Author:

Dr. Subhayu Chattopadhyay
Department of History
Padma-Bhavana
Visva-Bharati

Email: subhayu_india@rediffmail.com

Abstract::The traditional Indian society received modern western medical knowledge with a mixed
response o disbelief as well as hesitant appreciation. It is of no doubt that the British administrators,
both under the Company as well as the Crown felt the need of introduction of modern medicine in this
part of the world to provide protection to their officials from ‘unknown fever’ and other diseases. The
foundation of medical colleges in three Presidencies, i.e. Calcutta (the first one), Madras and Bombay
were the manifestations of this policy. It is to be admitted that penetration of this branch of knowledge
into Indian society excited the minds of the educated Indians too, who apart from taking advantage of
better treatment, also took keen interest in practising it. Anandibai Joshi, a young girl from
Maharashtra, was one such example, who, in spite of opposition from the contemporary radical
forces of patriarchal society, went on to become the first female physician of this country achieving a
foreign medical degree.

Key Words::Anandibai Joshi , , Female, Hindu, Hospital ,Medical, Patriarchal Society, Physician etc