So Majestic And Beautiful this Cottonian looks wearing the 245 carat famous Jubilee Diamond ( double the size of Kohinoor )on her neck, a gift from her husband in 1900. The very diamond she pledged to save Tata Iron & Steel from a crisis in the 1920s and upon her death due to Leukamia in 1931, her husband sold this diamond and her other jewelry to set up a philanthropy trust to fund cancer research.
She is Lady Meherbai Tata ( 1879- 1931 ) , who grew up in Bangalore and studied at Bishop Cotton Girls School. Her father HormusJi Bhabha was a Professor and a eminent Educationist ( one of the first Parsi’s to study in England ).
She demonstrated her independence at a very young age ,while in school itself, as her father wanted to anglicize her name to Mary but she refused to change her Persian name Mehri.
Sir Jamsetji Tata( Tata founder ) in 1890 visited Bangalore on the invitation of Diwan Sir Sheshadri Iyer and it was on these frequent subsequent visits that he came into close contact with the Bhabha family and took a great liking for their younger daughter and thought was a good match for his elder son Dorab. He told his son to visit the family and it was love at first sight for Dorab when she was introduced to him while serving refreshments. They married on Feb 4 , 1898.
She took national pride in the Sari and wore only that , even while horse riding , traveling ,driving or playing tennis etc. She made Sari fashionable wearing it with Edwardian blouses.
She was one of the first Indian women drawn to play Tennis in a Mixed Double Match for Paris Olympics in 1924.
She won many a International tennis tournament wearing the traditional ‘ Gara ‘saree! Travelled widely with her husband , charming many a world leader including US President ,then King & Queen of England .Was the first Indian women to fly and went up for a few hours in a Zeppelin ” Victoria Louise ‘ in 1912.
She was a Feminist Icon and spoke for women causes like -education, equal rights in the constitution , pardah system and untouchability.
As president of the Federation of Indian Women’s Leagues in India and as one of the founders of the Bombay Presidency Women’s Council, Lady Tata also brought India into the International Council of Women.
She made a case for the Hindu Marriage Bill at a college in Michigan on November 29, 1927 — two days after she and her husband Sir Dorabji Tata met the then United States President Calvin Coolidge at the White House.
She was instrumental in getting the Sarda Act implemented in 1929 making Child Marriages illegal.
She had great force of character which, combined with real kindness, and singular graciousness of manner, made her presence immediately felt in any conference. Women in many countries formed their impression of the modern emancipated Indian woman from her forceful speech, her beauty and wise tolerance.”
She received CBE in 1919 from King George V , for her contribution for women progress and World War I efforts.
Homi J Bhabha , the famous nuclear scientist is her nephew !
Credit Courtesy; central tata file archive ; tata trust (Via Dr Anil Shukla)
Namaskaar India 