Maud MacCarthy (1882–1967) was an Irish musical prodigy, writer, advocate for women’s rights, Theosophist and social activist, who twice emigrated to India. Following a successful international career as a violin soloist, she first travelled to India at the invitation of the Theosophical Society in 1907. For the next three years, she studied Indian music with local musicians, developing her interest in the spiritual and mystical aspects of music and the arts. Following her return to Britain, in 1910, she gave lecture-recitals on Indian music, becoming one of Europe’s foremost experts on the subject. Her pioneering work influenced that of her second husband, the composer, John Foulds with whom she later emigrated to India in 1935. MacCarthy remained in India for 21 years during which time she published articles on social issues, wrote a volume of devotional poetry, established a weaving factory in Kashmir and continued to explore questions of spirituality.