Eastern League

In October 1914, following the outbreak of the First World War, Lolita Roy and Bhagwati Bhola Nauth helped found the Eastern League. It comprised both Indian and British women in London who raised money for the Indian Soldiers’ Fund and made warm clothes and other comforts for Indian soldiers on the Western Front. Lolita Roy became the honorary work secretary and Bhagwati Bhola Nauth became enrolment secretary while the League was presided over by Lady Hayes Sadler. Other well-connected British members included Lady Balfour and Lady Fremantle. Other Indian women involved included Susila Bonnerjee, Mrs Gupta and Mrinalini Sen. Queen Alexandra was their patron. It was also supported by the Oriental Circle of the Lyceum Club.

By January 1915 the League met twice a week (Tuesday and Thursdays, 3–6pm) in Whiteley’s ‘India Room’ in west London. To support their funds, the Eastern League also put on a few dramatic performances. These included an ‘Oriental Matinee’ held at Shaftesbury Theatre in February 1915 and another at the Playhouse in October 1915. In November 1916 Sophia Duleep Singh also organized a ‘Ladies Day’ in London’s Haymarket with Roy and Bhola Nauth to raise further funds.

By November 1917 the League had sent out over 50,000 garments and hundreds of food parcels. They particularly solicited warm clothing such as balaclavas, gloves and a range of undergarments, and foods such as cinnamon, cloves, cardamon, Indian tobacco and Turkish delight. Following the end of the war, the immediate aims of the League were disbanded. However, in 1919 the League were looking for other ways to continue support for soldiers and were planning to raise money to fund two scholarships in India for the sons of sepoys. The League appears to have disbanded shortly after that.