Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary
Born in English exile in 1876, Sophia Duleep Singh was a princess and daughter of Maharajah Duleep Singh, the deposed ruler of the Sikh Empire. Though raised in Norfolk as an upper-class Englishwoman and presented at the court of her godmother, Queen Victoria, Sophia grew up to become an ardent suffragette, a social reformer, and a revolutionary.
Princess Sophia was a fascinating figure to read about. From her early days as a debutante and fashion icon, she was in the public eye. The Duleep Singh family had always been watched; the British government worried that the exiled royals could still incite rebellion in the Punjab. Later in life, Sophia used that exposure to her advantage, becoming active in many causes and philanthropic ventures.
Through Sophia and her activities, the book explores many topics, some of which I knew little about: the suffrage movement and Women’s Social and Political Union, the exploited lascars of London’s docks, the treatment of Indian soldiers in the British army during World War I, Gandhi and the fight for Indian independence. Despite her very English upbringing, Sophia reclaimed her heritage, just when India needed it most.
