page_title: Sushila Sundari
section_title: Career
hierarchical_section_title: Sushila Sundari / Career
caption_attribution_description: English: Sushila Sundar inside the tiger's cage, reclining between two tigers named Shumbha and Nishumbha.
context_page_description: Sushila Sundari 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.
context_section_description: Sushila Sundari's was one of the star performers of the Great Bengal Circus, owned and directed by Professor Bose(Priyanath Bose). She was an expert gymnast and trapeze artist. She could also ride a horse. At the opening of show, she and her sister Kumudini arrived on the stage riding on horse.
  In November 1896, the Great Bengal Circus displayed their acts at the durbar of Rewa. The prince of Rewa was so pleased with their performance that he gifted them a pair of Bengal tigers. The tigers were believed to bring luck to the team and therefore christened as Lakshmi and Narayan, after the Hindu deities. Sushila learned how to master the tigers. By 1901, the shows of Great Bengal Circus would feature Sushila Sundari in daring acts with the two tigers. She would enter their cage with ease and make them growl, stand up and sit down. She would arm wrestle with them and display their open jaws. After that she would recline on them and pose for photographs.
  When of one of the trained tigers died, she attempted the daring acts with an untrained tiger named Fortune. During the performance, Fortune severely wounded Sushila with its paws. Sushila became invalid for the rest of her life. Her health deteriorated and she passed in 1924.
caption: Sushila Sundari with Shumbha and Nishumbha
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