Dorothy Bonarjee

Bonarjee was born into a Bengali Christian family in Bareilly in north India in August 1894.[2] Her father was a barrister. Along with her brothers, Bonarjee spent much of her childhood in Dulwich in south London and was largely educated in England.[3]

In 1912, Bonarjee enrolled to study for a degree in French at the University College of Wales at Aberystwyth. While a student, she published poetry in the college journal The Dragon and in Welsh Outlook. In February 1914, she was awarded the Bardic chair at the college Eisteddfod for verse submitted under a pseudonym.[4] She was the first woman and first non-European to win the college Eisteddfod. Her father, who was present, agreed to demands to address the gathering, thanking those present for the way they had 'received a successful competitor of a different race and country'.[5] Among Bonarjee's papers are more than sixty printed and manuscript poems. Alongside one is a note: 'Written at the age of 22 when a Welsh student after 3 years of secret engagement dropped me because his parents said "She is very beautiful and intelligent but she is Indian."'[5]

A critical article devoted to Bonarjee's poetry commented that she 'doubtless has a bright and hopeful career before her'.[6] Bonarjee went on to University College, London, where, in 1917, she became the first woman internal student to be awarded a law degree (LLB)[7][8] - though she never practiced law.[9]

Bonarjee was a supporter of women's suffrage and in 1919, along with her mother, signed the Indian Women's Franchise Address.[9]

Rather than returning to India to join her parents, in 1921 Bonarjee married the French artist Paul Surtel. They lived in Provence, France. The couple had two children - Denis, who died in infancy, and Claire Aruna - before divorcing.[2] Bonarjee painted particularly still life and landscapes. She died in 1983.