Dr. ANANDI and her TIMES - I

The book has some extracts from some newspapers and some books.

In the lecture delivered by Dr. Joshee before her journey to America, she answered all the questions raised by many( as reported in Print media), and a summary of a lecture by Ms. Helena Carpenter Cobb, the great-granddaughter of Mrs. Carpenter.

The book has the thesis submitted by Dr. Joshee as a part of the course. A note by Dr. Pushpa Tulpule is added( she is an Ayurvedic medicine practitioner)

This is an attempt to unfold her personality as it emerges from the written sources made available by the book. It really is an interesting exercise that helps one get a fair idea of her times and her persona too emerges gradually. There are many references that reflect the social, political, and economic details of the time.

The volume has some analysis provided, but these write-ups do not intend to present it.

Reading the letters created ripples and an opportunity to know her thoughts on many points,a small window to know her mind to an extent.

Anandi was born on the 31st of March 1865 in Pune. Her maiden name was Yamuna, was a student of a mission school, and married Gopalrao at the age of nine, he was probably 29 then. Along with Marathi and Sanskrit, he knew English too. He taught her and Anandi too developed a keen interest in education. It was his second marriage. Gopalrao was a postmaster, so she traveled with him wherever he was transferred. Had her first child at the age of 14, but she lost the child.

The series of write-ups begins with the address at Seerampur ( or Shree Rampur) near Kolkata. ' Hundreds of questions were asked ', she explained why did she choose an American college to study medicine over Indian colleges.

Dr. Anandi Bai presented her thoughts with great clarity and courage. She focused on the need of Indian lady doctors in society. She stated that there were English and American lady doctors, but their language, customs and manners were different, thus 'natives' of other countries could not be as useful as they were expected to be. The young Anandi Bai noted the growing demand of Hindu lady doctors and she readily volunteered to study medicine.
On being questioned about not studying in India, her observation was that the education in the colleges( Indian) was 'defective and not sufficient '. She said," The male doctors take up female class, rather feast their eyes on female sex than to educate them." This 'inconvenience' would diminish she stated, once there would be a class of educated ladies.

She had clarity of thought, going to any institution in any part of the country and living as a Hindoo was difficult as one is quickly noticed and 'stared at by people ', she stated. English dress was not noticed and was free from scandal, even native Christians too did not face difficulties, She said. She experienced this even when she was in Bombay ( the name then used for Mumbai ). People peeped our of their windows, carriages stoped, people on the road laughed, passed comments on her for wearing boots. Some gathered around her ( probably laughed to express the ridicule), and some even did not mind throwing pebbles at her. She uses the word 'officious ' to explain all this. Besides making fun of her, people had doubts about her marital status and character too. To be able to avoid all this, she wanted to study in America, not in a 'whim'.

She planned to go alone,the reason was insufficient funds for the travel of two. Her husband, Gopalrao had parents to look after. It would have been very cruel to leave them without any support, she thought.

She determined to live in America as she lived in India,never thought of changing 'dress,food ,customs and manners'. She was resolute to live as a Hindoo in America and come back to live as a Hindoo. With great determination she said that she would not 'increase her wants',' be simple and plain ', so was quite confident that the society would not think of excommunicating her.

When asked about the misfortune that she might have to face,her reply was when such things happen,they had to be endured. Why 'lament' on the things and get unnecessarily worried and get entangled in a dilemma psychologically. She wanted to study a branch of science and believed that on the contrary ignorance, if voluntary, is criminal'. She wanted to 'enlarge her comprehension' . Thus thought that it was not a disadvantageous to go to America.
She stated the one who never thinks ,can never be wise. It makes life miserable and short. Thus everyone,she said 'must do that one thinks is proper'. One must 'repay the kindness one received' ( probably from the society ) . The world,she described 'was like a sea, mankind like a vessel, science like oars, without it the vessel would be tossed like a billow and would find shipwreck in every breeze'.

The last question was really a tough and a loaded one. Why should she choose the path no woman dared to tread upon? To this she answered that everyone has some duty to fulfil,one 'must do good to society, neglecting it is an unpardonable sin'.

And she raised a pertinent question, why should one follow only the track followed by others? She stated even if Christ did not shun the responsibility, in spite of extreme penalty while doing good, he chose to sacrifice his life instead. She referred to the ancient king Shibi (the king who offered his own flesh to save a dove from an eagle, the dove was Agni and the eagle was Indra transformed) and Mayurdhwaj ( his story is a part of Mahabharata, who presented his own half body to be cut by his son and wife without expressing pain or shedding a tear to rescue a son of a person in need, it is to be read carefully) who did not desist from duty for fear. She stated there has to be someone who would be the first to walk on a new path.

She gave the reference to some Sanskrit shlokas too. One shlok implied that as one attempts at learning science, one develops a liking for it.

One more shlok is cited which describes that good people do not change their path (which they are convinced is just) in spite of impediments.

All these references indicate that she chose the goal very carefully, was determined to achieve it and wanted to work in the field of women's health. She could sense the hesitation of Indian women consulting the male doctors and the difficulty they faced with English or American lady doctors as well.

The last part of her speech is not available, but her argument and thoughts reach readers easily. The argument is well established,she answered all the questions raised in no ambiguous terms. She spoke in English,her command of the language is amazing especially when the exposure was limited. The articulation of the argument is unbelievably logical.

She was hardly eighteen years old then.

( Dr. Anandibai always spelled her surname as 'Joshee ', may I suggest those who share her surname spell it the way she used to as a mark of respect and follow a woman of great resolve? )