India's first female barrister Cornelia Sorabji celebrated
1st June 2011

Cornelia Sorabji, the first woman to sit the examination for the British degree of bachelor of civil law (BCL), at Somerville College, Oxford in 1892, was celebrated last night at the Nehru Centre in London at the launch of book of her letters edited by Kusoom Vadgama. 'The Indian Portia: Selected writings by Cornelia Sorabji 1866 - 1954' has taken Ms Vadgama nearly 25 years to compile. Sorabji was born on 15 November 1866 into a Zoroastrian (Parsi) Christian family in Nasik, Western India. She graduated from Oxford in 1892, but it would another 31 years before she was called to the English bar. In the meantime Sorabji worked 'tirelessly for the rights of purdahnishins (women in purdah) and orphans' and practiced in the Calcutta High Court from 1924 to 1929. Until now she has been largely forgotten by the British and Indians alike, possibly due to her "anti-Nationalist and anti-Suffragette" stances during India's campaign for Independence".

The launch of her selected writings was attended by nearly 200 guests and compered by acclaimed legal correspondent Joshua Rozenberg, it saw a reading of extracts by poet and lecturer in literature Pauline Drayson; a background to the book by Kusoom Vadgama; a personal account of Cornelia Sorabji by her nephew Richard Sorabji; a view from the Principal of Sommerville College Dr Alice Prochaska; an introduction to her influence by Jyoti Munsiff, the first Indian female solicitor in the UK who worked as a legal adviser to Shell; and human rights campaigner, Zerbanoo Gifford. Ms Gifford garlanded a bust of Cornelia Sorabji sculpted by Sachidanand Unavane and commissioned by Kusoom Vadgama to commemorate the launch of the book.

An Indian Portia: Selected Writings of Cornelia Sorabji (1866 - 1954)
	By Kusoom Vadgama (Editor) Published in Hardback (1st June 2011) Published by: Pardoe Blacker Publishing Ltd Language English 704 pages ISBN-10: 1897739516 Guide Price: £30 Click here to buy this book

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.