Kadambini Gangopadhyay

Author: Mala Dutta Ray
Genre: Atmajibani - Jibani - Smritikatha
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9789350404812
Pages: 208
Weight: 386 grams

Book Description:

Kadambini Gangopadhyay was a pioneering woman in India’s medical history, becoming the country's first female doctor. However, her legacy goes beyond being merely the first woman graduate or the first woman physician. Kadambini was a woman of immense willpower, endurance, courage, and an indomitable spirit. She broke the barriers of a male-dominated society and achieved her dreams against all odds.

Her life was set against the backdrop of a society steeped in religious and social norms, where she faced the harshest challenges—from the orthodox Hindu customs to the reformist ideas of Brahmoism, and the growing movement for women’s education. These contrasting ideologies, along with societal resistance to women's progress, created significant hurdles for Kadambini. Despite this, she fought for her place, with a vision to empower women and to make them equal to men in a male-centric society.

In this book, Mala Dutta Ray beautifully traces the remarkable life of Kadambini Gangopadhyay, chronicling her achievements and struggles against the societal and political backdrop of colonial India. Her journey exemplifies the struggle of Bengali women, and indeed Indian women, during the Renaissance period, marking the rise of women in the Indian socio-political and educational spheres.

Kadambini Gangopadhyay: The First Bengali Female Doctor is a testimony to the resilience of one of India's most inspiring figures who redefined the role of women in Indian society.