Here is a river...
Here is a village...
Here is a grand old mansion...
Here is the country that contains them all...
India. August, 1946. Everything is about to change.
'Independence' by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is a beautifully woven tale set against the turbulent backdrop of the Partition of India, centering on three sisters—Deepa, Jamini, and Priya—daughters of a well-respected doctor in a rural Bengal village. Each sister embodies a distinct personality, harboring dreams that reflect their individual desires and aspirations.
Deepa, the stunning beauty of the family, is determined to secure a marriage that will bring joy and elevate her family's status. Jamini, a devout and sharp-eyed quiltmaker, conceals her deeper passions beneath her calm exterior. Priya, intelligent and idealistic, is resolute in her ambition to follow in her father's footsteps and become a doctor, a dream she fiercely pursues with the support of Zamindar Somnath Chowdhury, her father's best friend, despite societal expectations.
Their home, once a sanctuary of love and safety, is shattered when their father is tragically killed during a riot, bringing the violence of Partition into their very lives. As the nation is torn apart, so too are the sisters' lives. Priya remains unwavering in her pursuit of a medical career, while Deepa's deep love for Raza, a youth leader in the Muslim League, causes a painful rift within the family. Jamini, ever the loyal sister, strives to keep the family together, even as she secretly yearns for her sister's fiancé.
With the official announcement of India's Partition, a drastic and dangerous change sweeps the land. India is now for Hindus, Pakistan for Muslims, and the sisters find themselves separated, each on a different path, grappling with the fear of what lies ahead for themselves and for each other. It is in these moments of profound uncertainty that they come to understand the true meaning of independence and the heavy price it demands.
This novel is a magnificent tale of women who possess the strength and resilience to hold themselves together even as everything around them falls apart. Amid the unraveling of dreams and the loss of loved ones, their enduring strength and unbreakable family bond prevail. 'Independence' is a poignant story of loyalty and love, nationhood and sisterhood, offering a deeply moving exploration of the sacrifices made in the name of freedom.
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