Frontlist | Chitra Banerjee profiles Queen Jindan Kaur in new novel

Frontlist | Chitra Banerjee profiles Queen Jindan Kaur in new novel
on Nov 18, 2020

Houston-based Divakaruni has authored books like The Forest of Enchantments, Before We Visit the Goddess, Oleander Girl, The Mistress of Spices Sister of My Heart, Palace of Illusions and One Amazing Thing. The Mistress of Spices and Sister of My Heart have been adapted into movies.

  Indian-American author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s new novel will bring alive one of the most fearless women of the 19th century – the legendary warrior queen Jindan Kaur. The Last Queen will be released by HarperCollins India in January 2021, the publishers announced on Tuesday. Daughter of the royal kennel keeper, the beautiful Jindan was Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s youngest and last queen besides his favourite. She became regent when her son Dalip, barely six years old, unexpectedly inherited the throne and went on to become a legendary warrior queen. Passionate and dedicated to protecting her son’s heritage, Jindan distrusted the British and fought hard to keep them from annexing Punjab. Defying tradition, she stepped out of the zenana, cast aside the veil and conducted state business in public. Addressing her Khalsa troops herself, she inspired her men in two wars against the British. Her power and influence were so formidable that the British, fearing an uprising, robbed the rebel queen of everything she had, including her son. She was imprisoned and exiled. But that did not crush her indomitable will. The Last Queen is being described by the publishers as an exquisite love story of a king and a commoner, a cautionary tale about loyalty and betrayal, and a powerful parable of the indestructible bond between mother and child. The novel has already been optioned for film rights.