Kadambini Ganguly: The Archetypal Woman of Nineteenth Century Bengal

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 from the colonial government. This work brings to light how Kadambini Ganguly became one of the most fitting indigenous replies to the Imperialist Bristish policy and the advent of Gynaecology in our country. She epitomized the transformation of women that was taking place in nineteenth century Bengal.