The first female graduates in India were Chandramukhi Basu and Kadambini Ganguly. They both graduated from the University of Calcutta in 1883 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
- Chandramukhi Basu was born in 1860 in Dehradun, India. She was a student at Bethune School, which was the first school for girls in India. She passed the University of Calcutta entrance examination in 1876, but the university refused to enroll her as a successful candidate. She was finally allowed to study further after the university changed its resolution in 1878. She passed her F.A. examination in 1880 and graduated with a BA degree in 1883. She was the only woman to pass MA from the University of Calcutta in 1884.
- Kadambini Ganguly was born in 1861 in Calcutta, India. She was also a student at Bethune School. She passed the University of Calcutta entrance examination in 1878 and graduated with a BA degree in 1883. She then went on to study medicine at Calcutta Medical College, where she became the first female doctor in India.
Both Chandramukhi Basu and Kadambini Ganguly were pioneers in the field of women’s education in India. They broke down barriers and paved the way for other women to pursue higher education. Their achievements are an inspiration to women all over the world.