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Rediscovering a medical trailblazer
A new biography revives the legacy of Jamini Sen, the first woman admitted as a Fellow to Glasgow's Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1912. Born in colonial Bengal, Sen overcame racial and gender barriers to practice medicine across Nepal, Britain, and India, yet her story faded from history until now.
Early life and education
Jamini Sen was born in 1871 in Barisal, Bengal Presidency, into a progressive family of seven siblings. She attended Bethune College in Calcutta (now Kolkata) before graduating from Calcutta Medical College in 1897, entering a profession dominated by men and stratified by race.
A career defined by firsts
Sen's early career took her to Nepal, where she served as the royal household's physician and headed the Kathmandu Zenana Hospital. For nearly a decade, she introduced modern medical practices in a deeply traditional setting, earning the trust of King Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah, who gifted her a gold watch bearing his crest.
Her tenure in Nepal ended amid political unrest, including rumors of a coup and the king's suspected poisoning. Undeterred, Sen set her sights on further qualifications, traveling to Britain in 1911 with support from the Lady Dufferin Fund.
Breaking barriers in Glasgow
In 1912, Sen became the first woman to pass the fellowship examinations of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, an institution founded in 1599 that had only recently opened its doors to women. While her achievement was historic, the college's records note she was "unable to hold office," limiting her privileges compared to male Fellows. It would take another 11 years for a second woman, Margaret Hogg Grant, to be admitted.
Sen's intellectual curiosity led her to Berlin later that year, where she studied tropical diseases at a time when continental Europe led the field.
Return to India and lasting impact
Back in India, Sen joined the Women's Medical Service, working in Agra, Shimla, and Puri. In Agra, her presence as an Indian woman physician helped ease tensions during local unrest targeting British doctors. Patients, particularly women, sought her out, affectionately calling her the "saree-wali daktarin sahib" (sari-clad lady doctor).
She confronted maternal health crises head-on, writing in her journal about improvements in post-childbirth sepsis cases. Her practical attire-a pinned sari with a full-sleeved blouse and lace collar-reflected her modern approach to medicine, blending tradition with functionality.
Personal struggles and legacy
Sen's personal life was marked by both resilience and sorrow. While in Nepal, she adopted Bhutu, a baby girl whose mother had died in childbirth. As a single mother in a society unforgiving of female independence, she balanced professional demands with private responsibilities. Tragically, Bhutu later died in Calcutta after a prolonged illness.
A few artifacts from Sen's life survive, including the king's watch, a Tibetan tsog spoon, and a brooch from London. Only two grainy photographs of her remain, now part of the Glasgow College archives.
"In celebrating Dr Jamini Sen today, we honour not just a doctor but a trailblazer whose courage laid the groundwork for generations of women in medicine both in India, in Britain, and beyond."
Deepta Roy Chakraverti, biographer and great-niece
A life restored to history
Sen died in 1932, her contributions largely forgotten until her great-niece, Deepta Roy Chakraverti, reconstructed her life in the biography Daktarin Jamini Sen. Drawing on letters, diaries, and Sen's own journal, the book paints a portrait of a woman shaped by ambition and sorrow, who navigated racism and sexism while remaining steadfast in her vocation.
In 2024, more than a century after her historic fellowship, Sen's portrait was unveiled in Glasgow, symbolically restoring her place in history. Her story underscores that modern medicine was never solely a European or male endeavor-it was also written by women like Sen, who refused to step aside.
