Anandi Gopal Joshi: India’s First Female Physician and Pioneer in Women’s Education
Image Courtesy: Google Doodle
Anandi Gopal Joshi (31 March 1865 – 26 February 1887) was the first Indian woman to receive a doctorate degree in Western medicine.
Life and Career
She was born on 31 March 1865 in Maharashtra, India. She was married at the age of nine to a widower, Gopalrao Joshi, who was 20 years her senior. At the age of 14, Anandi gave birth to a son who died just 10 days later. This loss had a profound impact on her, and she became determined to become a doctor so that she could help other women and children.
Anandi’s husband, who was a progressive thinker, supported her ambition and encouraged her to study medicine. In 1883, he sent her to the United States to pursue her medical education. She enrolled in the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania and graduated with a degree in medicine in 1886.
After completing her studies, Anandi returned to India and began practicing medicine, focusing on issues that particularly affected women and children, such as gynecology and obstetrics. She opened a hospital in Pune, which was the first of its kind in the region.
Tragically, Anandi died on 26 February 1887 because of tuberculosis just a year after returning to India. She was only 21 years old. However, her legacy as a trailblazing woman in medicine lives on. Her pioneering achievements in the field of medicine inspired generations of Indian women to pursue careers in science and medicine, and her story continues to inspire women around the world.
Award and Legacy
Anandi’s life and accomplishments continue to inspire generations of women in India and around the world to pursue careers in science and medicine. She is remembered as a symbol of women’s empowerment and as a pioneer in the field of medicine in India.
In recognition of her contributions to medicine, the Indian government established the Anandi Gopal Joshi Award for Women in Medicine in 1979. The award is presented annually to women who have made significant contributions to the field of medicine in India.
Anandi’s story has been the subject of numerous books, plays, and films, including the 2019 biographical film “Anandi Gopal.” Her life and accomplishments continue to inspire women around the world to pursue their dreams and make their mark in the world of medicine. On 31 March 2018, Google celebrated Anandi Gopal Joshi’s 153rd Birthday with a doodle.
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