--- title: "Who was the first woman advocate in India?" description: "Who was the first woman advocate in India?" author: "Lily Chitlangiya" published: 2021-11-26 canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/94202/who-was-the-first-woman-advocate-in-india category: "law & legal issues" tags: ["laws", "laws and legal issues"] reading_time: 3 minutes --- # Who was the first woman advocate in India? Who was the first woman advocate in India? ## Answers ### Answer by Sanjay Goenka ## [“Cornelia Sorabji”](https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/the-hindu-friday-review-telangana/article30586015.ece) is the [first woman Advocate of India](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornelia_Sorabji#Legal_career) ![Who was the first woman advocate in India?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/2dd50eb5-91ec-47bc-a613-fd21eae642de/images/eee4db68-44a2-4378-8975-4d9f0671ed41.jpeg) **\** **\** **Overview** There is no doubt that **the women of India** have been debarred since **[ancient India](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/51787/vindhyashakti-was-the-founder-of-which-dynasty-in-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](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/52024/who-was-sworn-in-as-the-new-chief-justice-of-calcutta-high-court-on-4-april-2019). \ **Early Life** Cornelia Sorabji was **born on 15 November 1866** at **Nashik**, Bombay Presidency during [**British India**](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/39570/who-founded-a-national-press-national-paper-national-society-national-school-national-theatre-national-store-national-gymnasium-and-national-circus-making-the-term-national-popular-in-british-india). Her parents were from a **different religion** as her mother [Francia Ford](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francina_Sorabji) 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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purdah)** 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**. \ --- Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/94202/who-was-the-first-woman-advocate-in-india Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.