GRAZIA: Your last book [Independence] was a story of sisterhood against the backdrop of India's independence. The one before that [The Last Queen] was about a fearless queen from the 19th century. What are the aspects of womanhood that these stories explore?
CHITRA BANERJEE DIVAKARUNI: I love exploring the courage of ordinary women and how they grow while facing difficulties and danger. When The Last Queen begins, the heroine Jindan is just a girl. When Ranjit Singh falls in love and marries her, she has to face the animosity of the other queens, who try to poison her. After Ranjit Singh dies, she has to keep a cool head and escape far away to save her son, Dalip Singh, from being assassinated. In tracing her growth, I hope to inspire my readers to face their own challenges. In Independence, the three sisters are ordinary young women from a village when the book begins, interested in girlish pursuits - clothes, shopping, movies, sightseeing in Calcutta, etc. But when tragedy devastates their family, they grow up and take over the running of the family, work hard to establish careers, protect their mother, and face life-thre dangers with courage. Again, I show how we all, as women, have a deep reserve of strength within us.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Under The Needle
With filler-face phasing out, we are embracing the natural aesthetic but not how you might expect it
BUILDING A LEGACY
Driven by passion and a commitment to quality, this brand is making a mark in the luxury furniture market with a perfect blend of local artistry and global design
A WALK DOWN FIFTH AVENUE
From high fashion to historic landmarks, this coffee table book explores how Fifth Avenue became the heartbeat of New York's cultural and social scene
NO SEX, MO' PROBLEMS?
At a time when sex seems to be everywhere, women are experiencing a dip in their sexual desires. We find out why
MORE THAN IT SEAMS
Who says lace can’t be hewn from leather? Or that paper can’t sit on the body like a weathered old sweater? In a time of rampant production and boundless creativity, is material the final frontier for designers? When all else seems lost to the algorithm, fashion’s deceptive ingenuity requires us to look a little closer
TABLE FOR ONE, PLEASE
In a world obsessed with couplegoals, here’s why taking yourself out for a date might just be the ultimate love story
THE DREAM CANVAS
In the city that wholeheartedly embraces its role as a global cultural hub, the second edition of Art Mumbai promises to redefine creativity and innovation
SPRING FORWARD
Of hits, misses, and everything in between this season at Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI
LUST-WORTHY LUXURY LABELS
To Light Up This Wedding Season
ICONIC DESIGN MEETS A MOBILE FUTURE
The new Dell XPS is designed for new age content creators and suave C-suite
