Driven Female Royals, Suffrage Advocates, and Activists: An Examination of the Singh Sisters Histories
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, two daughters of Maharajah Duleep Singh, the last ruler of the Sikh Empire before British annexation, made significant strides in the women's suffrage movement in Britain.
Princess Sophia Jindan Alexandrovna Duleep Singh (1876–1948) and her sister Princess Catherine Hilda Duleep Singh (born 1871) were not only royal figures but also prominent suffragettes and women’s rights campaigners. Their involvement in the movement was marked by active participation, public protests, and the use of their royal heritage to advocate for women’s right to vote.
Sophia, in particular, was closely associated with the militant suffragettes of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), selling the suffragette newspaper "The Suffragette" and participating in protests outside Hampton Court. Catherine, on the other hand, was a noted suffragist and later activist, using her position and influence to support women's rights in Britain.
The sisters' shared passion for women's rights extended beyond their activism. Sophia and Catherine, along with their governess, Lina Schäfer, fell in love and remained romantic partners for as long as they lived. They shared a home in Penn, a village in Buckinghamshire, England, where Sophia would later become the owner after Catherine's death.
Catherine's home, renamed "Hilden Hall" after her middle name, was the site of a tragic event in 1942. On November 8, Sophia and Catherine attended a drama in Penn, dined, and retired for the night in Catherine's home. The next morning, Sophia found Catherine dead due to a heart attack in her home. Sophia herself passed away in her sleep in the same estate at the age of 72 in 1948.
Catherine's life, however, was not defined solely by tragedy. During the mid-1930s, she helped numerous Jewish families escape Nazi oppression in Germany, earning her the nickname "Indian Schindler." Her bravery and commitment to helping others continued to resonate even after her death, with her contributions to the women's rights movement being recognized posthumously.
Sophia's life's purpose was cited as "the advancement of women" in 1934. Her story was highlighted in the media and by historian Anand, who said, "Because of women like her, I have a say in who governs my future. It became my duty to tell her story and put her back in her rightful place in history."
The daughters of the exiled Maharajah became important figures in the British suffrage movement, highlighting the impact of individuals from diverse backgrounds on the fight for women's rights.
[1] The Suffragette [2] Women's Social and Political Union [3] Hampton Court [4] Catherine Duleep Singh [5] Sophia Duleep Singh
- Sophia Duleep Singh, a prominent suffragette, sold the suffragette newspaper "The Suffragette" and participated in protests outside Hampton Court.
- Catherine Duleep Singh, a noted suffragist and later activist, used her position and influence to support women's rights in Britain.
- The contributions of Catherine Duleep Singh to the women's rights movement and her bravery in helping Jewish families escape from Nazi oppression have resonated even after her death.
- Historian Anand highlighted the importance of Sophia Duleep Singh, stating, "Because of women like her, I have a say in who governs my future. It became my duty to tell her story and put her back in her rightful place in history."
