Meet Lady Meherbai Tata, First Indian Female Tennis Player Who Made In Olympics

Meherbai Tata, the first Indian female tennis player to compete in the Olympics, was known for playing all her matches in a Parsi saree, proudly showcasing her cultural heritage.

Meherbai was born in Bombay on October 10th, 1879 to Hormusji J. Bhabha who was one of the first Parsis who went to England to complete his education. He gave his daughter an English name “Mary”, but she found this not to her taste and pride in her nationality made her change the spelling to Persian “Mehri”.

Mehri progressed in English and Latin under her father’s guidance. She was an accomplished pianist and one of those who sought after at every public concert in Mysore.

Connection with the House of Tata:

In 1890, Jamsetji Tata, the founder of the House of Tata, visited Bangalore and met the Bhabha family. He was greatly impressed by Meherbai Tata and recommended to his son, Dorab Tata, that he visit Mysore State and meet the Bhabha family. Following Jamsetji’s advice, Dorab Tata visited Mysore, and the couple's courtship proceeded smoothly. They were married on February 14, 1898.

Sir Dorabji Tata and Lady Meherbai Tata’s Love for Tennis

Mehri shared Dorabji’s love for tennis. She played in several tournaments and won over 60 prizes. She also won the “Triple Crown” in the Western India Tennis Tournament. Together they scored many successes in the All-India Championships.

At Wimbledon, Kissengen and Baden-Baden, besides nearly every important court in India where she was a familiar figure. Her pride in her national dress, “the saree” drew instant response from many spectators. She was also a good horse rider and drovr her own motor car.

Lady Meherbai Tata – The Social Worker

Meherbai Tata was a strong advocate for women’s rights and education. She founded the Bombay Presidency Women’s Council and later the National Council of Women. She also introduced India to the International Council of Women. 

Meherbai worked hard to improve the lives of women by campaigning for better education, ending the purdah system (a practice of seclusion for women), and fighting against untouchability. She believed that education was key to improving women’s status in India and was involved in efforts to end child marriage through the Sarda Act.

Last stages of her life

Suffering from leukemia, Lady Tata was admitted to a nursing home in Ruthin, North Wales, during the final stages of her illness. She passed away on June 18, 1931. Her ashes were interred at Brookwood Cemetery, where a beautiful mausoleum, designed in an old Persian style, was erected in her honor.

In 1932, Sir Dorabji Tata established, the Lady Tata Memorial Trust in memory of his wife Meherbai. On April 9, 1932 another trust the Lady Meherbai D. Tata Education trust was founded by Sir Dorabji Tata offering scholarships for work in specific fields as indicated in her will.