Imperial Pageant, Women's Coronation Procession

This image depicts representatives from London's female Indian community taking part in the Women's Coronation Procession of 17 June 1911. This event was organised by the militant Suffragette organisation, the Women's Social & Political Union. Held a week before the coronation of George V, it was intended to enlist the support of the new King for the Conciliation Bill being debated in Parliament that would have granted limited female suffrage. The small Indian contingent of the Procession was organised by Mrs Jane Fisher Unwin (the daughter of Richard Cobden). She and other representatives of the WSPU contacted Indian women living in the UK in the weeks leading up to the procession, organised the decorations and the collection of subscriptions for the elephant banner that cost between £4 and £5. The India contingent was part of the 'Imperial Pageant' and intended to show the strength of support for women's suffrage throughout the Empire. To the left of the banner is Lolita Roy, dressed in white. Lolita moved from India to Hammersmith, London with her children in 1901. A supporter of female suffrage in India she became President of the London Indian Union Society. One of young women in the image is Lolita's daughter, Mrs. Leilavati Mukerjea. On the far left, holding the elephant pennant is Mrs Bhagwati Bhola Nauth. All corners of the empire were represented in the Imperial Pageantand divided into 6 sections - New Zealand, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Crown Colonies and Protectorates and India. Annie Besant also took part in the India procession.
Sushama Sen, the Indian politician also took part in the procession and, later recalled 'In those days there were few Indian women in London. [WSPU] Hearing of me they sent me an invitation to join their demonstration at Piccadilly Circus, and to march with them led by Mrs Pankhurst to the Parliament House... It was a great experience for me, at the same time it was a novel sight for a single Indian woman amidst the procession, and I was the subject of public gaze'.