Cornelia Sorabji: India's first woman lawyer
Witness History13 Jan 2021

Cornelia Sorabji: India's first woman lawyer

Cornelia Sorabji was the first woman lawyer working in India. She helped women living in purdah or seclusion in the 19th century who had no access to the law. The women were married into royal families and prevented from seeing men other than their husbands or family. This meant they had no way of seeking justice when they received cruel treatment, attempts on their lives or were disinherited by their husbands' families. Cornelia Sorabji was able to visit these women and often helped free them from violent abuse. She was so successful that some royal families tried to kill her. Claire Bowes has been speaking to her nephew, Sir Richard Sorabji, about her life and how she helped pave the way for women lawyers in Britain.

Photo: Cornelia Sorabji in a BBC studio in January1931.

Episoder(2000)

The reunification of Germany

The reunification of Germany

When the Berlin Wall fell on 9 November 1989, it marked a turning point in the Cold War in Europe and set in motion the process that led to the reunification of East and West Germany. But before tha...

23 Mar 10min

Women's rights in independent Tunisia

Women's rights in independent Tunisia

It's 70 years since Tunisian gained independence from France.In August 1956, it brought in a new equality law that revolutionised women's lives.Under the socialist President Habib Bourguiba, the North...

20 Mar 10min

The 'Cyprus Emergency'

The 'Cyprus Emergency'

Between 1955 and 1959, a Greek-Cypriot paramilitary group called EOKA rebelled against British colonial rule in Cyprus. In response, the British authorities declared a state of emergency. A young Cypr...

19 Mar 10min

Oslo's anti-racism demonstration

Oslo's anti-racism demonstration

On 1 February 2001, at least 30,000 people rallied in Oslo after the murder of 15-year-old Benjamin Hermansen by neo-Nazis.It is thought to be Norway's first racially motivated killing.News reports sa...

18 Mar 10min

The L'Amicale Four

The L'Amicale Four

In 1999, a fire at the L’Amicale gambling house in Port Louis, Mauritius, killed seven people. The fire began during riots that followed a disputed football final between the Catholic Fire Brigade and...

17 Mar 10min

The nuclear mango deal

The nuclear mango deal

On 2 March 2006, the United States and India finalised a controversial nuclear deal, ending India's three decades of international isolation over its nuclear policy. Sweetening the deal, President Geo...

16 Mar 11min

Casablanca: Making one of Hollywood’s greatest movies

Casablanca: Making one of Hollywood’s greatest movies

When Warner Bros assigned twin brothers and screenwriters Julius Epstein and Philip Epstein to adapt a stage play for the big screen in 1942, no one could have predicted the impact it would have. Casa...

13 Mar 10min

How Rang De Basanti inspired a generation

How Rang De Basanti inspired a generation

Released on India’s Republic Day in January 2006, the Hindi film Rang De Basanti, exploded onto the cultural landscape. In its first week, it shattered box office records and inspired thousands of you...

12 Mar 10min

Populært innen Samfunn

rss-spartsklubben
aftenpodden
giver-og-gjengen-vg
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
aftenpodden-usa
konspirasjonspodden
popradet
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
rss-henlagt-andy-larsgaard
grenselos
wolfgang-wee-uncut
min-barneoppdragelse
alt-fortalt
synnve-og-vanessa
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
fladseth
rss-dannet-uten-piano
frokostshowet-pa-p5
198-land-med-einar-trnquist
rss-frekvens-med-anine-olsen