Who was Anandi Gopal Joshi? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Indian Celebrities Born In March

Also Known As: Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi, Dr. Anandi Gopal Joshi, Yamuna

Died At Age: 21

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Gopalrao Joshi

father: Ganpatrao Amriteshwar Joshi

Born Country: India

Indian Women Women Physicians

Died on: February 26, 1887

place of death: Kalyan, Bombay, India

Cause of Death: Tuberculosis

More Facts

education: Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania

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1

Where did Anandi Gopal Joshi receive her medical degree from?

Anandi Gopal Joshi received her medical degree from the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1886.
2

What was the significance of Anandi Gopal Joshi being the first Indian woman to practice medicine in colonial India?

Anandi Gopal Joshi's accomplishment as the first Indian woman to practice medicine in colonial India challenged social norms and paved the way for future generations of Indian women to pursue careers in medicine.
3

What motivated Anandi Gopal Joshi to pursue a career in medicine?

Anandi Gopal Joshi was motivated to pursue a career in medicine after experiencing personal tragedies related to healthcare access in her own life, including the loss of her infant son due to lack of medical care.
4

How did Anandi Gopal Joshi contribute to healthcare and women's empowerment in India?

Anandi Gopal Joshi's work as a physician helped improve access to healthcare for women in India and inspired other women to break traditional barriers by entering the medical profession.
5

What obstacles did Anandi Gopal Joshi face in her journey to becoming a physician?

Anandi Gopal Joshi faced numerous obstacles, including societal norms that discouraged women from pursuing education and careers, as well as personal challenges related to her health and the loss of loved ones.

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Childhood & Early life

Anandi Gopal Joshi, also known as Anandibai Joshi, was born as Yamuna on 31 March 1865, in Kalyan, India. Her family members were erstwhile landlords who later experienced financial losses.

At the age of nine, she was married off to Gopalrao Joshi, a widower who was almost thrice her age. After her marriage, she was renamed Anandi. At the age of 14, Joshi became a mother for the first time. However, her baby boy died just ten days after birth due to the lack of medical care. This incident inspired her to pursue education so that she could become a doctor in the future and help others. She then moved to Calcutta with her husband and studied English and Sanskrit there.

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Academic Life & Time Spent in USA

Anandi Gopal Joshi’s husband supported her desire to study medicine. He sent a letter to American missionary Royal Wilder in 1880, stating his wife’s interest in studying medicine in USA. Theodicia Carpenter, a resident of New Jersey, read Wilder’s correspondence in ‘Princeton's Missionary Review’ and lent her support to Joshi. Gopalrao was transferred to Serampore in 1883 and he decided to send Anandi to US by herself. Anandi then addressed a big crowd at the Serampore College Hall, explaining her keen desire to obtain a medical degree in USA. Her speech garnered moral support and financial contributions from all over India. She was ill at this time but was still determined to pursue her studies.

Anandi eventually travelled to New York from Calcutta by ship, accompanied by two female British missionaries. In June 1883, she reached New York where she was received by Carpenter. She soon was accepted at the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania.

Anandi started her training at the age of 19. During her stay in USA, her health worsened and she contracted tuberculosis. However, she managed to earn her MD in March 1886. After her return to India, she started working at the Albert Edward Hospital as a physician-in-charge of the female ward.

Married Life

Anandi Gopal Joshi’s husband was extremely obsessed with her education. It was very uncommon for husbands of that time to want their wives to study instead of doing household chores. A few months after sending her to USA for her studies, he also moved to be with her. By the time he reached Philadelphia, his wife was already a doctor. The couple boarded the ship together and returned to India.

Death & Legacy

On 26 February 1887, Anandi died of tuberculosis. Her death occurred shortly before her 22nd birthday. She had been ill for several months prior to her untimely demise. After her death, her ashes were sent to Carpenter who placed them in her family cemetery in New York.

Several books and novels have been published to honor her, including the Marathi novel ‘Anandi Gopal.’ Kamlakar Sarang directed the Hindi television series ‘Anandi Gopal’ that premiered on the channel Doordarshan. A crater on Venus has been named after her. The 34.3 km-diameter crater titled ‘Joshee’ rests at latitude 5.5° N and longitude 288.8° E.

The Institute for Research and Documentation in Social Sciences (IRDS) has been awarding the Anandibai Joshi Award for Medicine to honor her early contributions to the field of medical science in India.

Facts About Anandi Gopal Joshi

Anandi Gopal Joshi became the first Indian woman to obtain a degree in Western medicine in 1886, breaking barriers and inspiring generations of women to pursue higher education.

She was married at a young age of 9, a common practice in 19th century India, but her husband encouraged her to pursue her education and become a doctor, showcasing a progressive mindset for the time.

Anandi Gopal Joshi faced numerous challenges and obstacles in her journey to become a doctor, including overcoming societal norms and prejudices against women in the field of medicine.

Despite facing criticism and skepticism from many, Anandi Gopal Joshi's determination and passion for medicine paved the way for other women to enter the medical profession in India.

Anandi Gopal Joshi's legacy as a trailblazer in the field of medicine continues to inspire women around the world to pursue their dreams and break barriers in male-dominated professions.

Anandi Gopal Joshi Biography

You wanted to know

Where did Anandi Gopal Joshi receive her medical degree from?

What was the significance of Anandi Gopal Joshi being the first Indian woman to practice medicine in colonial India?

What motivated Anandi Gopal Joshi to pursue a career in medicine?

How did Anandi Gopal Joshi contribute to healthcare and women's empowerment in India?

What obstacles did Anandi Gopal Joshi face in her journey to becoming a physician?