THE LAST QUEEN
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(Book Review)
Author- Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Price: INR 599 (Hardcover)
Pages: 372
Bestselling author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's first historical-fiction book 'The Last Queen' released in 2021 and it will soon be adapted for screen. The book follows the extraordinary yet lesser-known story of Rani Jindan Kaur of Punjab.
While one might have heard stories of Rani Lakshmi Bai and Padmavati, the story of Rani Jindan Kaur of Punjab is fairly lesser-known. Born to the royal kennel keeper, the beautiful Jindan Kaur married Maharaja Ranjit Singh and became his youngest, favourite and last queen.
While she adjusted to her new role of being a Rani and a mother after the wedding, her real troubles started when she lost her husband to age-related illnesses. She then navigated her life through cunning courtiers to become a Maharani when her son Dalip was made the King at the age of six. With her sharp acumen and passion, Rani Jindal dedicated her life to protecting Dalip's inheritance of the throne. She was one of the few Indian queens of her time to defy tradition, cast away the veil, and address her audience and courtiers. Rani Jindal distrusted the British; so much so that she even addressed and inspired her Khalsa troop in wars against them. Fearing her influence, the British tried to rob her of everything that she had-- from her kingdom to her son-- but that didn't crush her undying will. In her later years she lived in exile in Nepal and Britain, where she finally reunited with her son.
This is a fascinating story of one of India's most fearless women of the 19th century, who fought against the British with all her might. The book is divided into four parts-- 'Girl', 'Bride', 'Queen' and 'Rebel'-- that revives Rani Jindal's remarkable life.
Fast-paced and a quick read, the book manages to capture Rani Jindal's character and indomitable spirit quite well. Banerjee Divakaruni's magic with words and exceptional storytelling skills shine through her writing. Fans of the author would love to add this book to their reading list.
I read the some references of Jindan Kaur in the book by Khushwant Singh's History of Sikhs. Another piece of story I read in a book on Maharaja Ranjit Singh titled book published by Publication Division of Govt Of India.
ReplyDeleteYour book review is a story in itself.Book review should be like a never ending suspense story but it should contain the glimpses of necessary information and facts including availability plateform publication and price.
One question is haunting me after going through your book review that how Queen "Jindan" became "Jindal ?" So certainly for this very immediate reason I ll try to procure the above mentioned."Fans of author would...." I and many readers are fans of books..I am sure that fans of books are in relatively better numbers.
Overall it is very encouraging and progressive book review.
मैंने खुशवंत सिंह की हिस्ट्री ऑफ सिख्स की किताब में जिंदन कौर के कुछ संदर्भ पढ़े। कहानी का एक और अंश मैंने महाराजा रणजीत सिंह पर भारत सरकार के प्रकाशन विभाग द्वारा प्रकाशित पुस्तक में पढ़ा।
ReplyDeleteआपकी पुस्तक समीक्षा अपने आप में एक कहानी है। पुस्तक समीक्षा कभी न खत्म होने वाली सस्पेंस कहानी की तरह होनी चाहिए लेकिन इसमें उपलब्धता प्लेटफॉर्म प्रकाशन और कीमत सहित आवश्यक जानकारी और तथ्यों की झलक होनी चाहिए।
आपकी पुस्तक समीक्षा पढ़कर एक प्रश्न मेरे मन में कौंध रहा है कि रानी "जिंदन" "जिंदल" कैसे बनी? तो निश्चित रूप से इसी तात्कालिक कारण से मैं उपर्युक्त को प्राप्त करने का प्रयास करूंगा। "लेखक के प्रशंसक होंगे...।" मैं और कई पाठक पुस्तकों के प्रशंसक हैं। मुझे यकीन है कि पुस्तकों के प्रशंसक अपेक्षाकृत बेहतर संख्या में हैं।
कुल मिलाकर यह बहुत ही उत्साहजनक और प्रगतिशील पुस्तक समीक्षा है।
Punjabi is my favourite bahut acchi nice
ReplyDeletePoorva Meena
ReplyDelete11-A