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Anandi Gopal Joshi Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi (31 March 1865 – 16 February 1887) was known as one of the first Indian female practitioners within Western Medicine. She worked alongside her partner, Kadambini Ganguly. She was known to be one of the first women from the erstwhile Bombay presidency of India to have the opportunity to study and graduate with a two-year degree in western medicine in the United States. She was also known as Anandibai Joshi and Anandi Gopal Joshi (where Gopal came from Gopalro, which was known as her husband's first name).

Early Life

Within her early childhood, she was known as Yamuna, as this was the name her parents initially named her with. She was born, raised and married in Kalyan as this was the place where her family experienced financial losses after becoming landlords. Due to the immense pressure from her community and her mother, she became married to Gopalrao Joshi, at the ripe age of nine. Her husband was considered a widower and was twenty years older than her. She continued to keep her maiden name until after marriage, where she then had given 'Anandi' as her official name by her husband. Gopalrao Joshi had the occupation of working as a postal clerk in Kalyan. During his time as a postal clerk, he transferred to Alibag, and then to Kolhapoor (Kolhapur). His attributes defined him as a progressive thinker and equal rights activist for women, especially when it came to their education.

As Anandi had progressed within her adolescence, she reached the age of 14, which was the age that she was able to bear a baby boy. However, due to the lack of access they had to healthcare, the child was malnourished and lived only for ten days. This rooted an inspiration in her life to become a career of all people, a physician. Her husband had continually supported her decision, by enrolling her in missionary schools, which resulted in not working out. He tried to befriend as many missionaries as possible so that Anandi could get better access to education. There was even an instance where Anandi quit a school because her missionary teacher was forcing her to read the Bible but it was Gopalrao that convinced her that knowing more about any religion can be of no harm or threat to her own wisdom. They soon made the decision to move to Calcutta. It was the move to Calcutta where she had begun to read, learn and speak Sanskrit and English. Her husband had encouraged and emphasized that she learn English more than Sankskrit as this would be more of a useful tool.

Academic Life

Her husband, Gopalrao Joshi, became the driving force, backbone and support for her to study such a rigorous field as medicine. In the ongoing interest of his wanting to become a physician, he sent a letter in 1880 to a famous Royal Wilder who was an American missionary. Within his letter, he talked about why his wife had such an ambition to pursue medicine, especially within the United States. He also used this opportunity to investigate opportunities for himself. Although Wilder was supportive and eager to help, he had one condition: Anandi and Wilder must convert themselves to Christianity, but this condition was one they could not accept. Wilder had a popular review called the Princeton Missionary Review, where he had later published this post and inquiry. This post came upon the hands of Theodicia Carpenter, who dwelled in Roselle, New Jersey. She stumbled upon this as she was in the waiting room of her dentist's office. As she began to read the post, she began to appreciate the drive of Anandi to study medicine and the immense support of her husband, Gopalrao. She quickly responded by writing a letter back to Anandi. This quick union led to Anandi and Carpenter to become close friends, so much that that they are considered family to each other. Their union consisted of discussions of family, religion and news of the day. As time went on, Carpenter hosted Anandi in Rochelle during her time in the United States.

During their stay in Calcutta, Anandi's health was severely in jeopardy. She was suffering from immense muscle weakness, continuous headaches, fevers and breathlessness. Her close and dear friend, Theodicia, saw this as a sudden fear and panic and decided to direct medications that were from America. However, this sudden release of medications resulted in no positive news for Anandi as she continued to suffer these symptoms. In the year of 1883, Gopalrao was transferred to Serampore for his clerical position. He decided that the best course of action was for Anandi to go to America for a continual dedication for her medical studies even though she wasn't willing or prepared to in spite of her poor health. This decision made their fellow Hindu community furious as they became a clear target of attack. Despite this attack, Gopalrao convinced Anandi that she should continually be an example for other women by pursuing a higher level of education.

After seeing her ambitions, a physician couple under the name of Thorborn had recommended that Anandi apply to the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania. After hearing of Anandi's plan to pursue medicine in the West, the orthodox Indian community reminded her of their strong disapproval. After hearing about these opportunities, Anandi used this time to seek admission into their medical program. After receiving her application, the Superintendent was inspired by her hardships and granted her a seat with a scholarship of $600 for the duration of the program.

Although the criticism from her orthodox community was harsh, Anandi addressed the community directly at Serampore College Hall, where she explained her drive and ambitions on why she chose to reside in America with an aspiration to acquire a medical degree. Within her speech, she reminded them of the mistreatment and oppression that she and her husband had faced. She discussed on how she could be an inspiration for other Hindu women by stressing the need for female doctors within India. The highlighted desire to open a medical college once she returned back to India, especially in Bharat. She left everyone in complete awe as her speech gained public attention and donations from all over India. After she finished her medical degree (M.D.) in 1886, she returned to India. When she returned to Bharat in 1886, she received a warm welcome and the princely state of Kolhapur appointed her as physician-in-charge of the female ward of the local Albert Edward Hospital.

Relations with Kadambini Ganguly

Since it's known that Anandi Gopal Joshi was the first Indian woman to become a physician, there was another woman who also was able to obtain a medical degree after Anandi, who goes by the name of Kadambini Ganguly. Kadambini was a graduate of Bengal Medical College. She was trained in western medicine. Just like Anandi, she too, had faced opposition from involving herself in the scope of medicine, from her fellow orthodox community. She married a man who was the Brahmo reformer and leader of women's emancipation, known as Dwarkanath Ganguly. Just like Gopalrao, he was passionate about women's health as they, as a couple, continued to improve work conditions of female coal miners in Eastern India. Kadambini did not let her busy life as a mother and doctor stop her from playing a role in India's women's rights movement as she continued to serve as a representative of the 1889 Indian National Congress and by organizing the Women's Conference in Calcutta.

Relations with Theodicia Carpenter

This post of the Princeton Missionary Review came upon the hands of Theodicia Carpenter, who dwelled in Roselle, New Jersey. She stumbled upon this as she was in the waiting room of her dentist's office. As she began to read the post, she began to appreciate the drive of Anandi to study medicine and the immense support of her husband, Gopalrao. She quickly responded by writing a letter back to Anandi. This quick union led to Anandi and Carpenter to become close friends, so much that that they are considered family to each other. Their union consisted of discussions of family, religion and news of the day. As time went on, Carpenter invited and hosted Anandi in Rochelle during her time in the United States. Later in 1883, Anandi arrived in New York and was met by Carpenter. She continued to live with her under Carpenter through the summer of 1883 as she attended the medical program in Pennsylvania. Soon after, she graduated with an M.D. in 1886 and after her specialized training in the United States, she left in November of 1886 to pursue the offer by the governor minister of Kolhapur in India.

Married Life

Taking a look at American history within the 1800's, it is uncommon for husbands to be so supporting and remain such a backbone for the opportunity of their fellow wives to pursue an education. Gopalrao was infatuated and preoccupied with the design of Anandi's medical education. He contacted many officials and encouraged her to learn medicine as this could inspire millions of little girls in the Indian community. He ached for the chance for her to build her own identity in this world. Back in the day, women were known to be housewives and look and tend after the children. For instance, it can be seen as quite surprising when Gopalrao hummers into the kitchen by throwing a fit, simply by seeing Anandi cook with her grandmother. He was determined to see her make medical wonders to the point that he beat her if he saw her doing household chores and not studying. Gopalrao taught Anandi at home and when she did well, he would reward her with incentives that were unusual for any high caste woman of those times, such as taking her for an outing or buying her footwear. There were many times where. he would leave her to fend for herself so that she could become independent. In fact, his own father forbade him for spending more time for Anandi's medical career rather than spending time with his own family. As his fascination with her medical career grew, he decided to send her off Carpenter to America to study medicine. Before Anandi left to go overseas and pursue her dream, she declared to a public hall in 1883 about how midwifery was not enough and that those teaching these classes are simply wasting their time. When her husband, Gopalrao, heard of her efforts, he became very dissatisfied of her views and soon moved to America. As he landed to where she was, she had completed her medical degree and was a physician. This resulted in them both going back home by boarding a ship together.

In the United States Within the United States, Anandi had created many memories, adventures and accomplishments here. When she first came to America, she arrived at New York from Calcutta by boarding a ship, which was chaperoned by two female English missionary acquaintances of the Thorborn. Carpenter was able to come to her aid in the year of 1883. During her time with Carpenter, she wrote an application towards the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, asking for admission into their medical program. The superintendent welcomed her with open arms, inspired by her hardships and and granted her a seat with a scholarship of $600 for the duration of the program.

Anandibai Joshi continued with her medical training at the ripe age of 19. However, despite her aspirations, her health condition declined as she was not familiar with the climate or the diet within America. It was during her stay in America that she was prone and caught tuberculosis. After contracting the disease, she was quickly admitted to the Woman's Hospital in Philadelphia. The doctor at her bedside advised her to go back to her home, India, as the climate would suit her better. Despite her medical condition, she continued to graduate with her medical degree in Medical Degree (M.D.) in March of 1886. Her thesis was titled, "Obstetrics among the Aryan Hindoos", which was utilized from American medical textbooks and Ayurvedic texts. On the day of her graduation, Queen Victoria congratulated her and sent her a sweet message of inspiration. It was through her sweet message of inspiration that Queen Victoria had a crater on Venus named after her. Anandi is still famously celebrated by millions in the world today.

Return to India

After graduating from the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1886, Anandi came back home to India, where she had received a warm welcome and the princely state of Kolhapur appointed her as physician-in-charge of the female ward of the local Albert Edward Hospital.

Death

After contracting tuberculosis in America due to the harsh climate and diet limitations, Anandi had died of tuberculosis on February 26, 1887 before she had the chance to turn twenty-two in Pune. She had undergone and was suffering from immense muscle weakness, continuous headaches, fevers and breathlessness. Although her very dear partner, Carpenter, sent her medications from America, it was not enough to help her get better. Although she knew she was dying, she continued to study medicine despite her limitations and weaknesses. When she had died, her death was remembered by millions of people in India and across the globe. The remaining ashes were sent to Theodicia Carpenter, who placed the final remains in her family cemetery at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery in Poughkeepsie, New York. Despite her legacy and name, she only had the chance to officially practice medicine for at most three months, due to tuberculosis.

 Legacy 

Anandibai Gopal Joshi's legacy is great among all the nations within the world today. In 1888, American feminist writer Caroline Wells Healey Dall wrote about Joshi and narrated her biography. During the time Anandi was alive, Dall had become close acquaintances with her and was friendly. However, there are specific parts of the biography where Gopalrao was seen as a harsh husband towards Anandi. This had caused a difference of opinion among Joshi's close relatives and friends.

There was an Indian public service broadcaster named Doordarshan, who had gotten the opportunity to air a Hindi series based on her life. The series was called, "Anandi Gopal" and was directed by Kamlakar Sarang. There was a woman by the name of Shrikrishna Janardan Joshi who had written a fictionalized tale of her life in his Marathi novel Anandi Gopal, which was soon adapted into a play of the same name by Ram G. Joglekar. This book was said to be a moderately fictionalized account of her life, which displayed Joshi in a less sympathetic way.

Dr. Anjali Kirtane had researched extensively every single detail of the life of Dr. Anandibai Gopal Joshi and has written a Marathi book entitled "डॉ. आनंदीबाई जोशी काळ आणि कर्तृत्व" ("Dr. Anandibai Joshi, Kaal ani Kartutva: Dr. Anandibai Joshi, her times and accomplishments") which contains rare photographs of Dr. Anandibai Joshi. Within this publishing, Kirtane proceeded to discover that it was not because of her husband that Joshi pursued medicine, but to her own desire.

The Institute for Research and Documentation in Social Sciences (IRDS), a non-governmental organization from Lucknow, has been awarding the Anandibai Joshi Award for Medicine in honour of her early contributions to the cause of advancing medical science in India. In addition, the Government of Maharashtra has established a fellowship in her name for young women working on women's health. A crater on Venus has been named in her honor by Queen Victoria. The 34.3 km-diameter crater on Venus named 'Joshee' lies at latitude 5.5° N and longitude 288.8° E.

On March 31, 2018, Google decided to honor her with a Google Doodle to mark her 153rd birth anniversary.

A film on her life in Marathi has been created in 2019 as Anandi Gopal. In 2017, Gujarati-language play titled Dr. Anandibai Joshi: Like, Comment, Share, directed by Manoj Shah, was premiered at National Centre for the Performing Arts.

In 2020, Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi had received 16 nominations at the eminent Filmfare Awards Marthai in India. She won nominations including: 'Best Film', 'Best Director', 'Best Screenplay', 'Best Actor in Leading Role (Male and Female), 'Best Cinematography' to name a few.

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