Sushila Sundari Bose

Sushila Sundari Bose (1879–1924) was the first Indian woman to perform in a circus. She was known for her daring acts with the tigers at the Great Bengal Circus.

Early life Like her husband, Motilal Bose (son of Manomohan Bose and elder brother of Priyanath Bose), Sushila Sundari Bose was born into a zamindar family of the Rambagan area in the year 1879 of old Calcutta. Her primary education was started at Bethune School. In her childhood she learnt horse riding and wrestling with the other members of her family. Later she became the daughter-in-law of the famous Bose family of Chhota Jagulia, North 24 Parganas District of present-day West Bengal. She was fluent in English, Hindi, Sanskrit, Marathi and many other Indian languages. Her father's family was against her involvement in the circus, but her husband gave her support. In the circus, before her performance with tigers her acrobatics, and other performances like cartwheel and daredevil performance were very popular. Very little is known about her family background and early life. It is said that she is probably from a branch of the Mitra family of Kolkata. Her sister Kumudini Devi was also a performer at the Great Bengal Circus. and display their open jaws. After that she would recline on them and pose for photographs.

A new tiger, named Fortune, severely wounded Sushila with its paw while she was working with it. She was left paralyzed. She then started to teach physical exercises, wrestling, sword fighting, stick wielding, cycle riding and horse riding in her husband Motilal Bose's akhra. Motilal Bose (classmate and friend of Narendranath Dutta/Swami Vivekananda.) was a wrestler who along with his brother Priyanath Bose founded several akhada like Chingirpota akhra whose members were later involved in revolutionary activities. The Bose family had a residence in Kolkata at the crossing of Bidhan Sarani and Vivekananda Road. Most of her students (both boys and girls) were later involved in revolutionary activities. Her health deteriorated and she died in 1924. Old people of her area are still remember a lady with chained tiger fluently chatting with young students in a royal manner.