Cornelia Sorabji: India's Pioneering Woman Lawyer
Suparna Gooptu
Abstract
This book presents the biography of Cornelia Sorabji (1866–1954), the first woman to study law at Oxford. A Parsee and daughter of a converted Christian, Cornelia was among the early Indian women to practice at the Calcutta High Court. Appointed to a senior office under the British Indian government, she championed the cause of opening up the legal profession to women much before they were formally allowed to plead before the courts of law. Her story as a pioneer remains largely untold till date. Characterized by conservatism, individualism, and feelings against Indian nationalism, Cornelia wa ... More
This book presents the biography of Cornelia Sorabji (1866–1954), the first woman to study law at Oxford. A Parsee and daughter of a converted Christian, Cornelia was among the early Indian women to practice at the Calcutta High Court. Appointed to a senior office under the British Indian government, she championed the cause of opening up the legal profession to women much before they were formally allowed to plead before the courts of law. Her story as a pioneer remains largely untold till date. Characterized by conservatism, individualism, and feelings against Indian nationalism, Cornelia was one of the early woman legal professionals in India who played a pivotal role in protecting the interests of the purdahnashins.
Keywords:
Cornelia Sorabji,
biography,
Oxford,
British Indian Government,
Calcutta High Court,
conservatism,
individualism,
Indian nationalism,
India,
purdahnashins
Bibliographic Information
| Print publication date: 2006 |
Print ISBN-13: 9780195678345 |
| Published to Oxford Scholarship Online: October 2012 |
DOI:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195678345.001.0001 |
Authors
Affiliations are at time of print publication.
Suparna Gooptu, author
Reader, Department of History, University of Calcutta
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