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DW
3 days ago
- General
- DW
Catherine Duleep Singh: The Nazi-defying Indian royal – DW – 06/02/2025
Openly living in a same-sex relationship in 1900s Germany, she used her privilege, resources and courage to help Jewish families flee Nazism. In the annals of World War II history, few would have expected a British-born Sikh princess from a dethroned royal family to quietly resist Nazi Germany, and live openly with a female partner long before LGBTQ+ rights were acknowledged — let alone accepted. Yet, that is precisely what Princess Catherine Hilda Duleep Singh did. The daughter of the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, Catherine blazed her own trail and defied social norms. The recognition of her legacy is relatively recent. Among those who've brought her acts to the forefront is British biographer Peter Bance, who has spent over two decades researching and writing about the Duleep Singh family, besides piecing together Catherine's extraordinary contributions from scattered records and family documents. Bance explained to Metro in 2023: "She didn't do these things for self-promotion, so the stories weren't in books or anything. Her stories have survived through the people she saved. Her intervention at that time have seen families across the world thrive." The drawing room of Elveden Hall in Suffolk, Catherine's childhood home Image: Peter Bance Royal roots, radical path Born in 1871 in Suffolk, England, Catherine was raised far from the land her father once ruled. At age 10, Maharaja Duleep Singh was forced to surrender the Sikh Empire — and the (in)famous Koh-i-Noor diamond — after the British annexed Punjab. In return, he received a pension from the British Crown on the condition he "remain obedient to the British Government." He later married Bamba Müller, a German-Ethiopian woman, with whom he had six children; Catherine was the fourth. The family lived in exile, but under the patronage of Queen Victoria, who was also Catherine's godmother. Educated at Somerville College, Oxford, Catherine supported the suffragette cause with her two sisters, campaigning for women's voting rights. But it was her private life — especially her years in Germany — that would come to mark her unconventionality and gumption. Catherine (middle) with her sisters Bamba (left) and Sophia (right) at the 1895 Debutants Ball Image: Public Domain A home away from home Having lost both her parents during her teens, Catherine had developed a close bond with Lina Schäfer, her German governess. In the early 1900s, Catherine left England and moved with Schäfer to the central German city of Kassel. The villa in which they lived together for more than three decades still stands today. Their relationship, though never formally acknowledged, defied social norms of the time and remained steadfast until Lina's death in 1937. Catherine initially felt at ease there — among others, the couple enjoyed annual visits to the Bayreuth Festival — but the 1930s saw Germany degenerating into a police state under Hitler. "Being brown-skinned and gay in Germany during the rise of Hitler was a dangerous place for her," according to Peter Bance. "I remember reading some correspondence between her and her accountant. He urged her to leave the country warning she was going to be targeted. She was being watched by the local Nazis, but she refused to leave." Catherine and Lina Schäfer lived together for close to 30 years in Kassel, Germany Image: Peter Bance Making humanity her business As the Nazi regime tightened its grip, Catherine used her resources and influence and helped several Jewish individuals and families escape persecution in Germany and start over in Britain. She wrote letters of recommendation, provided financial support, and personally guaranteed immigration documents that were crucial to survival. One of the most documented examples involves the Hornstein family. Wilhelm Hornstein, a Jewish lawyer and decorated First World War soldier, was arrested during November Pogroms in 1938 and imprisoned in a concentration camp. He was later released on condition that he left Germany. Catherine arranged safe passage to England for him, his wife Ilse and their two children. At Colehatch House, her country home in the village of Penn, Buckinghamshire, Catherine hosted them and other Jewish refugees, including a physician named Wilhelm Meyerstein and his partner, Marieluise Wolff, and a violinist named Alexander Polnarioff. She also advocated for those interned as "enemy aliens" — a cruel irony for Jews who had fled the Nazis. Catherine (seated) surrounded by the Hornstein family, whose descendants still live in England Image: Peter Bance "I think she did her part for humanity. There was a lot of atrocities going on at that time which were going under the radar, and some were there blatantly as well, and people were sort of turning a blind eye. And she could have quite easily turned a blind eye and said, it's not my business, but she made it her business," Bance tells DW. In 2002, one outcome of her "one-woman rescue mission" resurfaced in a chance encounter. Bance recalls how, after having published a local article about Catherine, a man named Michael Bowles walked into his office and told him: "My mother and my uncles and my grandparents were saved by Princess Catherine in Germany. And if it wasn't for her, I would not be alive today." Bowles, it turns out, is the grandson of Ursula, one of the Hornstein children saved by Catherine's intervention. Neither Catherine (second from right) nor any of her siblings had descendants Image: Peter Bance Resting in power Catherine died in 1942, aged 71. Neither she nor her siblings had any descendants. In her will, she'd requested that part of her ashes be buried at Lina Schäfer's gravesite in Kassel. Over the decades, the site fell into disrepair and Bance is now working with Kassel's Main Cemetery to formally mark their shared grave. "I really think it's something Princess Catherine would have liked ... They spent their whole life together. And she loved her so much," he explains. Their bond, though subtle in its time, resonates today. Bance tells DW that while Catherine never hid her relationship "and her sisters obviously knew about it, but it was very hush hush," since in that era "it was not something they would have sort of flaunted or advertised." However, as Catherine's valor gets more media mileage, LGBTQ communities have been posthumously embracing her as an icon for having fearlessly loved and lived as she willed. And she has since headlined media coverage during diverse Pride Months, including one by the BBC in 2023. 'Princesses of Resistance' Bance is now working on a new book set to coincide with a Kensington Palace exhibition titled "Princesses of Resistance," set for March 2026 that will focus on Catherine and her sisters Sophia and Bamba. "It's a very female-oriented exhibition showing the efforts of these Duleep Singh princesses," Bance tells DW, adding that he'll be lending items from his personal archive of nearly 2,000 family artifacts that he's collected over the course of 25 years. Catherine Duleep Singh (seated) helped Marieluise Wolff and Dr Wilhelm Meyerstein flee Nazi Germany Image: Peter Bance While details continue to emerge about the Jewish families that Catherine helped, Bance had once described her as an "Indian Schindler," in reference to German industrialist Oskar Schindler (1908–1974), who is credited with saving around 1,200 Jewish lives during the Holocaust. Acknowledging that Catherine's efforts may not meet the scale of the original Schindler's list, Bance nevertheless tells DW: "Saving one life or saving 10 lives, it's still 'saving.' You're saving somebody who's not your color, not your religion, not your ethnic background, but you're doing it based on humanity." A profile on her alma mater's website sums it up: "A true LGBTQ+ icon, who put herself at risk for the comfort of her aging lover, and the very essence of the Somerville motto: 'Include the excluded.' Catherine did not just include the excluded: she saved them, campaigned for them, fought for them." Edited by: Elizabeth Grenier
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Daily Record
Schoolboy, 14, killed in 'extremely rare' suspected murder as police warn teens
Christopher McBurnie was "found collapsed". Police provide update after the murder of Christopher McBurnie A schoolboy has been killed in what police have described as an "extremely rare" suspected murder - as officers fired a warning to other teenagers following the tragedy. Christopher McBurnie was "found collapsed" and police said he was pronounced dead at the scene, while a "juvenile suspect" has been arrested in connection with his death. The 14-year-old passed away despite "immediate medical intervention" in the picturesque coastal town of Ramsey on the Isle of Man, which is ranked as one of the safest places in the world. In March, the annual Global Residence Index rated the British Crown dependency to be the third on the list, behind only the micro-states of Liechtenstein and Andorra. The Mirror reports the island community has been rocked by the incident, with a police investigation now ongoing and the other youngster remaining in custody yesterday for questioning. Isle of Man Constabulary's Chief Constable Foster said he was "aware" that footage of the incident was being shared among local teenagers on social media. He urged youths not to share the videos, and instead hand them over to police. In a video statement last night, he said: "It is with deep sorrow that I confirm the tragic death of Christopher Benjamin Robert James McBurnie, who was just 14 years of age. "Our thoughts, heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy with the family, friends and loved ones during this extremely sad and incredibly difficult time. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "Specialist officers are supporting Christopher's family and will continue to do so throughout the investigation. At 3.38pm on Thursday 29 May 2025, emergency services responded to an incident in the area of Close Drean, Ramsey. "Christopher was found collapsed. Despite the valiant efforts of members of the public, our officers, the Fire and Rescue Service and paramedics, they were unable to save Christopher. "And whilst he was pronounced deceased at the scene, the official cause of death will be determined by a Home Office pathologist in due course." "A murder investigation has been launched and I can confirm that a juvenile suspect has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is detained in custody." He added: "I would ask that people refrain from distributing such imagery, which is likely to cause significant distress and increase tension in a community which is already shocked by the magnitude of an occurrence which is extremely rare for the Isle of Man. "I would like to take this opportunity to appeal for calm and allow the investigation team to conduct a thorough and professional investigation. Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is urged to contact police on 631212" Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111. Friends of the family have set up a JustGiving page to raise money for funeral expenses - and have so far smashed their £5,000 target by raising over £7,300. In a tribute to Christopher, JustGiving organiser Chloe Callister said the youngster brought "so much joy and love to his whole family" who "love him so deeply."
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Boy, 14, killed in 'extremely rare' suspected murder as police warn teens
Teens have been urged to hand videos over to police after 14-year-old Christopher McBurnie died in an 'extremely rare' suspected murder on the Isle of Man - one of the safest places in the world Police provide update after the murder of Christopher McBurnie An island community has been rocked after a 14-year-old boy died and a youngster was arrested in an "extremely rare" suspected murder. Christopher McBurnie was "found collapsed" by emergency services in the picturesque coastal town of Ramsey on the Isle of Man on Thursday. Despite "immediate medical intervention", police said the teenager was "tragically" pronounced dead at the scene. A "juvenile suspect" has been arrested in connection with the investigation and remained in custody yesterday for questioning. News of the incident has sent shockwaves across the Isle of Man, where murder investigations are highly unusual. In March, the annual Global Residence Index ranked the British Crown dependency as third safest place in the world, behind only the micro-states of Liechtenstein and Andorra. Isle of Man Constabulary's Chief Constable Foster said he was "aware" that footage of the incident was being shared among local teenagers on social media. He urged youths not to share the videos, and instead hand them over to police. In a video statement last night, he said: "It is with deep sorrow that I confirm the tragic death of Christopher Benjamin Robert James McBurnie, who was just 14 years of age" "Our thoughts, heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy with the family, friends and loved ones during this extremely sad and incredibly difficult time. Specialist officers are supporting Christopher's family and will continue to do so throughout the investigation. "At 3.38pm on Thursday 29 May 2025, emergency services responded to an incident in the area of Close Drean, Ramsey where Christopher was found collapsed. Despite the valiant efforts of members of the public, our officers, the Fire and Rescue Service and paramedics, they were unable to save Christopher. "And whilst he was pronounced deceased at the scene, the official cause of death will be determined by a Home Office pathologist in due course." "A murder investigation has been launched and I can confirm that a juvenile suspect has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is detained in custody." He added: "I would ask that people refrain from disputing such imagery, which is likely to cause significant distress and increase tension in a community which is already shocked by the magnitude of an occurrence which is extremely rare for the Isle of Man. "I would like to take this opportunity to appeal for calm and allow the investigation team to conduct a thorough and professional investigation." "Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is urged to contact police on 631212 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where your call will be treated in the strictest confidence." Friends of the family have set up a JustGiving page to raise money for funeral expenses - and have so far smashed their £5,000 target by raising over £7,300. In a tribute, organiser Chloe Callister said Christopher brought "so much joy and love to his whole family" who "love him so deeply."
The Spinoff
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Spinoff
Women's suffrage or He Whakaputanga? Holiday ideas to replace King's Birthday
A list of the best alternative public holiday ideas in place of celebrating the (fake) birth of King Charles III. This time last year, I wrote about why I was sick of celebrating the birth of the king of New Zealand. Not much has changed. My objections remain the same: colonisation is nothing to celebrate, and the relevance of an old white man on a throne in England continues to decline – especially for a country building its own independent identity. Matariki now gives us a beautiful, reflective mid-year break – somewhere around June or July depending on the maramataka. But the back half of the calendar, especially between July and October, remains a bit of a public holiday desert. Replacing King's Birthday with a holiday in that later period would not only be more meaningful, it'd make for a better spread across the year. And really, isn't that a much better reason for a day off? Sure, replacing the King's Birthday holiday might be mostly symbolic. You could argue it's just cutting the flowers off the gorse. But symbols matter – and public holidays are one of the clearest ways we show who and what we value as a nation. So, with another long weekend rolling in to honour 'our gracious king', here are some ideas for holidays Aotearoa could celebrate instead. Koroneihana – A celebration of Māori leadership Each year, thousands gather at Tūrangawaewae marae in Ngāruawāhia for Koroneihana – the anniversary of the Māori monarch's coronation. This year, it will be held from August 30 to September 5, marking a year since the passing of Kīngi Tūheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII and the ascension of his daughter, Kuini Nga Wai Hono i te Pō. It's a week of kapa haka, kōrero, whanaungatanga and wānanga. In contrast to the King's Birthday, Koroneihana celebrates a leadership tradition born of this land and carried by Māori, for Māori. That's a public holiday worth getting behind. Women's Suffrage Day – September 19 Aotearoa was the first country in the world where women won the right to vote. We commemorate it with speeches and social media posts – but why not with a public holiday too? September 19, the date in 1893 when women's suffrage was signed into law, would be an ideal opportunity to reflect on our democratic milestones and acknowledge the ongoing struggle for gender equity in all areas of life. He Whakaputanga – October 28 Waitangi Day commemorates the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. But before that, there was He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni – the Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand, signed on October 28, 1835. Recognised by the British Crown at the time, it affirmed the sovereignty of Māori hapū and rangatira. A public holiday for He Whakaputanga would be a powerful acknowledgment of this foundational document – and a reminder that the story of Aotearoa didn't begin with colonisation. Te reo Māori becomes official – August 1 In 1987, te reo Māori became an official language of Aotearoa. The move followed decades of activism, marches, petitions and protest from Māori determined to revive and protect their language. Given that Te Wiki o te Reo Māori often falls in September, August 1 could anchor the season with a national day honouring our indigenous language and those who fought for its survival. A national day of remembrance While Anzac Day is a cornerstone of national reflection, other tragedies in Aotearoa's history deserve dedicated space in our collective memory. The Christchurch mosque attacks (2019), the Tangiwai disaster (1953), the Erebus crash (1979), and the destruction of the Pink and White Terraces in the 1886 Tarawera eruption all shaped who we are. A single national remembrance day could honour any one of these events – or all of them – and the resilience of the communities affected. Our greatest sporting triumphs This one's a lot less solemn, but arguably considered just as unifying. Why not a public holiday marking a historic sporting achievement? The All Blacks' 1987 Rugby World Cup win, the Kiwis' stunning 2008 Rugby League World Cup victory, or even the Black Ferns' 2022 title? We shut down the country for the America's Cup, after all. 'Cook's death day' – February 14 February 14, 1779 – the day Captain James Cook was killed in Hawai'i. It's also Valentine's Day. 'Nuff said. Whether it's celebrating rangatiratanga, suffrage, language, resilience, or just good old-fashioned sporting excellence, there are plenty of meaningful, relevant and proudly local holidays that could take the place of King's Birthday. The monarchy may be slow to fade, but our calendars don't have to be stuck in the past.
Mint
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Veer Savarkar Jayanti 2025: A look back into the life of a fierce freedom fighter
Veer Savarkar Jayanti 2025: A look back into the life of a fierce freedom fighter| In Photos 6 Photos . Updated: 28 May 2025, 11:07 AM IST India commemorates the birth anniversary of the revolutionary leader Vinayak Damodar Savarkar every year on May 28, honouring his enduring influence on generations of freedom fighters. 1/6India observes Veer Savarkar Jayanti every year on May 28 to honour the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Veer Savarkar. 2/6Veer Savarkar was born in the village of Bhagur near Nashik, Maharashtra, into a Marathi Hindu Chitpavan Brahmin family. His parents were Damodar and Radhabai Savarkar. 3/6Veer Savarkar actively worked towards the upliftment of the Hindu community. He strongly advocated for the abolition of the caste system and supported the reconversion of individuals who had adopted other religions back to Hinduism. 4/6Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a prominent radical nationalist leader, had a profound influence on Veer Savarkar. Savarkar, often in the presence of Tilak himself, organised bonfires of foreign clothes in India. He strongly opposed the 1905 partition of Bengal. 5/6Around 1909, Savarkar was accused of plotting to overthrow British rule by targeting government officials. In March 1910, he was arrested in London on several charges, including distributing arms, waging war against the British Crown, and delivering seditious speeches.
