2016-03-11 Fri

Anandibai Joshi, the first Indian lady doctor, graduated with an MD on 11th March 1886 from the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania! She is the first lady doctor from South Asia and is also believed to be the first Hindu women to have set foot on the American soil. Anandibai began her medical education at age 19. In spite of her declining health due to cold weather and unfamiliar diet and tuberculosis, she graduated with an MD on 11 March 1886 the topic of her thesis being "Obstetrics among the Aryan Hindus". On her graduation, Queen Victoria sent her a congratulatory message. Such legendary woman of India was commemorated by Maharashtra Philatelic Society by featuring her on a Special cover.