| Chandramukhi Basu | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1860 |
| Died | 1944 |
| Occupation | Educationist |
| Spouse | Pandt Keswaranand Mamgayen |
Chandramukhi Basu (Bengali: চন্দ্রমুখী বসু) (1860–1944), who was a Bengali 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)[1] 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.
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The daughter of Bhuban Mohan Bose, she passed the First Arts examination from Dehradun Native Christian School in 1880. [2] 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. [2] After her graduation, she was the only and first woman to pass MA from Calcutta University in 1884. [2]
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. [2] She became the principal, thus becoming the first female head of an undergraduate academic establishment in South Asia.
She retired in 1891 because of bad health and spent the rest of her life in Dehradun. [2]
Two of her sisters, Bidhumukhi and Bindubasini, were also renowned. Bidhumukhi Bose and Virginia Mary Mitra (Nandi) were among the earliest women medical graduates from Calcutta Medical College. They passed out in 1890. Thereafter, Bindubasini Bose passed out from Calcutta Medical College in 1891. [3]