I love Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s works. I’ve read most of her books. Perhaps all, I would dare to say, but I’m not sure because she’s written over 20 books. I’ve reread a couple, with ‘Palace of Illusions’ being one of my absolute favorites. Palace of Illusions, followed by ‘One Amazing Thing’, solidified Divakaruni’s place among great writers. Her latest release, ‘Independence’, tells the story of the birth of modern India. In August 1949, the demand for a separate Islamic nation by Muhammad Ali Jinnah-led Muslim League led to the Direct Action Day. Riots by the two communal groups led to a bloodbath in Kolkata and its effects spread to other places as well. Partition is India’s political legacy but it was horrifying and survivors can’t even begin to describe the terror. Independence is set during that troubling time. It’s a fictional story about the Gangulys of Ranipur. On Jinnah’s Direct Action Day, which is also known as the 1946 Calcutta Killings, Nabakumar, a kind-hearted doctor, rushes to his clinic where the injured are pouring in. He goes out to the street, amid gunfire, to drag in a dying patient and is hit by a bullet. He doesn’t survive. His family’s life is forever changed but linked inextricably by the tragedy.

Nabakumar’s three daughters—Deepa, Jamini, and Priya—have never seen eye-to-eye but they find themselves risking their lives for one another. Deepa falls in love with Raza, the son of her father’s Muslim colleague. Jamini and Priya are in love with Amit, the son of Nabakumar’s best friend, Somnath Chowdhury. But Priya wants to be a doctor. At the time, colleges in India, especially medical colleges, were a hostile place for women. After being rejected, with Somnath’s help, she decides to go to America. Amit, who has always been in love with Priya, feels cheated. Jamini sees this as the perfect opportunity to win over Amit.

Divakaruni’s writing style makes you empathize with the characters. Even Jamini, who at times seems malicious, manages to find a place in your heart. You are able to justify her actions. Bina, the girls’ mother, who wallows in her grief after her husband passes away, comes across as callous. But then she’s also a woman who has done the best she could to support her family—weaving blankets to supplement her husband’s meager income (as he’s always treating patients for free). There’s a lot to unpack in this book. Set against a disturbing backdrop, the story of sisterhood and nationhood leaves a lasting impression. But the ending is predictable. You get a sense of where the story is headed less than halfway through the book. In some ways, it reminds you of one of the many Bollywood movies you have watched over the years. But the narrative gets under your skin as you are made to think of the fact that there’s no length people won’t go to for love. Three stars Fiction Independence Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni Published: 2022 Publisher: Harper Collins Pages: 285, Hardcover