Chandramukhi Basu
Encyclopedia
Chandramukhi Basu (1860–1944), who was a Bengal
i speaking Christian
from Dehradun
, which was located in the (then known as) United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
, was one of the first two female graduates of the British Empire
. Along with Kadambini Ganguly
, she received her Bachelor's degree in Arts from the University of Calcutta
, India
in 1883. Miss Chandramukhi Basu passed the F.A. of the Calcutta University in 1880 as a student of the Free Church Institution
(now Scottish Church College) followed by bachelor's degree from Bethune College
, an affiliated women's college of the University of Calcutta, and an MA degree in 1884 at the University of Calcutta.
.
She retired in 1891 because of bad health and spent the rest of her life in Dehradun.
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
i speaking Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
from Dehradun
Dehradun
- Geography :The Dehradun district has various types of physical geography from Himalayan mountains to Plains. Raiwala is the lowest point at 315 meters above sea level, and the highest points are within the Tiuni hills, rising to 3700 m above sea level...
, which was located in the (then known as) United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
The United Provinces of Agra and Oudh was a province of India under the British Raj, which existed from 1902 to 1947; the official name was shortened by the Government of India Act 1935 to United Provinces, by which the province had been commonly known, and by which name it was also a province of...
, was one of the first two female graduates of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. Along with Kadambini Ganguly
Kadambini Ganguly
Kadambini Ganguly was one of the first female graduates of the British Empire along with Chandramukhi Basu. She was one of the first female physicians of South Asia to be trained in European medicine.-Early life:...
, she received her Bachelor's degree in Arts from the University of Calcutta
University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 1883. Miss Chandramukhi Basu passed the F.A. of the Calcutta University in 1880 as a student of the Free Church Institution
Scottish Church College, Calcutta
The Scottish Church College is the oldest continuously running Christian liberal arts and sciences college in India. It is affiliated with the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education , the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education for the awarding of baccalaureate and post baccalaureate...
(now Scottish Church College) followed by bachelor's degree from Bethune College
Bethune College
Bethune College is a women's college in India. It was founded as a school in 1849 by John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune and in 1879 developed as the first women's college in India. It is located at 181, Bidhan Sarani, Kolkata -700006, just opposite the current campus of Scottish Church College,...
, an affiliated women's college of the University of Calcutta, and an MA degree in 1884 at the University of Calcutta.
Early life
The daughter of Bhuban Mohan Bose, she passed the First Arts examination from Dehradun Native Christian School in 1880. Till then Bethune School did not admit non-Hindu girls. The rule was relaxed and she was admitted for the degree course, along with Kadambini Ganguly. After her graduation, she was the only and first woman to pass MA from Calcutta University in 1884.Career
She started her career as a lecturer in Bethune College (it was still part of Bethune School) in 1886. The college was separated from the school in 1888. She became the principal, thus becoming the first female head of an undergraduate academic establishment in South AsiaSouth Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
.
She retired in 1891 because of bad health and spent the rest of her life in Dehradun.