Friday, February 11, 2022

Dr. Sakkubai: A Remembrance

 Remembering the first woman veterinarian in India

As the nation celebrates 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. Sakkubai Ramachandran, at Eluru, Vijayawada on 27 January, she carved a unique path for all the women across the country for choosing to be in such an unconventional career of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry today.



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. 



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 the 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 the 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. 



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 into the National Defence Academy, the increase in the marriage age of women to 21, 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-all” formula is necessary. Let all these be the first and never the last. Let the new generation of woman vets drive the change we need in our profession. 


Dr. Sakkubai on her birthday

This is a heartfelt tribute to the first woman veterinarian in India - the Late Dr. Sakkubai Ramachandran, the harbinger of lady vets in India.

The article has been published in   

https://www.womensweb.in/2022/05/women-veterinarians-in-india-may22wk1sr/