Anandi Gopal Joshi
ANANDI GOPAL JOSHI
Anandi Gopal Joshi, who hailed from the Bombay Presidency, was one of the first Indian-origin female doctors to study and graduate with a two-year degree in Western Medicine from the United States. Interestingly, she is known to be one of the first Indian women to become a doctor. Born on 31 March 1865 in Kalyan, in the Bombay Presidency, Anandi was originally named Yamuna by her father. She was raised in a Maharashtrian family that had been landlords before falling on hard times. Under parental pressure and in accordance with the societal practices of the time, she married Gopalrao Joshi, a widower almost 20 years her senior, at the age of 9. After her marriage, she was renamed Anandi.
Anandi gave birth to a boy at the age of fourteen. However, the baby did not survive for more than ten days due to the absence of proper medical care. Though she underwent a lot of trauma and distress, this incident strengthened her resolve to become a doctor, for she felt that only Indian women doctors would be able to understand the issues faced by Indian women. Gopalrao himself was a progressive thinker and a staunch supporter of women’s education, which was quite unusual at the time. He had a transferable job as a postal clerk in Kalyan, and in 1883, he was transferred to Serampore (West Bengal). Despite his shift, he encouraged Anandi to pursue her dream of studying medicine in the United States. It was her husband’s motivation that ultimately helped Anandi to accomplish her mission to become a Doctor.
Anandi Gopal Joshi
In 1880, Gopalrao had written a letter to Royal Wilder, a well-known American missionary. In the letter, he mentioned Anandi’s interests and also inquired about a posting for himself in the United States. Wilder offered to help the couple on the condition that they convert to Christianity. This was not acceptable to Gopalrao and Anandi. Despite their refusal, Wilder continued to help them. Under his guidance, Anandibai published a paper in Princeton’s Missionary Review. Impressed with the theory, Theodicia Carpenter, a resident of New Jersey, wrote to Anandi and Gopalrao, offering them accommodation in America.
Although Gopalrao could not accompany her, he convinced Anandi to go despite her poor health. By pursuing her higher education, he wanted her to set an example in society. To assuage her community’s misgivings, Anandi stressed the need for female doctors in India and discussed her goal of opening a medical college for women. She convinced them about her decision to become a doctor before leaving for America in 1883.
Anandibai Joshi graduated from Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania (WMCP) in 1886. Seen here with Kei Okami (centre) and Sabat Islambooly (right). All three completed their medical studies, and each was among the first women in their respective countries to earn a Degree in Western medicine.
Anandibai travelled to New York in 1883, where she was warmly received at the Medical College of Pennsylvania. She enrolled at the college at the age of 19 and graduated with a Doctor of Medicine on 11 March 1886. Her thesis was titled ‘Obstetrics among the Aryan Hindoos,’ in which she drew on both Ayurvedic and American medical textbooks. Upon her graduation, Queen Victoria herself sent her a congratulatory message. On the one hand, Anandi had achieved what she set out to do; on the other hand, the severe cold, unfamiliar weather, and diet took a toll on her health.
She returned to India in 1886 and was appointed the Physician-in-charge of the female ward at the Albert Edward Hospital in Kolhapur (Maharashtra). However, her health continued to deteriorate rapidly. Her untimely death due to tuberculosis at the age of twenty-two on 26 February 1887 was mourned by the whole country. Anandi’s ashes were sent to Theodocia Carpenter, who placed them in the family cemetery in New York. It is well known that Anandi accomplished more than most people do in an entire lifetime. In her honour, a crater on Venus has been named after her.