Last month, I posted this passage from A.J.C. Mistry’s law firm memoirs on the early history of women in the legal profession in British India. This month, I’m sharing a list of life writing titles (memoirs, autobiographies, farewell speeches) by women in law in South Asia. This means lawyers, judges, scholars, and legal scholactivists. Thanks to everyone on Twitter who contributed, including: @angryoungmanno1, @itihaasnaama, @kalramnath, @mssanjanam, @MihirCN, @smukherjee, and @vikramhegde. The original thread is here. These titles are in English unless otherwise indicated. Please e-mail if you know of any other titles (especially from outside of India): mitra.sharafi@wisc.edu
Life Writing by Women in Law in South Asia
- Flavia Agnes, My Story…Our Story of Re-Building Broken Lives (Mumbai: Majlis, 2004), 4th ed. (contact me if you’d like the PDF)
- Margaret Alva, Courage & Commitment: an autobiography (Delhi: Rupa, 2016)
- Sunanda Bhandare, Struggle for Gender Justice: Justice Sunanda Bhandare Memorial Lectures (Delhi: Penguin, 2010)
- Anna Chandy, Atmakatha (Malayalam)
- Roshan Dalvi, Tangible Justice: Glimpses of a Judicial Life (Mumbai: Granthali, 2019)
- Durgabai Deshmukh, Chintaman and I (Delhi: Allied, 1980)
- Nandita Haskar, The Flavours of Nationalism: Recipes for Love, Hate and Friendship (Speaking Tiger Books, 2018)
- Sudhanshubala Hazra
- Sushila Karki, Nyaya (Kathmandu: Buka-Hila Pablikesana, 2018) (Nepali)
- Mithan J. Lam (née Tata), Autumn Leaves (Mumbai: K. R. Cama Oriental Institute, 2009) (available here)
- Shilpa Bhasin Mehra, All Battles Aren’t Legal (Delhi: Universal Law Publishing, 2006)
- Gita Mittal, Farewell speech (as Acting Chief Justice, Delhi High Court, 8 August 2018)
- Leila Seth, On Balance: an autobiography (Delhi: Penguin, 2007)
- Salma Sobhan (Bangla)
- Cornelia Sorabji, India Calling (Nottingham: Trent, 2004) and India Recalled (London: Nisbet, 1936) (See also Mss Eur F165: Papers of Cornelia Sorabji (1866-1954) at the British Library)
- D. Sreedevi, Aajanma Niyogam (Malayalam)
- Avabai B. Wadia (née Mehta), The Light is Ours: Memoirs & Movements (London: International Planned Parenthood Federation, 2001)
For interviews with leading women in Pakistan’s legal profession today, watch for Pakistan’s Women In Law by the Lahore Education and Research Network (LEARN). Contact info@learnpak.com.pk for further information.