Born: 1865 (Kalyan, Bombay Presidency, India)
Died: 1887 (Pune, India)
Biography:
Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi (31 March 1865 – 26 February 1887) was the first Indian female doctor of western medicine. 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. Born and raised in a Marathi Chitpavan Brahmin family, she was initially named Yamuna. At the age of nine, she was married to Gopalrao Joshi, a widower almost twenty years her senior, as was the practice at that time and due to pressure from her mother. After marriage, Gopalrao Joshi renamed her ‘Anandi’. He worked as a postal clerk in Kalyan before being transferred to Alibag and then Kolhapur.
Gopalrao Joshi was a progressive thinker, advocating for education for women, which was uncommon at that time. Anandi was also a relative of Pandita Ramabai. However, tragedy struck when she gave birth to a baby boy at the age of fourteen, but the child lived for only ten days due to a lack of medical care. This heartbreaking event became a turning point in Anandi’s life and inspired her to pursue a career in medicine.
After Gopalrao’s unsuccessful attempts to enroll Anandi in missionary schools, they moved to Calcutta. There, she learned to read and speak Sanskrit and English. Her husband, recognizing her passion for medicine, encouraged her to study the subject. In 1880, Gopalrao wrote a letter to Royal Wilder, a well-known American missionary, inquiring about suitable opportunities for Anandi in the US. Wilder published the correspondence in his Princeton’s Missionary Review.
Theodicia Carpenter, a resident of Roselle, New Jersey, happened to read the article while waiting to see her dentist. Impressed by Anandibai’s aspirations and Gopalrao’s support, Carpenter reached out to Anandi. A close friendship blossomed between them, and they referred to each other as aunt and niece. Carpenter eventually invited Anandibai to stay with her in Roselle during her time in the US.
During their time in Calcutta, Anandibai’s health started deteriorating. She experienced weakness, constant headaches, occasional fever, and breathlessness. Theodicia sent her medicines from America, but they had little effect. In 1883, Gopalrao was transferred to Serampore, and despite her declining health, he decided to send Anandibai to America alone to pursue her medical studies. Though apprehensive about going alone, Gopalrao convinced her to set sail.
Anandibai arrived in New York City on 30 March 1883 and was welcomed by the community. Two days later, she was enrolled as a medical student at the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania (WMCP) in Philadelphia. Despite the challenges of studying in a foreign language and battling poor health, Anandibai persevered with determination and resilience. She excelled in her studies and graduated with an MD degree in 1886, becoming the first Indian woman to earn a medical degree from the United States.
Anandibai’s achievements drew significant attention both in India and abroad. Her journey inspired many, and her success shattered gender barriers in a conservative society. She became a symbol of women’s empowerment and challenged prevailing societal norms.
Tragically, Anandibai’s life was cut short. In January 1887, she contracted tuberculosis, which rapidly worsened her already fragile health. She returned to India in the hopes of recovery but passed away on 26 February 1887 in Pune, at the young age of 21. Her untimely demise was a tremendous loss to the medical profession and women’s rights movement in India.
Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi’s determination, courage, and passion for medicine paved the way for future generations of Indian women seeking careers in healthcare. Her remarkable journey and remarkable achievements continue to inspire individuals around the world, making her a trailblazer in the history of women’s emancipation and empowerment.