Remembering the first woman veterinarian in India
As
the nation celebrated the 73rd Republic day and continues to bask in its glory
of 75th Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav, it
is heartening to see the women in India emerge as champions in every sphere of
life including leadership, political participation, and every other thing that
the society had never imagined. Amidst all these, India lost its first lady
veterinarian, Dr. Sakkub
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Dr. Sakkubai Ramachandran |
History of women
veterinarians in India
In India, Madras Veterinary College at Vepery in Chennai opened its first portal for admission to girls for the Bachelor of Veterinary Science course in 1948. Dr. Sakkubai Ramachandran, the first woman veterinarian of India, graduated in 1952 and later assumed multiple significant posts as virologist and retired as a Scientist from IVRI, Bangalore in 1971. While the first woman veterinarians - Dr. P. Sakku Bai and Dr. N. Kalyani passed out in 1952 from the Madras Veterinary College, Dr. Pushpa Ranaparkhe graduated in veterinary sciences in 1962.
While
she pointed out back in 2005, that until a decade ago when she was a student,
not many girls would opt for veterinary sciences, but presently outnumber the
boys in the merit list. So far, there was no national association of lady
veterinarians, and then she initiated the move. Unlike today where the
opportunities for women veterinarians are limitless, earlier women
veterinarians in India due to their commitments to their families and as the
majority of the women veterinarians worked in the field serving the livestock in
rural areas, there was no effort made to make the women veterinarians, who
could play a vital role, interact with each other and share their experiences.
Thus Dr. Pushpa Ranaparkhe established the All-India Association of Lady
Veterinarians (AILV) and set up local chapters in all the states. She realized
that most of the domestic chores and the task related to dairy were mainly done
by women only in rural India.
Few firsts of woman veterinarians
across different states of India
While Dr. Pragati Panda, the former Professor in the Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar remains the first lady veterinarian of Odisha, Dr. Amrita Patel, the former Chairman of National Dairy Development Board and Bombay Veterinary College alumna is the first woman veterinarian in the progressive state of Gujarat.
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Dr. Amrita Patel (Source: Google) |
The first-ever woman who graduated from Bangalore Veterinary College was Dr. Prema, who worked for the Animal Husbandry department and retired as Assistant Director during the 1980s. Dr. Suma became the first Director of department of Animal Husbandry, Kerala. Dr. Lalitha John was the first Dean of Madras Veterinary College. Over all these years, many stalwart lady veterinarians have carved a niche for themselves professionally. This has created awareness and paved a way for young girls and at present, there has been a tremendous rise in the number of girls preferring this noble profession. It is estimated that there are thousands of lady veterinarians in the country registered with different State Veterinary Councils and Veterinary Council of India (VCI). Dr. P. P. Nilufer became the first lady veterinarian from the tropical union territory of Lakshadweep and took charge as the first woman veterinary surgeon in Kavaratti in Lakshadweep in 2017.
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Dr. P. P. Nilufer (Source: Google) |
Recent distinctions in
the profession
The
first Annual Convention of Shakti - Lady Vet Wing of Indian Veterinary
Association was organized successfully at Bhopal on 13-14th November 2021 which
saw the congregation of women veterinarians from every nook and cranny of the
country. This annual convention served as a suitable platform to discuss and
resolve various issues and challenges faced by lady veterinarians across India.
Dr. Sosamma Iype, former Professor of Animal Genetics and Breeding at Kerala
Agriculture University, known as "Vechur's Amma", was conferred with
the Padma Shree award recently for the conservation of the indigenous breeds of
Vechur cow, Kasargod and Cheruvally cattle, and Attappady goats from the brink
of extinction.
 |
Dr. Sossama Iype (Source: Google) |
And we are marching ahead
With the induction of women in the National Defence Academy, increase in the marriage age of women to 21, to the finalization of recruitment of female veterinarians in the Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) of the Indian Army as officers and grant of maternity leave /child care leave once in the entire duration of studies for women students up to 240 days by the UGC, December in India last year showered our Christmas gifts in the form of some necessary changes that neutralize gender gap. Let all these causes of hope reach every 'aspiring and persistent woman' who is planning higher studies and balancing life meticulously, despite all odds, uncertainties, and challenges. Let this reach her. If this doesn't make you happy, then what will? As we remember and pay our deepest gratitude to the first woman veterinarian in India - Dr. P. Sakku Bai who leaves for another world, we must support each other and succeed professionally and personally. No “one-size fits all” formula is necessary. Let all these be the first and never the last. Let the new generation woman vets drive the change we need in our profession.
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Dr. Sakkubai on her birthday |
This is a heartfelt tribute to the first woman veterinarian in India - Late Dr. Sakkubai Ramachandran, the harbinger of lady vets in India.
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