Anandibai Joshee: A Life in Poems

by Shikha Malaviya

Anandibai Joshee (1865-87) was not only India's first female physician, but also the first Indian woman to travel across the forbidden 'black waters' and pursue an education in the United States - with the help of a kind American ally.

The poems in Shikha Malaviya's Anandibai Joshee: A Life in Poems are a chronological rendering of Anandibai's life-from her birth and childhood in the bustling town of Kalyan in Maharashtra and her marriage to an eccentric man sixteen years older, to early childbirth and the loss of her infant, from which her desire to become a doctor was born.

With elegance and a stark beauty, these poems bring to life the struggles and accomplishments of a woman who travelled across the seas to pursue a medical education before her return to India as a doctor. While her adventures were cut short by tragedy, her story lives on through these poems that thunder from across the decades with a voice that cannot be silenced.

136 pages, Paperback

Published July 16, 2023

About the author

Shikha Malaviya was born in the United Kingdom but grew up in the United States and India. Her family originally hails from Uttarakhand. Shikha's book of historical persona poetry, Anandibai Joshee: A Life in Poems is a unique retelling of the life of India's first female medical doctor and the first Indian woman to study medicine in the United States. Shikha’s previous book of poems, Geography of Tongues, was published to acclaim in 2014. Her poetry has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and featured in Catamaran, PLUME, Prairie Schooner & other fine publications. Shikha has been a featured TEDx speaker and was selected as Poet Laureate of San Ramon, California, 2016. She is passionate about poetry & social change and involved in the poetry community through events/initiatives such as: crowdsourcing a poem on solar energy with Greenpeace India; writing a poem for Sankara Eye Foundation’s eye donation campaign; organizing ‘100 Thousand Poets for Change’ events, and more. Shikha is co-founder of The (Great) Indian Poetry Collective, a mentorship-model literary press and is currently a Mosaic America Fellow. She lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her family, where she is a poetry mentor, publisher, and workshop facilitator.

Reviews

[Swapna Peri ( Book Reviews Cafe ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Anandibai Joshee: A Life in Poems" by Shikha Malaviya is a poetic biography that delves into the extraordinary life of Anandibai Joshee, India's first female physician. The book deviates from the common narrative of Joshee as a mere pawn in her husband's ambitions, presenting a nuanced portrayal of a determined and resilient woman who defied societal norms to pursue her dreams. Through a collection of poignant poems, Malaviya traces Joshee's journey from her upbringing in Maharashtra to her groundbreaking venture to the United States for medical education. The book transcends mere historical documentation, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the woman behind her pioneering achievements. The narrative invites readers into a world of resilience, courage, and unwavering determination. Malaviya's expertly woven words transport readers into the heart of Joshee's struggles, joys, fears, and accomplishments. The book is a heartfelt tribute to a trailblazing figure in Indian history, offering a deeply moving and insightful portrayal of Joshee's remarkable journey.