Why shouldn’t I tell the story of a woman because of whom I am able to cast my vote todayIJ Why shouldn’t I tell the story of a woman who transformed from socialite to a social activist and emerged as one of the most courageous women in historyIJ” said UK-based author Anita Anand, responding to a question on why she wrote an extensive book on Sophia Duleep Singh, a princess, suffragette and a revolutionary woman. Sophia led a traumatic life owing to her personal crisis but championed the cause of women rights in UK. However, she remained one of the least-discussed activists. “Who would discuss her when British state wanted to forget herIJ It is the establishment which tortured her in multiple ways because she was a non-conformist,” said Anita.
Sophia Duleep Singh was a daughter of deposed Indian maharaja Duleep Singh who had been exiled to England in late 19th century. Fifth of her six siblings, she and her mother was denounced by her father Duleep Singh which led to the beginning of her traumatic life. “She was very young when she saw her mother suffering and even succumbing to alcohol while her brother was sick. It was Sophia’s India tour that brought out an activist in her. When she first visited Amritsar in 1906, she met national leaders like Gopal Krishna Gokhale and lala lajpat Rai. In no time, she returned to England as a convinced anti-colonialist and wanted to invest her energy in ‘more meaningful tasks’ rather than breeding dogs. Interestingly, much like her father, she became an embarrassment to the royal family. During the World War I, she raised money for Indian soldiers and nursed them,” she said.