When Anandibai travelled to America, Carpenter took her into her house and helped her pick a university. Ms Carpenter became Joshee’s biggest supporter. The latter read about Joshee’s situation and promptly began a long distance correspondence with Joshee. She was only 15 when - giving in to her urge to study medicine abroad - her husband Gopalrao wrote a letter to an American Presbyterian missionary stationed in Kolhapur, seeking assistance in bringing Joshee to America for medical study. But the church declined to assist Joshee, because she refused to convert from Hinduism to Christianity as was the condition put by the church which also wanted her to return and serve as a “native” missionary.īut fate intervened and Gopalrao’s correspondence asking for help from the Presbyterian Church that was published in the Missionary Review, an American periodical was read by an American woman named Theodicia Carpenter.
The only problem was that western medicine colleges that allowed women to study therein were not yet established in India. With a very inspiring (and sometimes rough) and supportive husband, Anandibai decided that she would be the Hindu doctor to treat her Hindu sisters. So, a pained and grieving Anandibai – who had been married off at the age of 9 as per the customs and traditions prevalent at that time – was merely 14 when she decide that no other mother should suffer the pain she did. There were no women doctors – certainly no Hindu women doctors.
Those days, women – especially Indian women, would not consult the European doctors as most were male and Christian – not aware of these women’s social issues. As was the custom then, Yamuna changed her name upon marriage to Ananabai. Her name was changed her name to Anandabai (often shortened to Anandi) after her marriage to Gopal Vinyak Joshee at the age of nine on March 31, 1874. Her father Ganpatrao was a person who believed women should be given the opportunity to study in school. She dared to swim against the current because she lost a child to the lack of proper medical care.Īnandabai Joshee was named Yamuna when she was born into a Marathi Brahmin family in 1865. The story of Dr Anandibai Joshi’s life is simple but heartrending. 1Ky6zGXd7p - Dr Harsh Vardhan February 26, 2021
The remarkable legacy of India’s first female physician with a degree in western medicine continues to serve as an inspiration for men & women across the country. Humble tribute to Dr Anandi Gopal Joshi Ji on her death anniversary.
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