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India's First Female RCPsych Fellow Broke Barriers
21 Mar
Summary
- Jamini Sen was the first woman admitted to the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.
- She served as physician to Nepal's royal household and headed Kathmandu's Zenana Hospital.
- Her biography, 'Daktarin Jamini Sen,' reconstructs her remarkable life.
In the early 20th century, Dr. Jamini Sen emerged as a trailblazer from colonial India. In 1912, she achieved a historic first by becoming the inaugural female Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, an institution established in 1599.
Sen's early career included a significant decade serving as house physician to Nepal's royal household and leading the Kathmandu Zenana Hospital. She introduced modern clinical methods within a traditional setting, earning the trust of King Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah.
Her ambition then led her to Britain, where she secured a medical license in Dublin and pursued studies in London. Passing the fellowship exams in Glasgow in 1912, Sen faced restrictions as a female Fellow, unable to hold office.
Returning to India, Sen joined the Women's Medical Service, working in cities like Agra, Shimla, and Puri. She dedicated herself to addressing maternal health crises and combating epidemics, earning the affectionate title "saree-wali daktarin sahib."
Despite personal sorrow, including the loss of her adopted daughter, Sen remained steadfast. Her life and contributions, once obscured, are now illuminated by the biography 'Daktarin Jamini Sen,' finally restoring her legacy.
