29 SEP

Emmeline Pankhurst

Votes For Women Through Deeds Not Words

Emmeline Pankhurst was the face of women’s suffrage in Britain. She created the ‘suffragettes’ and was instrumental in getting women the right to vote

“We are here, not because we are law-breakers; we are here in our efforts to become law-makers.”

-Emmeline Pankhurst

In the 1860s at Manchester, Britain sat the Goulden family. This family of 12 were eating breakfast. The eldest amongst the 10 siblings, Emmeline was reading out the political supplement of the daily newspaper to her father.

At that point in time, universal suffrage had become a hot political topic. Many women and even a few men were demanding the British government to grant women the right to vote.

In the 19th century, under Queen Victoria, Britain was a superpower. The British Empire had strong holds in their colonies spanning the entire globe. Yet half of Britain’s population didn’t have a voice, that half were the women.

Marie Curie

A Woman In A Man’s World- Marie Curie

Marie Curie is one of the most famous scientists in the world. Yet she faced plenty obstacles being a woman in a man’s world

In the late 1800s, Poland was under Russian rule. Russians had dictated strict rules- no one was allowed to speak Polish and women were not given an opportunity for education. In this difficult times there were two young girls with a thirst to learn more. Read more about Marie Curie …

27 SEP

Annie Londonderry

Around The World on a Bicycle

Annie ‘Londonderry’ was the first woman to travel alone around the world on a bicycle and fend for herself

Let us first look at the background behind Annie Londonderry’s historic trip around the world-

In the 1890s the suffragette movement was on in full swing in the major countries in the world like Britain, US, Australia and New Zealand. The two wheeled bicycle was looked upon as the perfect instrument for women emancipation.

Formerly bicycling for women was frowned upon. The Victorian society had stereotypical views when it came to women. Despite looking up to a Queen as their monarch, the people believed women to be fragile creatures who would faint easily and needed to be taken care of. The suffragettes wanted to change this.

Amelia Earhart

Soaring High: Amelia Earhart Amelia Earhart was in love with aviation and she encouraged women to take up flying as well “Please know I am quite aware of the hazards. I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must […]

25 SEP

Agatha Christie

The Brain Behind Hercule Poirot How Agatha Christie created one of the most famous characters in history. A window into her mind…. Standing at 5ft 4’’ with an egg-shaped head and a well groomed moustache this favourite Belgian detective has captured our imagination time and again. We have used our little grey cells and tried […]

24 SEP

Junko Tabei

On The Top Of The World

Junko Tabei was the first woman to successfully climb Mt. Everest and break stereotypes. This is her story

It was a cold dark night. Nothing could be heard except for the swooshing wind. No birds chirping, no lights, no civilisation nearby. It was pitch black and scary. The snow fell in heaps, mercilessly.

In the midst of this, stood tents housing about 15 women and 6 Sherpas to guide them 9000ft above sea level. It was dangerous not to mention deadly. These 15 women were headed to an unprecedented feat- to become the first women to scale the Mt. Everest.

As of this time, they were resting, sound asleep to gain strength for their ascent the next day. Just then everything began shaking. There was a tremble and a lot of snow, huge amounts of snow, cast upon them. Inside their tents, they would be trampled. Junko Tabei woke up with a start. With quick thinking she unclasped the penknife from a cord on her neck and held it up. Just then another climber grabbed the knife and slit the tent. Yet Junko lost her consciousness.

On 4th May 1975, an avalanche had struck the group. Would they make it?

Bertha Benz

The Woman Behind the Benz

How Bertha Benz helped finance one of the best car companies

“Two young boys and a woman on a hissing, thumping horseless carriage could only be the work of the Devil himself.” This is what people had to say when they saw Bertha Benz swish past them along with her teenage sons. Read more about Bertha Benz …

22 SEP

Rani Lakshmibai

Dangerous Woman: Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi -article by Jack Edwards Born: 19 November 1828 in Varanasi, India Died: 18 June 1858 in Kotah-ki-Serai, near Gwalior, India Early Life When she was born she was named Manikarnika Tambe. Her mother died when she was four years old. Her father, Moropant Tambe, worked in the […]

21 SEP

Coco Chanel

The Story Of Coco The Couturier who left behind a fashion legacy She never told anyone who she was except that she was French. Her past remained unknown, hidden in shadows whilst her work spoke for her. From an orphanage, a convent at that, she came and changed the meaning of style and chic. She […]

19 SEP

Rajabai Tower

Postcard Perfect

The Story of Mumbai’s Rajabai Tower

South Mumbai’s Fort area hasn’t lost its British aura yet. The buildings, wide roads, the Flora Fountain and the Asiatic Library surely aren’t boasting an Indian look.

Sir Bartle Frere came to Bombay as the Governor of the Bombay Presidency. When he landed here in 1864, he knew that the Bombay skyline was an empty canvas to paint on. The chief wealthy businessmen at the time like Sir Jamshedjee Jeejebhoy, Jagannath Sunkersett, David Sasson and Sir Premchand Roychund had made a lot of money in the metropolis owing to the heavy trade between India and Britain which was conducted chiefly in Bombay. They readily joined in to Sir Frere’s idea to craft Bombay into mini London.