Who was the first woman advocate in India?

There is no doubt that the women of India have been debarred since ancient India. As we have seen on multiple occasions how they were treated discriminately. Many women tried to study and work for the welfare of the nation but their applications in colleges and universities get rejected on the basis of their gender. But it is not in the case of “Cornelia Sorabji”, who made herself an educated one and even went to the foreign college at Oxford University in 1889 and, pursued Law as a degree. And in this way, she became the first female Advocate of India in 1922 after registration in the Calcutta High Court.

Cornelia Sorabji was born on 15 November 1866 at Nashik, Bombay Presidency during British India. Her parents were from a different religion as her mother Francia Ford was a Christian lady brought up by a British Couple in India and later her father Karsedji Sorabji. He converted his religion into Christian from Zoroastrianism. Cornelia has 9 children but some of them could survive, and only 6 left. Out of them, only a few were educated. Being the sister of Cornelia Sorabji, Susie Sorabji was the educator and Missionary, Alice Pennell was a Medical doctor. Cornelia initially education happened in his home and later on, she went to Bombay University. At the age of 87, she died on 6 July 1954 in London, United Kingdom.

 Legal Carrier

After returning to her own country in 1894, she worked for many social and advisory institutions like National Council for Women in India. And fight for the women who were not allowed to get themselves educated. Later on, working for these social institutions she also raised her voice against the Purdah pratha and known to be the Purdahnashini. She received her Law degree from Oxford University in 1920. When it allowed the Law degree for Females. She has also given the Bombay university exam in 1897, and the pleader’s examination of Allahabad High Court. Later on, she started to petition in 1920 for the female legal advisor for the women and Minors to represent in provincial Court. After practicing for 20 years she joined the Calcutta High Court and practiced till the age of 87.