The first biography of India’s first female doctor was written in 1888 by Caroline Wells Healey Dall (Source: Wikimedia Commons) The first biography of India’s first female doctor was written in 1888 by Caroline Wells Healey Dall (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Anandi Gopal Joshi is India’s first female doctor and secured a degree in medicine when she was 21 years from Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, now known as Drexel University College of Medicine. Born in an orthodox family in Maharashtra on March 31, 1865, she was married to a widower thrice her age when she was just nine. Five years later, Joshi gave birth to a boy, but he soon died due to lack of medical care.
Her husband, Gopalrao Joshi, inspired her to educate herself at a time when education to women was not given due importance. He started teaching Anandi how to read and write Marathi, English and Sanskrit. He also sent her to Calcutta so that Anandi could pursue further studies and would be away from interference by her parents.
Amid pressure from family and society, Anandi was sent to America to pursue a degree in Medicine. She fulfilled her husband’s strenuous effort and graduated from Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania (WMC) in 1886 with Kei Okami of Japan and Tabat Islambooly of Syria. All three became the first woman from their respective countries to obtain a degree in Western medicine. She did her thesis on obstetric practices among the ancient Hindus.
Read | Google Doodle celebrates the birthday of India’s first female doctor, Anandi Gopal Joshi
Anandi’s work received praise from Kesari editor Lokmanya Tilak and even Queen Victoria sent her a congratulatory message. “I know how in the face of all the difficulties you went to a foreign country and acquired knowledge with such diligence. You are one of the greatest women of our modern era. It came to my knowledge that you need money desperately. I am a newspaper editor. I do not have a large income. Even then I wish to give you one hundred rupees.” Tilak wrote in his letter.
Joshi came back to India in 1886 with the dream of opening a medical college for women. She got a grand welcome and the princely state of Kolhapur appointed her as physician-in-charge of the female ward of the local Albert Edward Hospital. However, Anandi passed away at a young age of just 22 years due to tuberculosis on February 26, 1887.
The first biography of India’s first female doctor was written in 1888 by Caroline Wells Healey Dall. Doordarshan, under direction of Kamlakar Sarang, aired a Hindi serial “Anandi Gopal”, which based on Anandibai’s life. Shrikrishna Janardan Joshi wrote a Marathi novel Anandi Gopal based on her life. Institute for Research and Documentation in Social Sciences (IRDS), Lucknow, has an honorary award after her name – Anandibai Joshi award for Medicine. Interestingly, a crater on Venus is also named after her.
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In 1886, a young doctor stepped off a ship from America, eager to take up the role of physician in charge of the female ward at Kolhapur’s Albert Edward Hospital. Not only was she India’s first female doctor, but she was only 19 years old at the time. Her name was Anandi Gopal Joshi, and her story is one of courage and perseverance.
Joshi was married at the age of nine, as was the custom in 19th century India. Her husband encouraged her to continue her education and her interest in medicine. At sixteen, battling ill-health but determined to succeed, Joshi set sail for America. She earned her medical degree from the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania (now known as Drexel University College of Medicine) and returned to India with dreams of opening a medical college for women.
Joshi’s young life was tragically cut short when she died of tuberculosis before her 22nd birthday. However, her legacy and the path she paved for generations of women continues today. Interestingly, even a crater on Venus is named after her!
Today’s Doodle is created by Bangalore-based artist Kashmira Sarode who imagines Joshi celebrating her degree.
Happy Birthday, Anandi Gopal Joshi!
Early concepts and drafts of the Doodle below
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Anandi Gopal Joshi has been honoured with a Google doodle on what would have been her 153rd birthday.
The all-green doodle on the internet's most famous webpage honours India's first female doctor who tragically died from tuberculoses aged just 21.
The doodle was created by Bangalore-based artist Kashmira Sarode who used it to imagine Joshi celebrating her degree.
It is being displayed on Google's homepage in various parts of the world, including the UK, India, Canada and both Australia and New Zealand.
(Image: Wikipedia)
Not only was Joshi India’s first female doctor, but she was only 19 years old at the time she journeyed to the United States.
Who was Anandi Gopal Joshi?
(Image: Wikipedia)
Joshi was born in 1865 in Kalyan, India. She was married at the age of nine, as was the custom in 19th century India.
Her husband encouraged her to continue her education and her interest in medicine.
At sixteen, battling ill-health but determined to succeed, Joshi set sail for America.
She earned her medical degree from the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania (now known as Drexel University College of Medicine) and returned to India with dreams of opening a medical college for women.
"Joshi’s young life was tragically cut short when she died of tuberculosis before her 22nd birthday," explained the Google team.
"However, her legacy and the path she paved for generations of women continues today. Interestingly, even a crater on Venus is named after her!"
Google is celebrating the 153rd birth anniversary of Anandi Gopal Joshi, India's first female doctor, with a doodle. Anandi earned her medical degree from the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania (now known as Drexel University College of Medicine) at the age of 21, just a year before her life was tragically cut short by tuberculosis.
Anandi was born in Yamuna, in Thane district of Maharashtra on March 31, 1865. She was married at the age of 9 to Gopalrao Joshi, a man many years her senior. At 14 she gave birth to her first child, and it was the death of her 10-day-old baby, due to lack of medical care, that encouraged her to study medicine and make a difference in her own country.
Her husband, known to be a progressive man for that era, played an important part in her early education, teaching her to read and write. Anandi lived in Calcutta for a while, before setting sail for the United States while still in her teens. Anandi battled ill health at the time but that didn't stop her from pursuing her higher education in a foreign country.
In Pennsylvania, Anandi completed her thesis on "Obstetrics among the Aryan Hindus". Following her graduation, Queen Victoria reportedly sent her a congratulatory message.
Anandi returned to India in 1886. The State of Kolhapur appointed her as the physician-in-charge of the female ward of the local Albert Edward Hospital. Months after taking on her new role, shortly before her 22nd birthday, Anandi succumbed to tuberculosis. A crater in Venus is named after her.
The doodle, created by Bangalore-based artist Kashmira Sarode, portrays Anandi obtaining her degree, her green flowing sari proudly representing where she has come from.
