India Calling

by Cornelia Sorabji, Elleke Boehmer (Editor), Naella Grew (Editor)

Parsee by background yet "brought up English," an imperial servant mistreated by the imperial bureaucracy, and a pro-woman nonfeminist, Cornelia Sorabji embodied some of the most powerful contradictions of empire of her time.

Genres: Nonfiction

Paperback

First published May 10, 2001

About the author

Cornelia Sorabji (15 November 1866 – 6 July 1954) was the first female advocate from India when admitted to Allahabad High Court. She was the first female graduate from Bombay University, and in 1889 became the first woman to read law at Oxford University, and also the first Indian national to study at any British university. Later she became the first woman to practise law in India and Britain. In 2012, her bust was unveiled at Lincoln's Inn, London. Her nephew, Sir Richard Sorabji, is Professor of Philosophy at Kings College, London.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Ojasvi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gives a much-needed insight into the then lives of zanana/purdan-ridden women of India. Cornelia's journey of becoming a barrister is inspirational but the way she stands different, almost distant from the Indians and views herself more of a London-er feels discriminatory.