Meet India's First Female Doctor, Who Received Note From Queen Victoria- Became Mother At Age Of 14

Born Yamuna, the daughter of a landlord family from Maharashtra, into the Chitpavan Brahmin community, Anandi Gopal Joshi married at age nine to a postal clerk twenty years her senior, Gopalrao Joshi. It was Gopalrao who named her Anandi, and as a proponent for women's education, he encouraged her in her pursuit of education.

THE TURNING POINT

She was 14 years old then and gave birth to a baby boy who died, unfortunately, after ten days as there was no medical intervention at the correct time. This incident inspired Joshi to take up medicine as her profession.

The Birth Of India's First Female Doctor

At 14, Joshi embarked on the long journey ahead for the realization of her dream to become a medical practitioner with the unstinting support of her husband, Gopalrao. He first tried getting her admitted to missionary schools and later shifted to Calcutta, hoping for better prospects.

In 1880, Gopalrao sent a letter to Royal Wilder, of New York, an American medical missionary. Through it, he hoped to get some aid to enable his wife to take a medical course. The letter drew the attention of Theodicia Carpenter from New Jersey. She was struck by their story and prompted Wilder to extend help to Joshi to fulfill his dream. 

Finally Anandi got an opportunity to study at the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania. Before leaving the United States, she was taken ill with constant weakness and fever.

These health problems were only the beginning of her problems; she also had to confront strenuous opposition coming from orthodox quarters of society, who were incensed at the thought of a Hindu lady entering higher education and journeying abroad. To them, she turned to and resolutely gave an emotional appeal in Serampore College Hall before the Hindu community that dealt with the great necessity for trained Hindu women physicians to serve the needs of Hindu ladies.

At the age of 17, Joshi entered medical college and eventually obtained her MD in 1886. Her thesis entitled Obstetrics among the Aryan Hindus was well received in the academic circles. Her achievement was recognized and she was congratulated by Queen Victoria herself. After she returned to India, Joshi was given a very warm and welcome reception. The princely state of Kolhapur immediately appointed her physician-in-charge of the female ward in the local Albert Edward Hospital.

Due to severe weather and food changes at this period, Joshi developed tuberculosis in the United States at the tender age of 22. After returning to India, her health deteriorated, and on February 26, 1887, she died.  Joshi was never able to fully practice with the medical degree she worked so hard to obtain, she is still recognized as a trailblazing person who worked to overcome social barriers and fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor.