The Royal Rebel: The Life of Suffragette Princess Sophia Duleep Singh
What’s inside...
Rebel, Princess, Suffragette: this is the incredible true story of the life of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, a forgotten heroine of the early twentieth century. Born in 1876, Princess Sophia Duleep Singh was the daughter of the last Sikh ruler of the Punjab, and goddaughter of Queen Victoria. After her father lost control of his empire and was exiled to England, Sophia had a privileged but troubled upbringing that left her unsure about where she belonged in India or England. Sensitive to injustice, she became a suffragette and fought hard to win the vote for women. This is the extraordinary story of her life.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
9-12
Length
136 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What challenges did Princess Sophia face and how do you think they shaped her decisions and actions?
Why do you think Princess Sophia chose to fight for women’s rights, despite her royal privileges?
How can Sophia's courage inspire us in facing our own challenges?
What similarities and differences do you see between Sophia’s time and today in terms of fighting for justice?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine themselves in Sophia's situation, fostering empathy and a deeper understanding of the story.
Discuss the importance of standing up for what one believes in, and relate it to any personal experiences or prevalent issues in today's society.
Highlight Sophia's resilience and persistence, and ask your child about a time they had to persist through a challenge.
Use the book as a starting point to talk about history and its impact on the present, particularly in the areas of rights and equality.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Courage and Resilience
Explanation: Princess Sophia Duleep Singh's journey as a suffragette highlights her bravery in challenging societal norms and fighting for women's rights, despite personal risks.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to stand up for their beliefs and face challenges with bravery, applying this in scenarios at school or in their community where they may need to voice their opinions or stand up against wrongdoing.
Example Lesson: Equality and Justice
Explanation: The book illustrates Sophia's commitment to gender equality through her active participation in the Suffragette movement, emphasizing the importance of equal rights for all genders.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to treat everyone with fairness and advocate for equality, whether interacting with peers during group activities or choosing team members in games without gender bias.
Example Lesson: Impact of Persistence
Explanation: Sophia's repeated efforts and persistent fight for women’s voting rights demonstrate that perseverance can lead to significant societal changes.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the value of persistence in achieving goals, whether in completing a difficult school project or improving in a particular skill or sport.
Example Lesson: Historical Awareness
Explanation: Sophia's story provides a historical context of the struggles faced in the past, enriching children’s understanding of history and its influences on present society.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to further explore history, understand different perspectives, and recognize the importance of historical events in shaping our world.
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding
Explanation: Through Sophia’s interactions and challenges, children are exposed to diverse experiences and struggles, fostering a sense of empathy and understanding towards others.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children develop stronger interpersonal relationships and increase their emotional intelligence by considering the feelings and backgrounds of their friends and classmates.