Anandi Gopal Joshi was a pioneering Indian physician and one of the first female physicians in India. She was born on March 31, 1865, in Maharashtra, India, and is best known for being the first Indian woman to obtain a medical degree from an American university.
Anandi’s journey to becoming a physician was remarkable. Married at the age of nine to Gopalrao Joshi, a widower who was supportive of her aspirations, she was encouraged to pursue education despite societal norms at the time. In 1880, she gave birth to a son who died just ten days later due to lack of medical care, inspiring her to pursue a career in medicine to help prevent such tragedies.
In 1883, with the assistance of various supporters, including Theodicia Carpenter, a woman from New Jersey who sponsored her education, Anandi traveled to the United States to study medicine. She enrolled at the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania (now known as Drexel University College of Medicine) and graduated with an M.D. degree in 1886, becoming the first Indian woman to do so.
Tragically, Anandi’s health began to deteriorate due to tuberculosis during her medical studies, and she passed away on February 26, 1887, at the young age of 21, just a few weeks shy of her 22nd birthday.
Despite her short life, Anandi Gopal Joshi’s accomplishments were significant. She shattered gender stereotypes and paved the way for women in medicine in India. Her dedication to education and healthcare continues to inspire generations of women pursuing careers in medicine and serves as a reminder of the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity.
