Do you remember the last time you came across a pianist who was also a pro-tennis player and a civil rights leader? No, me neither. But, it turns out not too long ago, Lady Meherbai Dorabji Tata broke into these iconic footsteps.
Born into a Parsi family in the 1879 version of Bombay, Lady Meherbai grew up in the school corridors of Bangalore’s Bishop Cotton. She observed how her anglicised name (Mary) stood out distinctly from her classmates’. And so, she decided that her name must spell ‘Meher’ instead; agency intact even then. College for the most part was her home library, curated by her father, HJ Bhabha, a prominent educationist — and there she intensively read english literature, music and latin. Post her matriculation, her elizabeth-bennet personality found a charming suitor in Sir Dorabji Tata and they were married in 1898.
Having wed into what is arguably India’s most credible and prosperous business family, Lady Meherbai’s life was filled with extravagance and international exposure. But, was she one to be held up in an ivory tower? Certainly not. Even in broad daylight, she could see the blinding contrast between women’s agency abroad and back home. So, inevitably, and imminently, and indomitably, Lady Meherbai became an advocate for women and children’s rights.
She played an active role in highlighting cleavages in women’s education, and calling out practices of untouchability and the purdah system. In 1919, she led a delegation of women to the then Viceroy and argued against the practice of indentured labour. And, for her fundraising efforts during the first world war, she was conferred the title of ‘Commander of the British Empire’. Lady Meherbai strongly supported and informed the child marriage prohibition act of 1929, also known as the ‘Sarda act’.
Could she have imagined that we’d still be talking about child marriages a century later? Perhaps not. Unfortunately, even today, one in four women between the age of 20-24 are married off before the legally defined age of consent (18 years), as per data from the latest round of the National Family Health Survey (2019-2021). And, 785 cases of child marriages were registered with the police in 2020, as per the latest Crime in India Report.
Reading these statistics is dreadful. But you’d (hopefully) be inspired to know that the fight within leaders like Lady Meherbai was neither finite nor easily perishable. What would she do if she were alive today? Well, besides kicking ass at tennis at the Olympics (in a saree!), she would urge all of us to take an interest in our civil, political and human rights. She believed in the power of community (as a leading member of the National Council for Women) and women collectively demanding their rights, owning spaces traditionally occupied by mansplainers, striving for higher education and exploring the world at sea.
In 1939, following her battle with Leukaemia, Lady Meherbai died. But as the epitaph on her tombstone reads: “she died as she had lived working nobly for the cause of women and for the country which she loved and served so well” — her legacy lives on. Sir Dorabji established the Tata Memorial Hospital in 1941 for cancer research and treatment, and a trust in her name was created which continues to provide scholarships to women for their higher education. Lady Meherbai will always be a powerful symbol of possibility, action and authenticity.
If you would like to read more about her life, please visit the archives maintained by the Tata Group. There’s also this beautifully illustrated book created by Amar Chitra Katha authored by Tripti Nainwal that will make for a wonderful read. The copyright to this book and all the images used in this article is the sole property of Tata Sons Private Limited.
In service of sisterhood, Tvesha Sippy
Do you remember the last time you came across a pianist who was also a pro-tennis player and a civil rights leader? No, me neither. But, it turns out not too long ago, Lady Meherbai Dorabji Tata broke into these iconic footsteps.
Born into a Parsi family in the 1879 version of Bombay, Lady Meherbai grew up in the school corridors of Bangalore’s Bishop Cotton. She observed how her anglicised name (Mary) stood out distinctly from her classmates’. And so, she decided that her name must spell ‘Meher’ instead; agency intact even then. College for the most part was her home library, curated by her father, HJ Bhabha, a prominent educationist — and there she intensively read english literature, music and latin. Post her matriculation, her elizabeth-bennet personality found a charming suitor in Sir Dorabji Tata and they were married in 1898.
Having wed into what is arguably India’s most credible and prosperous business family, Lady Meherbai’s life was filled with extravagance and international exposure. But, was she one to be held up in an ivory tower? Certainly not. Even in broad daylight, she could see the blinding contrast between women’s agency abroad and back home. So, inevitably, and imminently, and indomitably, Lady Meherbai became an advocate for women and children’s rights.
She played an active role in highlighting cleavages in women’s education, and calling out practices of untouchability and the purdah system. In 1919, she led a delegation of women to the then Viceroy and argued against the practice of indentured labour. And, for her fundraising efforts during the first world war, she was conferred the title of ‘Commander of the British Empire’. Lady Meherbai strongly supported and informed the child marriage prohibition act of 1929, also known as the ‘Sarda act’.
Could she have imagined that we’d still be talking about child marriages a century later? Perhaps not. Unfortunately, even today, one in four women between the age of 20-24 are married off before the legally defined age of consent (18 years), as per data from the latest round of the National Family Health Survey (2019-2021). And, 785 cases of child marriages were registered with the police in 2020, as per the latest Crime in India Report.
Reading these statistics is dreadful. But you’d (hopefully) be inspired to know that the fight within leaders like Lady Meherbai was neither finite nor easily perishable. What would she do if she were alive today? Well, besides kicking ass at tennis at the Olympics (in a saree!), she would urge all of us to take an interest in our civil, political and human rights. She believed in the power of community (as a leading member of the National Council for Women) and women collectively demanding their rights, owning spaces traditionally occupied by mansplainers, striving for higher education and exploring the world at sea.
In 1939, following her battle with Leukaemia, Lady Meherbai died. But as the epitaph on her tombstone reads: “she died as she had lived working nobly for the cause of women and for the country which she loved and served so well” — her legacy lives on. Sir Dorabji established the Tata Memorial Hospital in 1941 for cancer research and treatment, and a trust in her name was created which continues to provide scholarships to women for their higher education. Lady Meherbai will always be a powerful symbol of possibility, action and authenticity.
If you would like to read more about her life, please visit the archives maintained by the Tata Group. There’s also this beautifully illustrated book created by Amar Chitra Katha authored by Tripti Nainwal that will make for a wonderful read. The copyright to this book and all the images used in this article is the sole property of Tata Sons Private Limited.
In service of sisterhood, Tvesha Sippy
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