One thing Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni does well is telling stories of strong women in the most authentic voice possible. Her latest book, Independence, is no different. Set in the tumultuous backdrop of the partition, the book takes you through the lives of three sisters; Priya, Jamini, and Deepa.

A complex tale of three women

Daughters of Dr Nabakumar Ganguly, the three sisters live in Ranipur, Bengal with their mother, while their father runs his clinic in Calcutta. The story starts in 1946 when India is embroiled in the thick of rising tensions. While the three girls are safe in Ranipur, away from the turbulence, their father is suddenly killed on Direct Action Day. Suddenly, the mother and the daughters find themselves struggling to survive.

Priya, Jamini, and Deepa are as different from each other as they can get. All Priya wants is to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a doctor. Deepa is in love with a Muslim man and has kept it a secret from the family. Jamini, on the other hand, seems like the typical vamp, who is in love with her sister’s lover and will go to any lengths to get her way. Post the death of their father, Priya is unable to get into Calcutta Medical College due to misogyny, Deepa secretly marries her Muslim lover, and Jamini stays with her mother helping with their quilt-crafting business.

While Priya is in love with her neighbour and childhood friend Amit, she wants to first achieve her dream of becoming a doctor. After not getting into Calcutta Medical College, Priya gets through to a medical college in Philadelphia. This doesn’t sit well with Amit, and in a fit of rage, he calls off his engagement with Priya.

A moving story of loss

Priya is a modern woman of the new India. She is ambitious and compassionate, but she also knows her mind. She doesn’t hesitate to chase her dreams, even if it means sacrificing some relationships. Priya is a practical woman and knows that her purpose in life is much bigger than being married to a man and staying home. In direct contrast, Jamini is a symbol of the traditional woman, whose only thought is to land a man and get married.

Jamini is in love with Amit, despite knowing that he loves Priya. When Amit calls off his engagement with Priya, Jamini sees an opportunity to make a move. When Jamini is assaulted in a riot, she, along with her mother, uses that as leverage to make Amit marry her.

Deepa is a woman who knows her heart and is willing to follow it even if it means she will have to bid goodbye to her home forever. Things take a turn for the worse when she marries Raza. Deepa is banished from home and has to move to Dhaka, which will soon be part of East Pakistan.

None of the characters in Divakaruni’s Independence is one-dimensional. They have clear motivations, no matter how misguided sometimes. Her characters are flawed, but they also take ownership of their actions when it’s most required of them. Independence is a moving tale of loss and family and how despite the things that can break you, certain bonds remain unbreakable.

Independence is not just about gaining independence from the British, but also about how the three women gain independence in their lives and find their own feet.

About the author

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is an award-winning and bestselling author, activist, and professor. Her work has been published in over 50 magazines, including The Atlantic and The New Yorker, and included in The Best American Short Stories and The O. Henry Prize Stories. Her books have been translated into 29 languages, including Dutch, Hebrew, Bengali, Russian, and Japanese. Her most recent novels are The Forest of Enchantments and The Last Queen.

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