Joshi, Anandibai (1865–1887)

Indian physician. Name variations: Anandi or Anandibai Joshee; Anandi Joshi. Born Yamuna Joshi, Mar 31, 1865, in Poona (now known as Pune), India; died of TB at 22, Feb 26, 1887, in India; dau. of Gungubai Joshi and Ganpatrao Joshi (wealthy landlord family of Pune); distant cousin of Pandita Ramabai; Woman's College of Pennsylvania, MD, 1886; m. Gopal Vinayak Joshi (Sanskrit scholar), Mar 31, 1874.

The 1st Indian woman to receive a doctor of medicine degree, met and married her Sanskrit tutor Gopal Vinayak Joshi, a widower, when she was 9 (1874); at 14, was inspired to study medicine after the loss of her only child; at the Serampore College Hall in Calcutta, gave a famed speech, "The Courage of Her Conviction," about why she felt it was important to study medicine in US, to a crowd of Bengalis (who opposed her decision to travel to America without husband), Christians (who wanted her to "submit to baptism before she went") and Europeans; was supported, in part, by H.E.M. Jones, India's Post Office director-general and creator of the Jones Fund, who offered proceeds to husband for her schooling in America; sailed to America on City of Calcutta (1883); after earning MD (1886), was offered position as physician-in-charge of female ward at Albert Edward Hospital in Kolhapur, India, but contracted TB in US and died soon after her return to India. Received a hero's welcome upon her return, and, upon her death, was the subject of many laudatory articles.