Description
My Story: Princess Sophia Duleep Singh
Sufiya Ahmed
(Scholastic)
My Story: Princess Sophia Duleep Singh is a first person, narrative biography from Sufiya Ahmed. It seems her subject is one she introduces to school children, like My Story: Noor-Un-Nissa Inayat Khan. As with that figure, the princess’s early life did not indicate her future. In fact Sophia’s place, as one of Queen Victoria’s godchildren, marked her out for privilege and comforts.
However, Sophia’s father, the Maharaja Ranjit Singh, had been stolen from his ancestral land as a boy. It seems that raising the heir to the ‘great Sikh kingdom of Punjab‘ as an Englishman was a way to ensure Empirical command of the region. What’s more, it confirmed the kingdom’s riches as Britain’s. These included the great Koh-i-noor diamond.
Therefore, how did such a conventional start in life, in the English countryside, inspire a leading suffragette? Through her careful research and realistic interpretation, Sufiya Ahmed, explains Sophia’s influences. It seems that her siblings were torn by their different origins and history, like their father and mother. What’s more, Sofia’s sister Bamba, renounced her Christian, English upbringing, to rediscover the family’s Punjab heritage.
Then again, the author makes us consider other issues. For example, we realise the unequal treatment and expectation of South Asian forces in service. Then again, we read of the lascars, those in marine service. What’s more, again, we read of the disrespect shown when Sofia’s brother married into the English aristocracy. Altogether, My Story: Princess Sophia Duleep Singh is a fascinating history that we recommend highly.
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