Anandi Gopal Joshi
A photo of Anandi Gopal Joshi with her signature on it
Born	31 March 1865 Pune, Maharashtra
Died	February 26, 1887

Anandi Gopal Joshi (or Anandibai) (March 31, 1865 - February 26, 1887) was the first Indian woman to obtain a medical degree in the Western hemisphere^[1]. She was one of the first Indian women to be trained in Western system of medicine. Many sources claim that she was the first India's first woman doctor^[2][3][4] March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (91st in Leap years), with 275 days remaining. ... 1865 (MDCCCLXV) is a common year starting on Sunday. ... Puṇe (IPA: , Marathi: पुणे) is a city located in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. ... Maharashtra (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र mahārāṣṭra, literally: Great Nation; IPA: )( ) is Indias third largest state in terms of area and second largest in terms of population after Uttar Pradesh. ... February 26 is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ... March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (91st in Leap years), with 275 days remaining. ... 1865 (MDCCCLXV) is a common year starting on Sunday. ... February 26 is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ...

Early life

Joshi was born as Yamuna Joshi (Yamunabai) at Pune, in a orthodox wealthy Brahmin family. She suffered from pockmarks. Aged 9, she was married to her Sanskrit teacher, Gopalrao Joshi. Gopalrao, also a Brahmin, was a widower and twenty years her senior. After the marriage, Yamuna was renamed as Anandi, according to Maharashtrian traditions. Puṇe (IPA: , Marathi: पुणे) is a city located in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. ... A Brahmin (anglicised from the Sanskrit word IAST ; Devanagari ), also known as Vipra, Dvija, Dvijottama (best of the Dvijas), (god on Earth) is a member of an upper caste within Hindu society. ... pockmark-often referred to the scars on face of a person. ... The Sanskrit language ( , ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and one of the 22 official languages of India. ...

Gopalrao worked as a postal clerk in Kalyan. Later, he was transferred to Alibag, and finally to Calcutta (now Kolkata). He was a progressive thinker, and supported the education of women - then not very prevalent in India. This article is about a city in India. ... Alibag or Alibaug is a coastal town in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, India. ... This article is on Calcutta/Kolkata, the city. ...   (IPA: [] Bengali: কলকাতা) (formerly  ) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. ...

It was common for Brahmins to learn Sanskrit, but Lokhitawadi's Shat Patre had convinced Gopalrao that Sanskrit was no longer of much use^[1]. He considered English to be more important. He noticed his wife's interest in learning and helped her to learn English. The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

At the age of 14, Joshi gave birth to a boy. The child survived only for ten days, owing to the paucity of medical care available. This incident was a turning point in Joshi's life and inspired her to become a doctor.

Towards a medical career

Gopalrao encouraged his wife to study medicine. In 1880, he sent a letter to Royal Wilder, a well-known American missionary, expressing Anandi's interest in studying medicine in the United States, and inquiring about a suitable post there for himself. Wilder offered to help if the couple converted to Christianity^[1]. This was not acceptable to the Joshis. This article is becoming very long. ...

Wilder published the correspondence in his publication, Princeton's Missionary Review. It was read by Theodicia E. Carpenter, a resident of Roselle, New Jersey, while waiting to see her dentist. She was impressed by Joshi's desire to learn medicine, and by Gopalrao's support for his wife. She wrote to them, offering accommodation to Joshi in America. This began a series of letters between Joshi and Carpenter, in which they discussed Hindu culture and religion, among other things. Roselle is a borough located in Union County, New Jersey. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

While Gopalrao and Joshi were in Calcutta, Joshi's general health was declining. She suffered from weakness, constant headaches, occasional fever, and sometimes breathlessness. Carpenter sent her medicines from America, without results. In 1883, Gopalrao was transferred to Serampore. It was here that he decided to send Joshi to America alone. Joshi was apprehensive, but Gopalrao convinced her by saying that she should set an example for other women. This article is on Calcutta/Kolkata, the city. ... 1883 (MDCCCLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Serampore, India, is a pre-colonial town on the right bank of the Hoogli River in the Hooghly (Hughli) district of West Bengal. ...

A Dr Thorborn and his wife, who was also a doctor, suggested Joshi apply to the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania. When Joshi's decision became known, she was rejected by Hindu society. She was spat at in public and had stones thrown at her. Many Christians supported her decision, but they wanted her to convert to Christianity^[1]. Drexel University College of Medicine is the medical school of Drexel University and was originally founded as a womens college. ...

Eventually, Joshi addressed the community at Serampore College Hall, explaining her decision to go to America and obtain a medical degree. She discussed the persecution she and her husband had endured. She stressed the need for Hindu female doctors in India, and talked about her goal of opening a medical college for women in India. She also pledged that she would not convert from Hinduism. After her speech was published, financial contributions started coming in from all over India. The Viceroy of India contributed 200 rupees towards funds for her education. However, the money was not enough, and Joshi had to sell her gold bangles to fund her travel and education. Serampore College is a Christian Seminary located in India. ... The Governor-General of India (or Governor-General and Viceroy of India) was the head of the British administration in India. ...

In America

Joshi travelled to New York from Calcutta by ship, chaperoned by two English female acquaintances of Dr Thorborn. In New York, Carpenter received her in June 1883. Joshi wrote to the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania, asking to be admitted to their medical program, which was the first women's medical program in the world. Rachel L. Bodley, the dean of the college, enrolled her. Official language(s) English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq mi (141,205 km²)  - Width 285 miles (455 km)  - Length 330 miles (530 km)  - % water 13. ... This article is on Calcutta/Kolkata, the city. ... In biology, chaperones are proteins whose function is to assist other proteins in achieving proper folding. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... Official language(s) English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq mi (141,205 km²)  - Width 285 miles (455 km)  - Length 330 miles (530 km)  - % water 13. ... 1883 (MDCCCLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Joshi began her medical education at the age of 19. In America, her already declining health was worsened by the cold weather and unfamiliar diet. She contracted tuberculosis. Her friends sent her to Colorado Springs for her health, but it failed to improve her condition. Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for Tubercle Bacillus) is a common and deadly infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can also affect the central nervous system, lymphatic system, circulatory system, genitourinary system, bones and joints. ... Nickname: The Springs Location in the state of Colorado Coordinates: County El Paso Mayor Lionel Rivera Area    - City 482. ...

She submitted a thesis on "Obstetrics among the Aryan Hindoos". When she graduated with an M.D. on March 11, 1886, Queen Victoria sent a congratulatory message. The Medicinæ Doctor or Doctor of Medicine (M.D. or D.M.) is a doctorate level degree held by medical doctors. ... March 11 is the 70th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (71st in Leap year). ... 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) // Events January 18 - Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. ... Victoria Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria) (24 May 1819–22 January 1901) was a Queen of the United Kingdom, reigning from 20 June 1837 until her death. ...

Return to India

Joshi's husband and her friends advised her to settle in the United States, but she insisted on returning to India. Before she returned to India, the princely state of Kolhapur, appointed her the Physician-in-charge of the female ward of the Albert Edward Hospital. On October 9, 1886, she sailed from New York. She returned to India, and was met with a hero's welcome. The newspapers closely monitored her health. A princely state is any state under the reign of a prince and is thus a principality taken in the broad sense. ... Kolhapur   (Marathi:कोल्हापूर ) is a city situated in the south west corner of Maharashtra, India. ... October 9 is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) // Events January 18 - Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. ...

Joshi died in Poona at any early age of 22, in her mother's arms. Her death was mourned throughout India. Her ashes were sent to Carpenter, who placed them in her family cemetery in Poughkeepsie, New York. Puṇe (IPA: , Marathi: पुणे) is a city located in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. ... Poughkeepsie City of Poughkeepsie Town of Poughkeepsie Poughkeepsie, Arkansas This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

A fictionalized account of her experiences was depicted in the Marathi novel Anandi Gopal, written by Shrikrishna Janardan Joshi. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ...

References