Cornelia Sorabji was a social reformer, an author and the first woman to practise law in India and Britain. By the time poor sight ended her work in India she had helped many hundreds of wives, widows and orphans. She also successfully organised a Leagure for Infant Welfare, Maternity and District Nursing.

Her writings provide a priceless and fascinating documentation of one of India's most outstanding women in the nineteenth and twentieth century India and Britain. Her noble career and valuable archives have left behind a heritage to the people of India and their causes. Her really extraordinary life of dedication to public service, evident from her writings and ceaseless hard work, deserve to be acknowledged and published. This book achieves both.

About Cornelia Sorabji

Cornelia Sorabji (15 November 1866 - 6 July 1954) was the first female barrister from India, a social reformer, and a writer. She was also the first female graduate from Bombay University, and the first woman in the world to read law at Oxford. Sorabji was born at Nashik in the Bombay Presidency, India, on 15 November 1866. She was one of nine children of Reverend Sorabji Karsedji, a Parsi Christian, and his wife, Francina Ford, an Indian who had been adopted and raised by a British couple.

As a child Sorabji received her education both at home, with her missionary father, and at mission schools. In 1892, she was given special permission by Congregational Decree, due in large part to the petitions of her English friends, to take the Bachelor of Civil Laws exam at Oxford University, becoming the first woman to ever do so.

At the turn of the century, Sorabji was also actively involved in social reforms. She was associated with the Bengal branch of the National Council for Women in India, the Federation of University Women, and the Bengal League of Social Service for Women. For her services to the Indian nation, she was awarded the Kaiser-i-Hind gold medal in 1909.

She practiced in the Calcutta High Court from 1924 to 1929, however, due to male bias and discrimination she was confined to preparing opinions on cases, rather than pleading them before the court. Sorabji retired from the high court in 1929, and settled in London, visiting India during the winters. She died at her London Home, Northumberland House, Green Lanes, Finsbury Park, on 6 July 1954.

About Kusoom Vadgama

Kusoom Vadgama, Doctor of Optometry, was born in Nairobi, Kenya, and educated at the Government Indian Girls' High School. She studied the glory and history of the British Empire at school but her time outside was spent leading anti-British rallies at the height of the 'Free India' and 'Quit India' movements. In 1953 she came to Britain for further education and later went to Chicago for more studies. She also lived and worked in New York where she attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. In London she studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.

One of her great interests has been the special relationship that exists between India and Britain. While researching her first book 'India in Britain' - which has forewords by Indira Gandhi and Prince Charles - she discovered 233 volumes of Cornelia Sorabji's private papers in the British Library. As she says in the preface to her book, "I read the letters and diaries with great interest and excitement. It is not possible to read them without feeling intense admiration for her (Cornelia's) natural talent, perseverance and determination to fight for justice'.

Kusoom practices in London, very much an Indian but totally committed to the British Way of Life - the British sense of humour being the linking factor. 'Britain is my home but India is my homeland' is how she describes her loyalty and love for the two countries.

She was on the editorial board of India Weekly and chaired the committee to set up a Centre for Research in Asian Migration at the University of Warwick. She is a trustee of the ASHA Centre - an international centre working for peace and understanding.