen, Anandibai gave birth to a boy, but the child lived only for ten days for lack of medical care. This proved to be a turning point in Anandi's life and inspired her to become a physician.^[10]

Academic life

Her husband encouraged her to study medicine. In 1880 he sent a letter to Royal Wilder, a well-known American missionary, stating his wife's interest in studying medicine in the United States and inquiring about a suitable post in the US for himself.^[11] 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. Impressed by both Anandibai's desire to study medicine, and Gopalrao's support for his wife, she wrote to Anandibai. Carpenter and Anandibai developed a close friendship and came to refer to each other as "aunt" and "niece." Later, Carpenter would host Anandibai in Rochelle during Joshi's stay in the U.S.^[12][6]

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 that Anandibai apply to the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania. On learning of Anandibai's plans to pursue higher education in the West, orthodox Indian society censured her very strongly.

Anandibai addressed the community at Serampore College Hall, explaining her decision to go to America and obtain a medical degree.^[13] She discussed the persecution she and her husband had endured. She stressed the need for female doctors in India, emphasizing that Hindu women could better serve as physicians to Hindu women.^[12] Her speech received publicity, and financial contributions started pouring in from all over India.

In the United States

Anandibai travelled to New York from Kolkata (Calcutta) by ship, chaperoned by two female English missionary acquaintances of the Thorborns. In New York, Theodicia Carpenter received her in June 1883. Anandibai wrote to the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, asking to be admitted to their medical program,^[14] which was the second women's medical program in the world. Rachel Bodley, the dean of the college, enrolled her.

Anandibai began her medical training at age 19. In America, her health worsened because of the cold weather and unfamiliar diet. She contracted tuberculosis.^[10] Nevertheless, she graduated with an MD in March of 1886; the topic of her thesis was "Obstetrics among the Aryan Hindoos." The thesis utilized references from both Ayurvedic texts and American medical textbooks.^[12] On her graduation, Queen Victoria sent her a congratulatory message.^[10][15]

Return to India

In late 1886, Anandibai returned to India, receiving a grand welcome.^[16] The princely state of Kolhapur appointed her as the physician-in-charge of the female ward of the local Albert Edward Hospital.{{Citation needed|date=April 2018}}

Anandibai died of tuberculosis early the next year on 26 February 1887 before turning 22.^[16] Her death was mourned throughout India. Her ashes were sent to Theodicia Carpenter, who placed them in her family cemetery at the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery in Poughkeepsie, New York. The inscription states that Anandi Joshi was a Hindu Brahmin girl, the first Indian woman to receive education abroad and to obtain a medical degree. ^[16]

Legacy

In 1888, American feminist writer Caroline Wells Healey Dall wrote Joshi's biography.^[17] Dall was acquainted with Joshi and admired her greatly. However, certain points in the biography, particularly its harsh treatment of Gopalrao Joshi, sparked controversy among Joshi's friends.^[12]

Dr. Anjali Kirtane has extensively researched the life of Dr. Anandibai Joshi and has written a Marathi book entitled "डॉ. आनंदीबाई जोशी काळ आणि कर्तृत्व" ("Dr. Anandibai Joshi, Kaal ani Kartutva: Dr. Anandibai Joshi, her times and accomplishments") which contains rare photographs of Dr. Anandibai Joshi.^[19]

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 honour of her early contributions to the cause of advancing medical science in India.^[20][18] In addition, the Government of Maharashtra has established a fellowship in her name for young women working on women’s health.^[21] A crater on Venus has been named in her honour. The 34.3 km-diameter crater on Venus named ‘Joshee’ lies at latitude 5.5° N and longitude 288.8° E.

On March 31, 2018, Google honored her with a Google Doodle to mark her 153rd birth anniversary.^[22][23]

A film on her life in Marathi has been made in 2019 as Anandi Gopal. ^[24]

References

Bibliography

• {{cite book |title=The Life of Dr. Anandabai Joshee |author=Mrs. Caroline Healey Dall |publisher=Roberts Brothers, Boston |year= 1888|isbn= |page= |url=https://archive.org/stream/lifeofdrananabai00dalliala#page/n7/mode/2up |ref= }}
• {{cite book|title=The Women's Book of World Records and Achievements|editor=O'Neill, Lois Decker|publisher=Anchor Press|date=1979|page=204|author=Eron, Carol|chapter=Medicine and Health Care|isbn=0385127332|quote=First Hindu Woman Doctor}}
• Kosambi, Meera, "Caste and Outcast (review)". Journal of Colonialism and Colonial History – Volume 4, Number 1, Spring 2003, The Johns Hopkins University Press
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20091007142137/http://www.kiet.edu/horizon/insirations.htm Anandibai Joshi: India’s first woman doctor (1865–1887)]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20061101040423/http://www.tasveer.org/events/series.php?seriesid=700851175 Between the Lines], an 18-minute English documentary on the life of Anandi Joshi
• Madhukar Vasudev Dhond, "Jalyatil Chandra" (Marathi) (Rajhans Prakashan, 11993)
• Documents at the Drexel University College of Medicine Archives and Special Collections on Women in Medicine and referencing Anandi Gopal Joshi

External links

• {{Commonscat-inline|Anandibai Gopalrao Joshee}}
• Anandibai Joshee materials in the South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA)
• A Marathi movie on Anandi Gopal https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8621438/

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