Susie Sorabji (1868 – 15 March 1931) was an Indian educator and Christian missionary.
Sorabji was born in Sholapur, Maharashtra, [1] one of the seven daughters of Reverend Sorabji Karsedji, a Parsi Christian missionary, and Francina Ford, a convert from Hinduism who had been adopted and raised by a British couple. Her mother established several girls' schools at Pune. [2] Susie Sorabji was educated at Bombay University. [3] Sorabji's sisters included law pioneer Cornelia Sorabji and physician Alice Maude Sorabji Pennell.
Susie Sorabji followed her mother into educational work, [4] and (despite lifelong frail health) traveled widely, attending international conferences, [5] lecturing [6] and meeting with potential donors, [7] to raise awareness and funding for the girls' school in Pune. [3] "I am pleading for my sisters, the gentlest, meekest, most neglected in the civilized world," she declared of her cause. [8]
She started a kindergarten, and trained kindergarten teachers for work in other Indian schools. "I had to fight against the government inspector when I first started the kindergarten," she recalled, "but now the system has been made compulsory in the government schools." [2] She also did literacy and missionary work among Indian women living in zenana spaces. [9] She supported the temperance movement and Girl Guides of India, [10] and, along with other members of her family, opposed the Indian independence movement. [11]
Susie Sorabji had chronic health issues, including vision problems which were treated with surgeries, medication, and extended periods of bandaging and rest. [12] Sorabji died in 1931, aged 63 years. Her sister Cornelia Sorabji wrote a biographical memoir, Susie Sorabji, Christian-Parsee Educationist of Western India: A Memoir (London: Oxford University Press 1932). [13] A street in Pune was named for Susie Sorabji in 1932. [12]
There is a Susie Sorabji Auditorium at St. Helena High School in Pune, named in her memory. [14] The school marks her death date (15 March) as its "Founder's Day", performing a play about her life and distributing food to local charity organizations. [15]
There is a chapter of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire in Uxbridge, Ontario, named for Susie Sorabji. [16]
Susie Sorabji (1868 – 15 March 1931) was an Indian educator and Christian missionary.
Sorabji was born in Sholapur, Maharashtra, [1] one of the seven daughters of Reverend Sorabji Karsedji, a Parsi Christian missionary, and Francina Ford, a convert from Hinduism who had been adopted and raised by a British couple. Her mother established several girls' schools at Pune. [2] Susie Sorabji was educated at Bombay University. [3] Sorabji's sisters included law pioneer Cornelia Sorabji and physician Alice Maude Sorabji Pennell.
Susie Sorabji followed her mother into educational work, [4] and (despite lifelong frail health) traveled widely, attending international conferences, [5] lecturing [6] and meeting with potential donors, [7] to raise awareness and funding for the girls' school in Pune. [3] "I am pleading for my sisters, the gentlest, meekest, most neglected in the civilized world," she declared of her cause. [8]
She started a kindergarten, and trained kindergarten teachers for work in other Indian schools. "I had to fight against the government inspector when I first started the kindergarten," she recalled, "but now the system has been made compulsory in the government schools." [2] She also did literacy and missionary work among Indian women living in zenana spaces. [9] She supported the temperance movement and Girl Guides of India, [10] and, along with other members of her family, opposed the Indian independence movement. [11]
Susie Sorabji had chronic health issues, including vision problems which were treated with surgeries, medication, and extended periods of bandaging and rest. [12] Sorabji died in 1931, aged 63 years. Her sister Cornelia Sorabji wrote a biographical memoir, Susie Sorabji, Christian-Parsee Educationist of Western India: A Memoir (London: Oxford University Press 1932). [13] A street in Pune was named for Susie Sorabji in 1932. [12]
There is a Susie Sorabji Auditorium at St. Helena High School in Pune, named in her memory. [14] The school marks her death date (15 March) as its "Founder's Day", performing a play about her life and distributing food to local charity organizations. [15]
There is a chapter of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire in Uxbridge, Ontario, named for Susie Sorabji. [16]