Gertrude Emerson Sen (6 May 1890 – 1982) was an early 20th-century expert on

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an are ...

and a founding member of the

Society of Woman Geographers The Society of Woman Geographers was established in 1925 at a time when women were excluded from membership in most professional organizations, such as the Explorers Club, who would not admit women until 1981. It is based in Washington, D.C., and h ...

Early life and education

Gertrude Emerson was the daughter of Alfred Emerson, Sr., and Alice Edwards Emerson. Her father was an archaeologist and professor at

Cornell University Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to tea ...

; her mother was a concert pianist. She was the sister of famed entomologist Alfred E. Emerson, and of artist

Edith Emerson Edith Emerson (July 27, 1888 – November 21, 1981) was an American painter, muralist, illustrator, writer, and curator. She was the life partner of acclaimed muralist Violet Oakley and served as the vice-president, president, and curator of the ...

who served as president and curator of Philadelphia's Woodmere Art Gallery (1940–1978). Another brother, Willard, was a banker. Emerson graduated from the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, U of C, or UChi) is a private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chic ...

Career

After teaching

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

in Japan, Sen returned to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

to become the associate editor of ''

'' magazine in 1917. In 1920 she undertook a round-the-world expedition with photographer Donald C. Thompson which included stunt flying and caving. In 1925, she was one of the founding members of the Society of Women Geographers. In 1926, she traveled from Beirut through the Arabian Desert and Afghanistan to India. In 1941, she was named a contributing editor to ''Asia'' magazine. Eventually she settled in Almora in northeastern

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

, participated in rural life, and came to love the culture of her adopted country. Her attachment is reflected in her books ''Voiceless India'' (1930), ''Pageant of India's History'' (1948), and ''Cultural Unity of India'' (1965). Although not born in India herself, she strongly disapproved on the involvement of non-Indians in subcontinental matters. She was awarded with

Padmashri Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conferred ...

for literature and education in 1976 by Government of India.

Personal life

Emerson married Indian native

Basiswar Sen Basiswar "Boshi" Sen (1887 – 31 August 1971) was an Indian agricultural scientist. He was a pioneer of the Green Revolution movement that changed the food landscape of India by growing abundant food grains, thereby reducing the possibility of ...

on November 1, 1932, in Calcutta. Basiswar Sen was a scientist and one of the favorite students of legendary scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose. He was also a very close associate of Swami Vivekananda,

Sister Nivedita Sister Nivedita ( born Margaret Elizabeth Noble; 28 October 1867 – 13 October 1911) was an Irish teacher, author, social activist, school founder and disciple of Swami Vivekananda. She spent her childhood and early youth in Ireland. She wa ...

. Gertrude Emerson Sen died in 1982, aged 89. Her papers are with the Emerson family's papers at the New York Public Library.

Sources

* Girish N. Mehra, ''Nearer Heaven Than Earth—The Life and Times of Boshi Sen and Gertrude Emerson Sen'', foreword by M.S. Swami. New Delhi: Rupa & Co., 2007.

References

External links

* The National Portrait Gallery ha
three photographs of Gertrude Emerson Sen
all taken in 1935 by