From the pages of history, a salute to a true medical pioneer.
The annals of Indian history
are replete with examples of heroism, progressive thought and affirmative
action. Indian culture and ethos however are sadly also fraught with examples
of gender bias, oppression and stereotypical misogyny to the ‘fairer’ sex. This
is why today’s story is a refreshing change which will highlight the triumph of
progressive thought over generations of oppression.
Our story is that of Dr. Anandi
Gopalrao Joshi, India’s first western trained doctor, one of the few South
Asian medical practitioners and of course the first Indian Hindu woman to have
ever set foot in America. Born as ‘Yamuna’ in Kalyan, (modern day Thane
district), on 31st March 1865, she was the daughter of a former feudal family
that had lost its wealth. Under immense pressure from her family, she married
Gopalrao Joshi, a widower 20 years her senior, at the age of 9!
Here’s
where young Yamuna’s (later named Anandi, by her husband) life began to change.
Her progressive minded husband, helped educate the young girl, first making
sure she was fluent in English, and later on, paying for her entire school and
college education. Gopalrao, noticed that his young wife was both bright and
talented, and did all in his means to encourage her thirst for knowledge.
At the age of 18, accompanied
by two English female chaperones, Anandi Gopal Joshi made history by becoming
the first Indian Hindu woman to have sailed to the Americas. Later that year,
in 1883, she was admitted into the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania,
where she earned her doctorate in obstetrics, by publishing her dissertation
entitled, “Obstetrics among Hindoo Aryans.” The most amazing thing however was
the fact that she did all this, despite having contracted Tuberculosis, and her
health deteriorating rather steadily.
Anandibai returned to her
homeland to a hero’s welcome in late 1886, and was appointed the physician in
chief of the women’s health division, at the Albert Edward Hospital, patronised
by the royal family of Kolhapur. Unfortunately however at the tender young age
of 21, Anandibai succumbed to tuberculosis. A flame that we feel was
extinguished far too quickly!
A true story of the victory of
the indomitable human spirit against all odds. We at Eves 24 salute this
stellar couple and remembers their contribution to progressive thought and
action in India. Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi, a #TrueDiamond, if there ever was one!
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