Molly Fink
Encyclopedia
Esme Mary Sorrett Fink popularly known as Molly Fink was an Australian socialite and wife of Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman
, the Raja of the princely state of Pudukkottai. The marriage created a public scandal and resulted in the ostracization of the couple and their only son Martanda Sydney Tondaiman
.
in Melbourne
, Australia
. Molly had her early schooling at Lauriston Girls High School where she studied English
, French
, German
and Latin
. At the age of fifteen, Fink discontinued her studies after being expelled from Lauriston High School for misbehaviour.
Tragedy struck the family before the First World War when Wolfe Fink died of a ruptured aorta. In dire financial straits, Elizabeth rented an apartment in Hotel Majestic Mansions to which the family moved.
, the Raja of Pudukkottai
came to Australia on a visit and checked in at the Hotel Majestic Mansions where he met Molly Fink at the dining room. He was enamoured by Molly Fink and joined Molly, her mother and sister at Hotel Hydro Majestic near Sydney
and subsequently accompanied them when they returned to Melbourne. Five months later, Martanda proposed to her and she accepted. The couple got engaged on August 6, 1915 and married on August 10, 1915 at the registrar's office in Melbourne. The newly-wed couple went to San Francisco in August 1915 to see the Panama Exhibition. Martanda returned to India with his Australian bride in October 1915.
by Martanda. Soon after checking in at Sylk's Hotel, Martanda had Molly's health examined by his Major Robb, a government medical examiner who found traces of oleander, a traditional poison in her vomitus. Martanda applied to the Indian government for the purchase of a house in Ootacamund for Molly's safety but the officials refused. Frustrated, Martanda left India with Molly in 1916.
was born on July 22, 1916. In Australia, both Martanda and Molly developed a wide social circle. Martanda developed a passion for horse racing
while Molly became popular at parties and balls for the exquisite jewels and wardrobe she wore. When official recognition for Molly was not forthcoming, Martanda and Molly moved to London and purchased a flat at Park Lane in August 1919. When at an audience with George V
, Martanda was told by the Secretary of State for India
that their son Sydney would not be recognised as the rightful heir by the Government of British India, Martanda renounced his own claim to the throne and nominating his brother Rajagopala Tondaiman
as the Raja of Pudukkottai, Martanda settled for an annual pension.
Martanda and Molly lived in Cannes
from 1922 to 1927 where they bought a villa called La Favourite. At Cannes, Molly developed friendship with Elsa Maxwell
, Cecil Beaton
, Nancy Beaton, Lord Donegal, Lady Houston and William Locke. The couple frequented social events and held dinner parties. Martanda died at Paris
on 28 May 1928 at the age of fifty-three. Molly wanted his body to be shipped to India and cremated with full state honours but the Government of India refused permission. Eventually, the body was cremated at Golden Green Crematorium in London as per Hindu rites.
Following Martanda's death, Molly's finances began to dwindle. She sold La Favourite and purchased a house at Mayfair, London where she lived with her son, Sydney. The Aga Khan proposed to her soon after Martanda's death, but she rejected his proposal. In her later years, Molly remained aloof and began drinking heavily. She was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 1967. Molly died in Cannes on November 22, 1967 at the age of seventy-three.
Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman
His Highness Raja Sri Brahdamba Dasa Raja Sir Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman GCIE was the ruler of the princely state of Pudukkottai from 15 April 1886 to 28 May 1928.- Early life :...
, the Raja of the princely state of Pudukkottai. The marriage created a public scandal and resulted in the ostracization of the couple and their only son Martanda Sydney Tondaiman
Martanda Sydney Tondaiman
Martanda Sydney Tondaiman was the one and only son of Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman, Raja of Pudukkottai and his Australian wife Molly Fink.- Early life :...
.
Early life
Fink was born to Wolfe Fink, a barrister and Shakespearan scholar and his wife Elizabeth on 15 September 1894 at MalvernMalvern
-England:* Malvern, Worcestershire* Malvern Hills, a ridge of hills on the boundary of Herefordshire and Worcestershire* Malvern Hills , a local government district in WorcestershirePlaces in or near Malvern, Worcestershire...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Molly had her early schooling at Lauriston Girls High School where she studied English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
. At the age of fifteen, Fink discontinued her studies after being expelled from Lauriston High School for misbehaviour.
Tragedy struck the family before the First World War when Wolfe Fink died of a ruptured aorta. In dire financial straits, Elizabeth rented an apartment in Hotel Majestic Mansions to which the family moved.
Marriage
In March 1915, Martanda Bhairava TondaimanMartanda Bhairava Tondaiman
His Highness Raja Sri Brahdamba Dasa Raja Sir Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman GCIE was the ruler of the princely state of Pudukkottai from 15 April 1886 to 28 May 1928.- Early life :...
, the Raja of Pudukkottai
Pudukkottai state
Pudukkottai was a princely state in the Madras Presidency which existed from 1680 to 1948. It was one of the five princely states that were under political control of the Government of Madras.- Location :...
came to Australia on a visit and checked in at the Hotel Majestic Mansions where he met Molly Fink at the dining room. He was enamoured by Molly Fink and joined Molly, her mother and sister at Hotel Hydro Majestic near Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and subsequently accompanied them when they returned to Melbourne. Five months later, Martanda proposed to her and she accepted. The couple got engaged on August 6, 1915 and married on August 10, 1915 at the registrar's office in Melbourne. The newly-wed couple went to San Francisco in August 1915 to see the Panama Exhibition. Martanda returned to India with his Australian bride in October 1915.
In India
Molly spent five months in India suffering ostracism by the British officialdom and even, surviving a poisoning attempt. On November 22, 1915, Martanda presented his new Maharani to his subjects at a lavish public ceremony in Pudukkottai. However, though a warm welcome was accorded by the people of Pudukkottai state, the government of British India refused to grant her official recognition. Afflicted by a sudden, mysterious bout of vomiting and diarrhoea soon after her arrival in Pudukkottai, Molly was moved first to Trichinopoly and then to Sylk's Hotel, OotacamundOotacamund
Ootacamund , is a town, a municipality and the district capital of the Nilgiris district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Ootacamund is a popular hill station located in the Nilgiri Hills...
by Martanda. Soon after checking in at Sylk's Hotel, Martanda had Molly's health examined by his Major Robb, a government medical examiner who found traces of oleander, a traditional poison in her vomitus. Martanda applied to the Indian government for the purchase of a house in Ootacamund for Molly's safety but the officials refused. Frustrated, Martanda left India with Molly in 1916.
Later years
The couple settled down in Australia where their first son Martanda Sydney TondaimanMartanda Sydney Tondaiman
Martanda Sydney Tondaiman was the one and only son of Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman, Raja of Pudukkottai and his Australian wife Molly Fink.- Early life :...
was born on July 22, 1916. In Australia, both Martanda and Molly developed a wide social circle. Martanda developed a passion for horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
while Molly became popular at parties and balls for the exquisite jewels and wardrobe she wore. When official recognition for Molly was not forthcoming, Martanda and Molly moved to London and purchased a flat at Park Lane in August 1919. When at an audience with George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
, Martanda was told by the Secretary of State for India
Secretary of State for India
The Secretary of State for India, or India Secretary, was the British Cabinet minister responsible for the government of India and the political head of the India Office...
that their son Sydney would not be recognised as the rightful heir by the Government of British India, Martanda renounced his own claim to the throne and nominating his brother Rajagopala Tondaiman
Rajagopala Tondaiman
Raja Sri Brahdamba Dasa Raja Sri Rajagopala Tondaiman Bahadur was the ninth and last ruler of the princely state of Pudukkottai.- Early life :...
as the Raja of Pudukkottai, Martanda settled for an annual pension.
Martanda and Molly lived in Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
from 1922 to 1927 where they bought a villa called La Favourite. At Cannes, Molly developed friendship with Elsa Maxwell
Elsa Maxwell
Elsa Maxwell was an American gossip columnist and author, songwriter, and professional hostess renowned for her parties for royalty and high society figures of her day....
, Cecil Beaton
Cecil Beaton
Sir Cecil Walter Hardy Beaton, CBE was an English fashion and portrait photographer, diarist, painter, interior designer and an Academy Award-winning stage and costume designer for films and the theatre...
, Nancy Beaton, Lord Donegal, Lady Houston and William Locke. The couple frequented social events and held dinner parties. Martanda died at Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on 28 May 1928 at the age of fifty-three. Molly wanted his body to be shipped to India and cremated with full state honours but the Government of India refused permission. Eventually, the body was cremated at Golden Green Crematorium in London as per Hindu rites.
Following Martanda's death, Molly's finances began to dwindle. She sold La Favourite and purchased a house at Mayfair, London where she lived with her son, Sydney. The Aga Khan proposed to her soon after Martanda's death, but she rejected his proposal. In her later years, Molly remained aloof and began drinking heavily. She was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 1967. Molly died in Cannes on November 22, 1967 at the age of seventy-three.