Molly Fink

Esme Mary Sorrett Fink
Molly Fink in 1915
Born	(1894-09-15)15 September 1894 Melbourne, Australia
Died	20 November 1967(1967-11-20) (aged 73) Cannes, France
Resting place	Golders Green Crematorium
Other names	Molly Fink
Occupation	socialite
Spouse(s)	Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman
Children	Martanda Sydney Tondaiman

Esme Mary Sorrett Fink (15 September 1894 – 20 November 1967), 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.

Fink was born to Wolfe Fink, a barrister and Shakespearan scholar and his wife Elizabeth on 15 September 1894 at Malvern 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.

In March 1915, Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman, 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 6 August 1915 and married on 10 August 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.

Molly spent five months in India suffering ostracism by the British officialdom and even, surviving a poisoning attempt. On 22 November 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, Ootacamund 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.