The Queens of Mysore Who Became the Face of Smallpox Vaccination in 19th-Century India

A young princess, barely into her teens, became the poster girl and one of the earliest public faces of a vaccination campaign in India during the early 19th century. Princess Devajammani of Mysore (present-day Mysuru) was linked to efforts to promote the newly introduced smallpox vaccine. At a time when most people were fearful of vaccination, this 12-year-old princess decided to step up and motivate people to get vaccinated.Smallpox had killed millions since medieval times. The disease was deadly, and there was no cure for it. The first successful vaccine against smallpox was developed in 1796 by an English physician called Edward Jenner. The vaccine for the disease reached India in 1802, but many people were suspicious of it. A three-year-old

child from Bombay (present-day Mumbai) called Anna Dusthall was the first person in India to receive the smallpox vaccine on 14 June 1802. But inoculation wasn't easy. People did have to pay a small fee, but there was also distrust in British medical practices and misconceptions, such as that the disease was the wrath of the goddess.

The rulers of Mysore recognised the importance of vaccination. Rani Lakshmi Ammani, the grand-aunt of the senior Queen, a powerful and respected member of the royal family, encouraged the promotion of the smallpox vaccine. She actively promoted vaccines and was also of the belief that royal support could reduce public fear and encourage wider acceptance.Princess Devajammani, who married Krishnaraja Wadiyar III in 1805, became an important public face of this effort. As a young member of the royal household, she agreed to take part in a public campaign designed to demonstrate confidence in the vaccine. Her participation was significant because royal women rarely appeared in public life. Their actions carried considerable influence among the people, since they looked up to their rulers.The campaign was commemorated in a famous oil painting by the Irish artist Thomas Hickey. The painting depicts three royal women from the Mysore court. Historians have identified the younger Princess Devajammani as the figure on the right. She gestures towards her upper arm, the place where the vaccination was administered. This detail was deliberate. It served as a visual message that the princess had accepted the vaccine and that others could do the same."Mark Wilkes, Resident at the Court of Mysore, had been tasked by Lord William Bentinck (the then Governor-General of India) to promote smallpox vaccination. Aided by Purniya, the Chief Minister of Mysore, and Rani Lakshmi Ammani, the development of this well-thought-out campaign was portrayed through Thomas Hickey’s portrait of the three princesses," states Heritage Lab.

Much like influencers today, members of royal families served that purpose in the past. By showing respected royal women supporting vaccination, the move would help the public have faith in vaccines. Historians regard the portrait as one of the most important visual records in the history of medicine in India. This painting illustrates how social influence was used to restore confidence of people. The involvement of Princess Devajammani's also shows the importance of women in promoting public health initiatives. Her support for vaccination contributed to efforts to protect communities from Small Pox. Although little is known about her later life, her place in history remains secure as being the earliest model for the world's first vaccine. Members of royal families played an important role in promoting vaccination programmes in the early 19th century. For instance, in 1813, the Travancore royal family launched a modern vaccine campaign. The Queen of Travancore, Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi, established the first vaccination department in Travancore to combat smallpox. She also vaccinated herself and then other members of the royal family.