by Sufiya Ahmed
“Will we be remembered? Will future generations of women and girls care that we fought for their human right to vote and be counted?....I have done my part. The ones who will come after me will continue the fight for women’s advancement their own way”.
The remarkable story of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh. A gift for history-curious primary aged children and a gift for adult readers who will wonder why they don’t know more about this vibrant figure from UK History.
Princess Sophia was the daughter of Sir Duleep Singh, the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, and Bamba Müller (a woman of German and Ethiopian descent). Her UK heritage begins with her position as goddaughter to Queen Victoria and her residence at Hampton Court Palace. Her legacy is extensive as one of several, high-profile, Indian woman involved in the Suffragette movement, the prominent role she played in the Women’s Tax Resistance League and her role as a Red Cross nurse taking care of Indian soldiers in Brighton's hospitals.
A well-researched biography. Highlights for us included Princess Sophia’s comic frustration at not getting arrested as easily as her peers due to the protection afforded by her royal status. At the time of writing this review (2024) the author continues to offer Upper KS2 workshops on her range of historical fiction titles (including narratives about Noor-un-Nissa Inayat Khan, Princess Sophia Duleep Singh and the fictional Churchill-era spy, Rosie Raja). Age 9-12, Paperback 200pp
Themes: Gender Equality