The Red Munia

“This beautifully rendered novel will be appreciated not just by those familiar with India or Indian history but by anyone interested in literature, and looking for a good book to read.”— Swati Mitra, Executive Publisher, Eicher Goodearth

The Red Munia is a perfect example of the intersection between personal life, heritage, and political events. Far more than a history of the country, it follows Laila's task of restoring dignity to both herself and a nation. Her process and courage in pursuing her life goes far beyond historical events to probe deeply into the lives of the people during British occupation, offering a spirited and hopeful read that will engross a wide audience.— Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review

Laila spends an enviable childhood in Kapurthala, Punjab, where she lives with her parents, grandmother and her younger sister Dia, in a luxurious Haveli. Horse riding, royal-style picnics, house parties along with games like Scrabble, Hide and Seek and climbing trees are a way of life. Frequent discussions at home make her politically aware at an early age. Extremely sensitive as she is, her adolescent shoulders want to share her father’s burden who is very disturbed about the anarchic state of affairs in India just prior to the exit of the British. Her life takes many dramatic twists before it settles down for Laila to plan what she wants to do for her country, India.

She is eighteen when she goes to Bombay to pursue a course in journalism and to hone her writing skills. It is in Bombay that she turns her childhood dream into a real mission; to meet with the Queen of England! The sole purpose of this visit is to extract an apology out of the British to restore the dignity of her country which has been torn to shreds during the two hundred year long period of being held captive by them.

But in London, during her pursuit of an apology for India from the British, she meets Jai who is like no one she has met before. She is unable to ward off the strong attraction she feels towards him…