Kadambini Ganguly : The Archetypal Woman of Nineteenth Century Bengal

Contents: Preface. Introduction. 1. Medical Education in Bengal. 2. Occidental influences and its oriental response: Beginning of female medical education in Bengal. 3. Indian Women: Medical education and its professionalization. 4. The Brahmo Samaj Milieu. 5. Making of Kadambini: Childhood to Medical Education. 6. Kadambini as a medical Practitioner. 7. Kadambini and Dwarkanath. 8. Kadambini: Patriotism and social work. Conclusion. Appendix. Bibliography.

This work is an attempt to assess the contribution of a nineteenth century Bengali woman who had many firsts to her credit. She had excelled in her medical practice and tride to reach out to those hapless women at a time when very little attention was paid to their health. At that time the realm of medicine and health was exclusively male dominated. Her achievements in the practice of medicine are phenomenal considering the constant impediments she had to face form the colonial government. This work brings to light how Kadambini Ganguly became one of the most fitting indigenous replies to the Imperialist British policy and the advent of Gynaecology in our country. She epitomized the transformation of women that was taking place in nineteenth century Bengal.