My Sarkar, I will take care of you…The untold story of Rani Jindan Kaur

I think my favorite genre of books have to be historical fiction. It really transports me to a different time and space, something I just can’t find in contemporary books. And this book is a treasure! I honestly couldn’t put it down.

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is known for portraying woman characters. The subject of her latest book is the forgotten queen, Rani Jindan Kaur, the lioness of Punjab. It pays tribute to Jindan’s beauty, courage, intelligence and fierce patriotism. Jindan is unlike the girls of her age, she has vision for herself and wishes to be different from others. It is this courage that allows her, the daughter of an ordinary dog trainer, to become the last and favorite queen of Maharana Ranjit Singh. Her life is no bed of roses and she faces many struggles in her life — from the day she enters the palace, to her dying breath.

Maharana Ranjit Singh builds a unified Punjab and it is one of the last empires to not succumb to the British. With his death, the power struggles broke up this unity. It was Rani Jindan Kaur who took leadership and unified the Khalsa to fight for her son and Punjab. Such was her power and influence that the British exiled her and took away her son. She takes refuge in Nepal, where she continues to fight for India's independence and her son’s inheritance. Such was her power and influence that the British exiled her and took away her son. She takes refuge in Nepal, where she continues to fight for India's independence and her son’s inheritance.

It is the second part of the book that was most interesting for me. Her son Dalip is brainwashed into becoming a loyal British subject. He is called the Black prince and becomes a toy in the hands of the British. Mother and son are finally united on British soil and Jindan is shocked by her son’s transformation. She makes it her life’s mission to make Dalip realize whose blood runs in his veins; that of the Lion of Punjab. With love and affection, she helps Dalip to feel proud of himself and his roots.

Rani Jindan Kaur was a glorious queen, a faithful-loving wife, a loyal sister and a courageous mother. Her indomitable faith in herself and the spirit of her Sarkar, keep her going in the darkest of times.