Anandi Joshi: No Man or Woman should depend upon another

A 20 years old, Anandi Joshi who had great support from her passionate husband sent to the US for medical study, she was the only woman and the first lady from India.

Story of Marriage of Anandi Joshi

Her story: she is one of the women whohas been inspiring millions today. She was a married woman at the age of 9, but the marriage was done on a conversational bond between her friends and family.  She told her husband that she had to study after marriage, and this proposal was from her husband. Therefore, Gopalrao Joshi got married on this promise only.

The ardent man, a free spirit, zealous and brave to go against the custom of India and people, especially in the matter of Indian women’s education.

Birthplace of Anandi Gopalrao Joshi

Anandi Joshi was born in Kalyan, and her real name was Yamuna (The name derived from the sacred Yamuna River). She was considerably rich from a family in her grandparents’ era. She got married to the person who was almost 20 years older due to her mother’s forceful decision and choice. It did not happen only with her, as it was one of the traditions in India during the 18th century.

The husband with whom she got married was a glowing flame and sometimes cruel, asking forcefully for taking her education seriously. She said,

Sometimes he could throw books or a chair on me if I missed my study for the day.

Anandi Joshi

Family support and ardent behaviors of her husband

However, many times she had given a reason to say that she did not get time for study due to household chores. Still, her husband used to wake up early in the morning on his own and finish all the work of the house. He made her travel from Kalyan to Alibagh, then to Kolhapur, and finally to Calcutta (now it is Kolkata) for her study at an early age. Then only she learned Sanskrit and Marathi. (These two languages were prime in the country, Maharashtra.)

^{Letter of Anandi Bai Joshi to Carpenter of Roselle 18th June 1883}

Quote by Anandi Bai Joshi

No Man or Woman should depend upon another for maintenance and necessaries. Family discord and social degradation will never end till each depends upon herself.

Anandi Gopal Joshi

Her story was so inspiring that the couple got a spark and craze about studying medical science when their first newborn baby boy died when she was 14. She claimed herself responsible for the death of her child. She said that,

If I was well-educated, then I could have saved my child.

Anandi Bai

Motivational factors of Mrs Joshi

Anandi decided that she wants to become a physician as she thought that there are many other women like her whose children are dying every day in India. She wanted to serve the nation as a doctor.

Gopalrao tried everything, knocked on the doors of the city’s popular physicians, and tried accepting theChristian religion to that end, but the couple was only facing criticism and opposition. Mrs. Carpenters of Roselle, New York, heard Anandibai’s story and sent her a letter and appreciated her effort and interests, and she also wrote that she is happy to accept her as a student.

The dream of the couple after receiving the letter from Mrs. Carpenters was not so far, but it was a two-year degree, and she alone had to travel the miles to get there and complete her education in the US. It was not possible for an Indian lady to go outside the home for shopping, and going alone abroad was impossible.

Going against the society and her travel

Mr. Gopalrao went against the society and sent his wife to another country alone to fulfil the dream of his wife. At first, she had denied going alone, but there was no option. Her husband had no job, and he had already said that if you are not going this time, then you will see me die. She was sent through a sea channel with boiled potatoes in her bag for her lunch and dinner and her necessary material for living and study.

Letters and Biography

Many exchanges of letters were between Roselle and Anandi Bai; they had discussed the status of women in India (a paperback is available on Amazon), early marriage and its health effects on women, customs of India needing change, and women’s education.

She had not practiced as a physician due to her health, and after she got her medical degree and became a doctor, Anandi Joshi died soon due to tuberculosis. Her biography is available on Amazon by Megan Called; the regional language book is also available in Marathi (her complete biography by author Anjali Kirtane).

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