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.
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Denne historien er fra January 2024-utgaven av Grazia India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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MAGNUM OPUS
An ode to the integrity of design and heritage craftsmanship, Sabyasachi Mukherjee's quest to building a global brand comes a full circle with his monumental 25th Anniversary presentation
The Art Affair
India Art Fair returned to Delhi for its 16th edition, bringing fresh perspectives to the artistic landscape of the country
AN ARTISTIC COLLABORATION LIKE NO OTHER
The Pierre Argillet Collection brings Dali's iconic works and his fascination with Eastern mysticism to the forefront, showcasing an extraordinary artistic evolution
WHAT IN THE Dupe?
The younger generation is embracing 'copycat' brands like never before. What does this mean for the luxury space and the beauty industry at large?
THROUGH HER EYES
There has been a noticeable power shift in cinema. With more and more women taking a seat at the head of the table, it's a change we're rooting for
BEAUTY REPORTER
VERY DEMURE, VERY MINDFUL
SOMEONE ONLY YOU KNOW
Holiday flings make for the most ample romcom bait. But what is it about a change of scenery that seems to stir up matters of the heart? Catching feelings abroad can be as easy as catching flights, but there's more behind the intoxicating love we fall for with sun-soaked abandon than fate. So, what are we really tripping on?
IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS
Grand Hyatt Mumbai's new space transforms ordinary occasions into extraordinary experiences, one event at a time
SLOW COACH
There is a timeless allure to slowing down, to savouring the journey rather than rushing to the destination. With more travellers yearning for the unhurriedness and opulence of a bygone era, behold the renaissance of glamorous train journeys. Ahead, the most luxurious trips gaining steam
The POWER of Love
It's magnificent - this thing called love. But what makes it truly larger-than-life, we believe, are the people who feel it deeply and express it freely
