Be the Voice

About the Book

Descriptive and colorful, Be the Voice captures northern Indian political situations in the latter half of the twentieth century.- Foreword Clarion Reviews

It is 1947 and the Radcliffe Line is being drawn between India and Pakistan. In northern India, anti-Pakistan sentiment is at an emotional peak. Kamla is just one of the babies born during this time who are hearing freedom songs instead of lullabies.

Kamla is just a few months old when India gains independence from British rule. Though born and raised free among riches, Kamla's life soon transforms at the crossroads of her teen years. As her behavior turns slightly rebellious, several of Kamla's friends are married off as teenage brides, leaving her lonely at times. While engaged in muddy traditions, Kamla remains determined to excel in school and become a teacher. Even when she realizes existing social norms of independent India contrast with her dreams of freedom, Kamla still does not give up on achieving a fulfilled life. But will it be enough as suffering begins to overshadow everything?

In this story inspired by true events, a girl born at the dawn of India's independence must battle to achieve a bright future and a life free of oppression, despite the odds stacked against her.

About the Author

Shyama Kumari Rajan was born in Bhagalpur, Bihar, India. She earned a B. Tech in civil engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur, India, and a MSE and PhD from the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University in the United States. Rajan is a passionate aerospace engineer who currently resides in Connecticut. Be the Voice is her debut novel.