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Lioness of Punjab
“We will fight here,” I commanded the warriors. “We are strong. We will have no fear. As Sikh warriors, we are ready to fight for justice. Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa! Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!”
It is the winter of 1705, and the tenth Guru of the Sikhs is under attack by the armies of the mighty Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb. Under siege and isolated, Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s men are exhausted beyond measure, and forty soldiers decide to head home. Back in the villages of Punjab, these forty men are met by a fiery Sikh woman—a warrior who has been preparing all her life for this very moment—who leads the deserters back to the Guru. This is the story of that warrior, the fierce Mai Bhago, who chose the sword to symbolize her unwavering loyalty and devotion to her people and her faith.
This energetic coming-of-age young adult novel brings us closer to Mai Bhago—a woman revered in the Sikh community and beyond—to imagine her growing to embrace her many roles in a way that was entirely her own and, in the process, becoming a shining inspiration for young women everywhere.
It is the winter of 1705, and the tenth Guru of the Sikhs is under attack by the armies of the mighty Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb. Under siege and isolated, Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s men are exhausted beyond measure, and forty soldiers decide to head home. Back in the villages of Punjab, these forty men are met by a fiery Sikh woman—a warrior who has been preparing all her life for this very moment—who leads the deserters back to the Guru. This is the story of that warrior, the fierce Mai Bhago, who chose the sword to symbolize her unwavering loyalty and devotion to her people and her faith.
This energetic coming-of-age young adult novel brings us closer to Mai Bhago—a woman revered in the Sikh community and beyond—to imagine her growing to embrace her many roles in a way that was entirely her own and, in the process, becoming a shining inspiration for young women everywhere.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 17, 2022
8 people are currently reading
1028 people want to read
About the author
Anita Jari Kharbanda
1 book36 followersAnita Kharbanda is an Indian-American engineer by trade, and a storyteller by heart. She lives in North Texas with her loving husband and two sons. An avid lifelong reader of all kinds of fiction, she revels in seeing her children do the same.
The healing power of letters filled with family history inspired Anita to start writing. She now writes the kinds of stories she’s devoured through the years, with one difference. She promised herself she’d write stories about the characters she dreamed of seeing in books growing up, and lift the voices of those who go unheard.
Literary Representation: Jennifer Lyons
instagram id: anita_kharbanda_78
The healing power of letters filled with family history inspired Anita to start writing. She now writes the kinds of stories she’s devoured through the years, with one difference. She promised herself she’d write stories about the characters she dreamed of seeing in books growing up, and lift the voices of those who go unheard.
Literary Representation: Jennifer Lyons
instagram id: anita_kharbanda_78
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
June 18, 2022
This fascinating and inspiring historical fiction YA is based the real life of Mai Bhago, a Sikh woman warrior in early 1700s India. She is re-imagined here as Bhag Khar and the story begins when she is a young teenager, trying to be an obedient daughter but inescapably drawn to the world of battle reserved for men. Eventually, recognizing her great talent as a fighter, her father relents and begins training her as a warrior. We watch Bhag Khar grow into a young woman and marry, all the while continuing to train. Throughout, the men around her are sent to fight for their Guru and protect their religious freedom and are often violently killed. Eventually Bhag Khar assumes the role she always knew she was meant for as leader of a group of warriors.
I learned so much about Sikh women, culture and history from reading this story. The main plot is about Bhag Khar and her rise as a warrior, but the text is rich with details of everyday life, and the descriptions of preparing meals and family life provide a vivid picture of what life was like for a young Skih woman 300+ years ago. The relationships too are nuanced and well-drawn; even though she faced incredible challenges and her role as a daughter and wife was complicated, Bhag Khar still had a life rich with love. Her story is inspiring and educational.
I learned so much about Sikh women, culture and history from reading this story. The main plot is about Bhag Khar and her rise as a warrior, but the text is rich with details of everyday life, and the descriptions of preparing meals and family life provide a vivid picture of what life was like for a young Skih woman 300+ years ago. The relationships too are nuanced and well-drawn; even though she faced incredible challenges and her role as a daughter and wife was complicated, Bhag Khar still had a life rich with love. Her story is inspiring and educational.
June 7, 2022
My favorite type of novel is a retelling of a real incredible women from history, and “Lioness of Punjab” from Anita Jari Kharbanda from Yali Books is exactly that.
This tells the story of Mai Bhago, a woman that lead 40 soldiers into battle after deserting their posts in the 1700's. (Please read the Goodreads description of the book, it will do a better job than I ever could at sharing the plot!)
But what I loved about this book was that it wasn’t just about an incredible woman when she lead these men, but it shares the story of how she became that woman.
Please do yourself a favor and get yourself a copy of this awesome book when it comes out on September 17th!!
This tells the story of Mai Bhago, a woman that lead 40 soldiers into battle after deserting their posts in the 1700's. (Please read the Goodreads description of the book, it will do a better job than I ever could at sharing the plot!)
But what I loved about this book was that it wasn’t just about an incredible woman when she lead these men, but it shares the story of how she became that woman.
Please do yourself a favor and get yourself a copy of this awesome book when it comes out on September 17th!!
July 6, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me access to this book for an honest review!
I would like to preface this by mentioning that my mother comes from a Sikh family and I've lived in Chandigarh for most of my life.
So, of course, we had the Punjabi language as a subject in school and while the first couple of years were mostly about learning Gurumukhi, the next few were spent reading Punjabi literature and stories. These, of course, included heroic and praise-worthy stories of the Punjabi historical figures like Mai Bhago, Baba Banda Sahib, and many others with a detailed study of the ten Sikh gurus,
I was beyond elated when I saw a book with "Punjab" in its title on Netgalley. And then so much more elated when I saw that it was based on the life of Mai Bhago.
I'm very happy to say that I loved this book. Even though it deals with pretty grim and heavy themes like war, death, and grief, I loved how raw and real it felt. As if I had been transported to the past and saw everything unfold with my own eyes.
The writing was very beautiful and evoked all the emotions in me that the author would want the readers to feel while reading this book. It was a pretty quick read because of how invested I was in it.
If there is one thing I disliked it was the spellings here and there. The author's note mentions that her mother taught her Gurumukhi among other things so I assume she has grown up outside of India hence, I understand how this might have happened but some of these still irked me a lot and I'm going to mention them:
- Use of Vahiguru instead of Waheguru
- Use of Gurdwara instead of Gurudwara
- Use of kuri when the author clearly meant "kuriyaan" because kuri means a girl and kuriyaan is the word you use for multiple girls.
I'll highly recommend this book to everyone, especially historical fiction lovers!
Actual rating: 4.5
--------------------- EDIT ----------------------
A person from the publishing team got in touch and informed me that the text now reflects the correct spellings of the Punjabi words in the book.
I would like to preface this by mentioning that my mother comes from a Sikh family and I've lived in Chandigarh for most of my life.
So, of course, we had the Punjabi language as a subject in school and while the first couple of years were mostly about learning Gurumukhi, the next few were spent reading Punjabi literature and stories. These, of course, included heroic and praise-worthy stories of the Punjabi historical figures like Mai Bhago, Baba Banda Sahib, and many others with a detailed study of the ten Sikh gurus,
I was beyond elated when I saw a book with "Punjab" in its title on Netgalley. And then so much more elated when I saw that it was based on the life of Mai Bhago.
I'm very happy to say that I loved this book. Even though it deals with pretty grim and heavy themes like war, death, and grief, I loved how raw and real it felt. As if I had been transported to the past and saw everything unfold with my own eyes.
The writing was very beautiful and evoked all the emotions in me that the author would want the readers to feel while reading this book. It was a pretty quick read because of how invested I was in it.
If there is one thing I disliked it was the spellings here and there. The author's note mentions that her mother taught her Gurumukhi among other things so I assume she has grown up outside of India hence, I understand how this might have happened but some of these still irked me a lot and I'm going to mention them:
- Use of Vahiguru instead of Waheguru
- Use of Gurdwara instead of Gurudwara
- Use of kuri when the author clearly meant "kuriyaan" because kuri means a girl and kuriyaan is the word you use for multiple girls.
I'll highly recommend this book to everyone, especially historical fiction lovers!
Actual rating: 4.5
--------------------- EDIT ----------------------
A person from the publishing team got in touch and informed me that the text now reflects the correct spellings of the Punjabi words in the book.
June 6, 2022
It was as such an eye-opener to read this story, to learn about this brave warrior, Mai Bhago, and how she bucked the societal norms of her time to lead Sikh warriors on the field. Reading the story from a young girl’s perspective as she grapples with what is expected of her with what her heart desires brought her story to life. Her love for her family and her duties as a young woman vie with her determination to train as a warrior and protect her people. The author deftly weaves in some of the history and practices of Sikhism, and I love how seamlessly Punjabi and English flow in and out in the text. A great read with a heroine who will tug at your heart!
June 30, 2022
2/5
Firstly I have to say as a Punjabi Sikh woman I was intrigued to see a book being published on an important Sikh religious figure. However, learning that it was a first person YA novel I was immediately uncomfortable.
The writing itself is easy to understand this much is true, and easy to follow the story. Yet, it does not read like Young Adult. The writing very much gives the impression of middle grade or younger, it seems to walk you through the story and descriptions and doesn't let the reader make their own conclusions. In addition, the inclusion of Punjabi words and phrases is awkward, it very much gives early 2010s writing. I think this book would be best for the demographic of 10 year olds (which isn't necessarily a bad thing!)
Also, I have to say... this book made me uncomfortable. I did not feel represented in this story. I mean as in I was very uncomfortable about reading some author's musings of what this important religious figure must have been like growing up who had such an impact in Sikhi. I did not think it was appropriate at all. If the author truly wanted to do a story representing Punjabi Sikh woman, she could have easily adapted Sundri. Another story originally written by Bhai Sahib Bhai Vir Singh, who also shows the strength and impact of women in Sikhi.... and better yet... it was fictional!!! It did not put thoughts and words into a real religious figure's mouth!!!
Also, this is a personal grievance but I did go through the Author's social media and I know not everyone is on social media that much but writing a book about a Sikh figure, but not really talking about important Sikh issues like the 1984 Genocide or the ongoing oppression of Sikhs and Punjabis by the Indian state kinda sus to me but anyways.
Firstly I have to say as a Punjabi Sikh woman I was intrigued to see a book being published on an important Sikh religious figure. However, learning that it was a first person YA novel I was immediately uncomfortable.
The writing itself is easy to understand this much is true, and easy to follow the story. Yet, it does not read like Young Adult. The writing very much gives the impression of middle grade or younger, it seems to walk you through the story and descriptions and doesn't let the reader make their own conclusions. In addition, the inclusion of Punjabi words and phrases is awkward, it very much gives early 2010s writing. I think this book would be best for the demographic of 10 year olds (which isn't necessarily a bad thing!)
Also, I have to say... this book made me uncomfortable. I did not feel represented in this story. I mean as in I was very uncomfortable about reading some author's musings of what this important religious figure must have been like growing up who had such an impact in Sikhi. I did not think it was appropriate at all. If the author truly wanted to do a story representing Punjabi Sikh woman, she could have easily adapted Sundri. Another story originally written by Bhai Sahib Bhai Vir Singh, who also shows the strength and impact of women in Sikhi.... and better yet... it was fictional!!! It did not put thoughts and words into a real religious figure's mouth!!!
Also, this is a personal grievance but I did go through the Author's social media and I know not everyone is on social media that much but writing a book about a Sikh figure, but not really talking about important Sikh issues like the 1984 Genocide or the ongoing oppression of Sikhs and Punjabis by the Indian state kinda sus to me but anyways.
June 12, 2022
I hate to admit it but I am a huge softie for eldest daughters and south asian characters
May 15, 2022
Anita Jari Kharbanda's debut young adult novel, LIONESS OF PUNJAB, is sure to engross young adult and mature middle grade readers interested in historical fiction.
Mai Bhago's personality shines through from the first page. An inspiring heroine, she is bold, strong, and principled, despite all the forces working against her. Her friends and family weave beautifully around her, creating a rich tapestry of distinctive and believable characters.
Kharbanda's vivid scene-setting, attention to detail, and gorgeous analogies immerse the reader in the daily life of Punjab in the 18th century. LIONESS OF PUNJAB also offers an opportunity to learn more about Sikh traditions and history. Kudos to Kharbanda for breaking barriers and bringing this important story to our bookshelves!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Mai Bhago's personality shines through from the first page. An inspiring heroine, she is bold, strong, and principled, despite all the forces working against her. Her friends and family weave beautifully around her, creating a rich tapestry of distinctive and believable characters.
Kharbanda's vivid scene-setting, attention to detail, and gorgeous analogies immerse the reader in the daily life of Punjab in the 18th century. LIONESS OF PUNJAB also offers an opportunity to learn more about Sikh traditions and history. Kudos to Kharbanda for breaking barriers and bringing this important story to our bookshelves!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2022
*I was given an advanced readers copy of the book for review purposes
This story opened my eyes to an area of history that I had no prior knowledge of. The story follows Mai Bhago--a real-life Sikh warrior from 1700s India. The language was beautiful and inspiring and although there were dark moments the story overall left me feeling inspired and proud.
This story opened my eyes to an area of history that I had no prior knowledge of. The story follows Mai Bhago--a real-life Sikh warrior from 1700s India. The language was beautiful and inspiring and although there were dark moments the story overall left me feeling inspired and proud.
June 18, 2023
Hi Friends! This is Anita Jari Kharbanda, the author of LIONESS OF PUNJAB which released on September 17, 2022. :-) This is my book debut, and a labor of love. Mai Bhago is a revered historical figure in Sikhism, whom I adore. As you read this story, I hope what comes across is a heartfelt desire to bring her valor, bravery, and love to the world by augmenting the limited history we do know of her. In telling her story, I've hoped she would lift spirits in times of unrest, and remind us of our ability to accomplish our goals, and make the world a better place. It was written with deep regard for my religion and culture.
I am humbled by your support, encouragement, and thoughtful engagement.
This book is only possible because of the love and support of family and friends, the publishing industry, my author family, and my readers. Thank you all.
With love and respect to all of you,
Anita Kharbanda
I am humbled by your support, encouragement, and thoughtful engagement.
This book is only possible because of the love and support of family and friends, the publishing industry, my author family, and my readers. Thank you all.
With love and respect to all of you,
Anita Kharbanda
March 8, 2022
This title alone has me excited to read it! I believe this book is going to inspire many people, young and old.
May 24, 2022
I don't know how to explain it. This book was very well written I was drawn into the book from the first chapter. Anita Jari Kharbanda’s descriptions, writing, and details are beautiful and vivid.
September 3, 2022
“The battlefield is your holy ground. The double-edged sword is your prayer. Combat is your service. And victory is your karma.”
Rating: 4.5 stars
★★★★✩
If you loved Vaishnavi Patel's Kaikeyi—especially the family dynamics between the characters, you're going to love this. While not being much on the fantasy or mythological side like the former, Lioness of Punjab is a debut that transports you to the life of Mai Bhago, or simply, as she was known then, Bhag Bhari. Set in a time when the Sikhs were oppressed by the late Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb, this debut explored what it means to be a Sikh, a woman, and a warrior all at once.
Bhag Bhari has many names—Mai Bhago, Bhag Kaur, and so on. She is the lead protagonist of the story with many other side characters who were all wonderful. Although this would give you the first impression of an action-packed novel, it is simply not. Lioness of Punjab is more of a coming-of-age story and the interwoven themes were so subtle. We start with young Bhag Bhari being mischievous and wanting to learn to fight with a passion. As she grows further, her passion for war and the protection of her people only grows with her.
One of the elements I enjoyed in the novel was the little dynamics between the characters. The constant love from her parents though she didn't fit into the label of "an ideal woman", the sisterly bond she had with her two brothers, her increasing love for her husband, her unforgiving faith in the Guru, and many more! They were all super fun to read about. You can tell that the author enjoyed writing these characters!
All in all, Lioness of Punjab is a meaningful debut and I hope this review can convince you enough to read it. The writing is simple and does not exaggerate anything. So if you're looking for a retelling of historical figures in Sikh literature, consider picking this up!
— Thank you NetGalley and Yali Books, for presenting me with an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 19, 2022
I was drawn into the book from the first chapter. Anita Jari Kharbanda’s descriptions, writing, and details are beautiful and vivid.
In the winter of 1705, Mai Bhago led 40 exhausted, disheartened soldiers back to the defense of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who was under attack by the armies of the mighty Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb. Anita Jari Kharbanda’s novel, Lioness of Punjab is so much more than that legendary moment. Kharbanda skillfully weaves together a coming of age story of Mai Bhago, a legendary woman revered by the Sikh community. In so doing, Kharbanda brings out the heart of a young woman who learns to blend her love of her family, community and faith with her need to exert her individual fiery personality.
Kharbanda’s characters come to life against the vivid backdrop of 18th century Punjab. They are complex and multifaceted and I came to care for all of them. Moreover, Kharbanda does a masterful job bringing Mai Bhago herself to life–not just as the legendary woman who would eventually inspire so many others, but as a human being. Again and again, I related to Mai Bhago’s struggles to reconcile her inner self to the outer world. I saw the world through Mai Bhago’s eyes and felt her passion. This is historical fiction at its best, alternating between family interactions, everyday life, and significant historical events.
Brava!
In the winter of 1705, Mai Bhago led 40 exhausted, disheartened soldiers back to the defense of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who was under attack by the armies of the mighty Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb. Anita Jari Kharbanda’s novel, Lioness of Punjab is so much more than that legendary moment. Kharbanda skillfully weaves together a coming of age story of Mai Bhago, a legendary woman revered by the Sikh community. In so doing, Kharbanda brings out the heart of a young woman who learns to blend her love of her family, community and faith with her need to exert her individual fiery personality.
Kharbanda’s characters come to life against the vivid backdrop of 18th century Punjab. They are complex and multifaceted and I came to care for all of them. Moreover, Kharbanda does a masterful job bringing Mai Bhago herself to life–not just as the legendary woman who would eventually inspire so many others, but as a human being. Again and again, I related to Mai Bhago’s struggles to reconcile her inner self to the outer world. I saw the world through Mai Bhago’s eyes and felt her passion. This is historical fiction at its best, alternating between family interactions, everyday life, and significant historical events.
Brava!
Want to read
May 19, 202218.05.2022 i can now read this early and i'm so happy!
June 23, 2022
*Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for an Epub in return for an honest review.*
Hindustan, 1689. A young woman is born in a small Sikh village.
18 years later she leads exhausted soldiers to victory in the name of the tenth Guru.
But how did she get there?
"𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯."
Historical fiction has been, and remains, one of the most underrepresented genres for so many poc. I know representation is sorely needed, and that's why books like the Lioness of Punjab are so important, especially for younger readers.
"𝘞𝘢𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘥."
I would say it's lower YA-middle grade age targeted, but that absolutely does not mean that older readers won't enjoy Lo P. Although I didn't really gel with the writing style, I still really enjoyed it and I think that's what's important to take out.
Another thing I really liked was the author's note at the end of the book. I think it added and enhanced the story, providing a historical annecdote while, again, emphasizing the need for accurate representation.
Combining both historical accuracy and a developed story can absolutely not have been easy but Kharbanda certainly managed it. Every single character sprang to life, and the side romance was really sweet too.
Another aspect I enjoyed was learning about Sikh traditions and history. These were seamlessly incorporated into the story! I really liked being able to recognise the major events from Sikh history, particularly from the perspective of a young woman. It was brilliant being able to 'get in the head' of such a famed figure.
Mai Bhago has been born at an inauspicious time- the Sikh/Mughal war is raging and she cannot bear the pain of sending her relatives off to die alone, starving, on the field of battle. But she must, as all women must. Furiously training in secret she soon becomes a fearsome warrior, one of the best in her history.
Years pass. Armies rise and fall. Soon, Mai's family have arranged her a husband.
This doesn't quell her spirit. Slowly, slowly, she fall in love with him and him with her. But the war is ever present. He's soon called away to fight, but when he deserts a lost cause, Mai turns her heart to him. Leading him and his comrades into battle, she soon becomes a myth, a legend told to young girls to inspire, teach, and give hope of their futures.
Kharbanda writes arranged marriages extremely well, the western media has become almost obsessed with portraying them as forced and violent, but so much of the time this just isn't the case and both parties are consenting, and grow into love together.
"𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺, 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴."
I was so excited to get a copy of this because LOOK AT THAT COVER. it's BEAUTIFUL.
In telling this story, a spotlight is shone on the neglected women of history. Lioness of Punjab is sure to inspire many young girls in need of a hero.
I absolutely can't wait to read more books by Anita Kharbanda.
Hindustan, 1689. A young woman is born in a small Sikh village.
18 years later she leads exhausted soldiers to victory in the name of the tenth Guru.
But how did she get there?
"𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯."
Historical fiction has been, and remains, one of the most underrepresented genres for so many poc. I know representation is sorely needed, and that's why books like the Lioness of Punjab are so important, especially for younger readers.
"𝘞𝘢𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘥."
I would say it's lower YA-middle grade age targeted, but that absolutely does not mean that older readers won't enjoy Lo P. Although I didn't really gel with the writing style, I still really enjoyed it and I think that's what's important to take out.
Another thing I really liked was the author's note at the end of the book. I think it added and enhanced the story, providing a historical annecdote while, again, emphasizing the need for accurate representation.
Combining both historical accuracy and a developed story can absolutely not have been easy but Kharbanda certainly managed it. Every single character sprang to life, and the side romance was really sweet too.
Another aspect I enjoyed was learning about Sikh traditions and history. These were seamlessly incorporated into the story! I really liked being able to recognise the major events from Sikh history, particularly from the perspective of a young woman. It was brilliant being able to 'get in the head' of such a famed figure.
Mai Bhago has been born at an inauspicious time- the Sikh/Mughal war is raging and she cannot bear the pain of sending her relatives off to die alone, starving, on the field of battle. But she must, as all women must. Furiously training in secret she soon becomes a fearsome warrior, one of the best in her history.
Years pass. Armies rise and fall. Soon, Mai's family have arranged her a husband.
This doesn't quell her spirit. Slowly, slowly, she fall in love with him and him with her. But the war is ever present. He's soon called away to fight, but when he deserts a lost cause, Mai turns her heart to him. Leading him and his comrades into battle, she soon becomes a myth, a legend told to young girls to inspire, teach, and give hope of their futures.
Kharbanda writes arranged marriages extremely well, the western media has become almost obsessed with portraying them as forced and violent, but so much of the time this just isn't the case and both parties are consenting, and grow into love together.
"𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺, 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴."
I was so excited to get a copy of this because LOOK AT THAT COVER. it's BEAUTIFUL.
In telling this story, a spotlight is shone on the neglected women of history. Lioness of Punjab is sure to inspire many young girls in need of a hero.
I absolutely can't wait to read more books by Anita Kharbanda.
July 17, 2022
5 STARS ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
OH MY GOD?? How do I even start? This book is literally perfect. It’s so good, amazing, jaw-dropping, informational, inspiring, and fascinating!
This book is about a Sikh female warrior based on Mai Bhago’s life. She is reimagined as Bhag Khar in here and we follow her story from when she was little until to the very end.
Bhag Khar grew up in 17th century Punjab where she is constantly fascinated by swords and fighting, which is an area usually dominated by men. But, she is a determined, and a hardworking person! So, she transformed herself to an amazing Sikh warrior in the process of countless trainings.
Overall, this book is inspiring and very well-written. I like the writing style, how relationships are written, etc. From this book, I learned a lot about Sikh culture, Sikh women, and Punjab in the 17th century.
Recommend for fans of historical fiction, and brave women :)
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
OH MY GOD?? How do I even start? This book is literally perfect. It’s so good, amazing, jaw-dropping, informational, inspiring, and fascinating!
This book is about a Sikh female warrior based on Mai Bhago’s life. She is reimagined as Bhag Khar in here and we follow her story from when she was little until to the very end.
Bhag Khar grew up in 17th century Punjab where she is constantly fascinated by swords and fighting, which is an area usually dominated by men. But, she is a determined, and a hardworking person! So, she transformed herself to an amazing Sikh warrior in the process of countless trainings.
Overall, this book is inspiring and very well-written. I like the writing style, how relationships are written, etc. From this book, I learned a lot about Sikh culture, Sikh women, and Punjab in the 17th century.
Recommend for fans of historical fiction, and brave women :)
July 1, 2022
Cultural significance, emotion, and girl-power... this book has it all.
July 2, 2022
Such a wonderful historic story that transports the reader to a special place. Highly recommend this story for all! 5 stars!
Read
September 27, 2022I tried SO HARD to like this book, I really did. And I appreciate Mai Bhago as an invaluable part of not just Sikh but Punjabi history that deserved a book to champion her voice. But I'm sorry because maybe this was just not for me, but my attention flagged, the dialogue was stilted, and the chunks in between that constituted the main character's inner monologue were just that- little more than chunks. I am so so damn sad I couldn't like this novel.
May 20, 2022
Death before tyranny. I won't be silenced (...) I can determine my own dharam.
This is the story of Mai Bhago, the warrior sikh woman who fought valiantly along with her battalion of forty men, the Chali Mukte, against the Mughal army in the Battle of Muktsar, which is believed to have greatly contributed to Guru Gobind Singh's survival.
Beautiful prose, honest and straightforward narrative in the words of the lioness herself. It was nothing short of satisfying to follow the story of Mai Bhago from a small girl, who preferred to wrestle with the village boys over what was deemed appropriate for her, to a strong woman who found her purpose and rode fearlessly to face the enemy of her people. Anita Jari Kharbanda flawless storytelling portrayed her as a filial daughter, a loving sister, and a loyal friend and wife before she became the warrior history remembered. I loved the seamless integration of Punjabi vocabulary and culture into the narrative. I admired her bravery and faith and I was moved by her love for her people and how they in turn supported her along her journey. The flow was natural, the story followed her growth in a comfortable pace yet, as someone who read it purely for the battle and action, I was a bit disappointed to find out that was pushed back and limited to the latter chapters. Still, it was quite the enjoyable and informative read which introduced me to a magnificent historical figure. I highly recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley and Yali Books for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the story of Mai Bhago, the warrior sikh woman who fought valiantly along with her battalion of forty men, the Chali Mukte, against the Mughal army in the Battle of Muktsar, which is believed to have greatly contributed to Guru Gobind Singh's survival.
Beautiful prose, honest and straightforward narrative in the words of the lioness herself. It was nothing short of satisfying to follow the story of Mai Bhago from a small girl, who preferred to wrestle with the village boys over what was deemed appropriate for her, to a strong woman who found her purpose and rode fearlessly to face the enemy of her people. Anita Jari Kharbanda flawless storytelling portrayed her as a filial daughter, a loving sister, and a loyal friend and wife before she became the warrior history remembered. I loved the seamless integration of Punjabi vocabulary and culture into the narrative. I admired her bravery and faith and I was moved by her love for her people and how they in turn supported her along her journey. The flow was natural, the story followed her growth in a comfortable pace yet, as someone who read it purely for the battle and action, I was a bit disappointed to find out that was pushed back and limited to the latter chapters. Still, it was quite the enjoyable and informative read which introduced me to a magnificent historical figure. I highly recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley and Yali Books for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 20, 2022
A thought provoking read about a little-talked about but very important figure in Sikh history, Mai Bhago. I was really interested to read this for that reason. Some parts of her story were familiar, while other parts wholly new. Some parts were heartbreaking and others joyous and everything all the more visceral because I know that so much of it really happened. It is always so difficult to portray such historical figures who are often spoken about in a spiritual context but I thought Kharbanda handled it well. I never thought I'd read a story about Mai Bhago—I'm glad I got to read it now. <3
July 8, 2022
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Being a historical fiction lover and my heritage being Indian, I was enthralled and excited when I heard about this book centered around the female warrior; Mai Bhago. The representation is excellent, especially in a genre like historical fiction and I loved the mix of Punjabi and English language that flows beautifully. We see the journey of Mai Bhago from a girl to a woman who leads an army of men and the many facets, struggles, fears and desires of her life.
The only aspect of the book I struggled a little with was the writing that felt more apt to middle grade rather than young adult audience. Otherwise, this is a fantastic book that I highly recommend you to pick up when it releases.
Being a historical fiction lover and my heritage being Indian, I was enthralled and excited when I heard about this book centered around the female warrior; Mai Bhago. The representation is excellent, especially in a genre like historical fiction and I loved the mix of Punjabi and English language that flows beautifully. We see the journey of Mai Bhago from a girl to a woman who leads an army of men and the many facets, struggles, fears and desires of her life.
The only aspect of the book I struggled a little with was the writing that felt more apt to middle grade rather than young adult audience. Otherwise, this is a fantastic book that I highly recommend you to pick up when it releases.
June 17, 2022
Historical fiction has the ability to transport and educate readers. It is especially compelling when little known figures are given a voice. The Lioness of Punjab delves into Sikh history and follows the life of Mai Bhago, a female warrior who fought for her faith in the early 1700s. A gripping read that doesn’t shy away from self discovery, cultural expectations, and what it means to fulfill your destiny.
August 19, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me access to this book for an honest review!
"The battlefield is your holy ground. The double-edged sword is your prayer. Combat is your service. And victory is your karma."
I am a fifteen year old Sikh girl , I have always heard stories about the Gurus and the brave Sikhs who helped them from my mom. I was elated when I heard about Lioness of Punjab, Mai Bhago is one of the most fearless women in the Sikh history and it meant the world to me to see a book being published from her point of view.
Thankfully Anita Jari Kharbanda did justice to Mai Bhago's life, I loved reading about how Mai Bhago became the fierce warrior she was and how her faith in Guru Gobind Singh ji never faltered. Lioness of Punjab is a pronounced debut novel which makes me interested in reading more from Anita Jari Kharbanda.
Please pick this book up when it releases on 17th September.
"The battlefield is your holy ground. The double-edged sword is your prayer. Combat is your service. And victory is your karma."
I am a fifteen year old Sikh girl , I have always heard stories about the Gurus and the brave Sikhs who helped them from my mom. I was elated when I heard about Lioness of Punjab, Mai Bhago is one of the most fearless women in the Sikh history and it meant the world to me to see a book being published from her point of view.
Thankfully Anita Jari Kharbanda did justice to Mai Bhago's life, I loved reading about how Mai Bhago became the fierce warrior she was and how her faith in Guru Gobind Singh ji never faltered. Lioness of Punjab is a pronounced debut novel which makes me interested in reading more from Anita Jari Kharbanda.
Please pick this book up when it releases on 17th September.
August 11, 2022
Based on the true historical figure Mai Bhago, a woman warrior, LIONESS OF PUNJAB is a powerful tale of faith, feminism, and courage. It begins with her childhood, where she wants to learn swordplay and weaponry like her brothers. Her parents are at a loss with what to do with her, and initially forbid her to train like a boy. However, her determination won't be quashed, and we see Mai Bhago becoming slowly the woman she is meant to be. She marries, but still holds fiercely to the sword, and even protects a cousin in peril. But as the war against the Mughal Army ravages on, her loved ones begin to lose faith that the Sikhs can prevail. It is then Mai Bhago's chance to shine, as she leads 40 men to battle. Full of wonderful details about her family and life, this novel allows us to imagine how a legend came to be.
September 21, 2022
An interesting story, but slightly awkward execution.
I’d never heard of Mai Bhago before, and I know almost nothing about Sikh history, so from that perspective this was a really interesting story – I loved all the historical and cultural details about rural life in pre-colonial India, which the author has clearly researched a lot.
However, the writing was fairly clunky and didn’t always flow very smoothly: despite the amount of death and grief in the story, I struggled to feel much emotion towards any of the characters (except for in one particular memorable scene). I also found the way Punjabi words and phrases were incorporated to feel slightly awkward: they were often just dropped into the text in a way that felt unnatural (‘Your salwar-kameez is soni’), or translated immediately, disrupting the flow of the narrative (wildflowers… flashing petals brighter than a deeva, a lamp ).
Mai Bhago herself also wasn’t my favourite, and I wonder if I might have got on a bit better with the book if it hadn’t been in first person. Her character seemed simultaneously somewhat inconsistent, with her changing her position on certain things seemingly from page to page, but also quite flat – she doesn’t develop much, and I honestly couldn’t tell how old she was supposed to be by the end.
I also didn’t love the aggressive ‘not like other girls’ overtones in the first half: though that message is slightly softened by the end, particularly after Mai Bhago gets married herself, she never really makes an effort to understand the positions of the women around her who do want to get married and who value beauty/enjoy cooking and sewing/etc.
CW: deaths of loved ones; grief; murder; war; attempted sexual assault
Thank you to NetGalley and Yali Books for sending me a copy.
I’d never heard of Mai Bhago before, and I know almost nothing about Sikh history, so from that perspective this was a really interesting story – I loved all the historical and cultural details about rural life in pre-colonial India, which the author has clearly researched a lot.
However, the writing was fairly clunky and didn’t always flow very smoothly: despite the amount of death and grief in the story, I struggled to feel much emotion towards any of the characters (except for in one particular memorable scene). I also found the way Punjabi words and phrases were incorporated to feel slightly awkward: they were often just dropped into the text in a way that felt unnatural (‘Your salwar-kameez is soni’), or translated immediately, disrupting the flow of the narrative (wildflowers… flashing petals brighter than a deeva, a lamp ).
Mai Bhago herself also wasn’t my favourite, and I wonder if I might have got on a bit better with the book if it hadn’t been in first person. Her character seemed simultaneously somewhat inconsistent, with her changing her position on certain things seemingly from page to page, but also quite flat – she doesn’t develop much, and I honestly couldn’t tell how old she was supposed to be by the end.
I also didn’t love the aggressive ‘not like other girls’ overtones in the first half: though that message is slightly softened by the end, particularly after Mai Bhago gets married herself, she never really makes an effort to understand the positions of the women around her who do want to get married and who value beauty/enjoy cooking and sewing/etc.
CW: deaths of loved ones; grief; murder; war; attempted sexual assault
Thank you to NetGalley and Yali Books for sending me a copy.
September 1, 2022
Write Voicers!
What's up, what's up, WHAT'S UP!
I'm just over here living life, and I hope y'all are too. I don't know if y'all heard yet (although it was posted on a previous blog post), but I've had my second short story published in Issue 7 of The Pandemic Post! That's right, ya girl is PUBLISHED. So, do me a favor, and go ahead and order a copy for these two reasons: 1) ALL the profits go to F12 People's Kitchen and 2) you'll be supporting me.
But, as excited as I am, this blog post isn't about me. It's about Lioness of Punjab by Anita Kharbanda, (which you should also buy, and I'll tell you why). So, let's jump into the review!
What's the novel about?
Lioness of Punjab is about Bhag Bhari, a thirteen-year-old girl who grows into the fierce warrior known today as Mai Bhago. From the day she was born, Bhag Bhari wanted nothing more than to fight for the Guru, her people, and her beliefs. Even when her Mataji (mother) told her it was unladylike. Even when her Pitaji (father) told her that her dharam (duty) was to care for the home. But destiny doesn't care about the naysayers, and when you feel it calling to you, you have to answer. So Bhag Bari does just that. She trains with her cousin Gurdas, and eventually her Pitaji as well, to fight and becomes the most skilled warrior in her village. And, when the time comes, she answers the call to war, leading forty soldiers back to Guru Gobind Singh Ji's side.
Now, normally after telling you what the novel is about, I would jump into what themes are present in the book and then tell you what I liked about it. But in the case of Lioness of Punjab a lot of what I liked about the book coincides with the themes. So, this time, I've combined the two sections together. (Please don't hate me.) So, here it is, the main theme of the book and what I liked about it:
What themes are present in the book? And what did you like about the book?
I had a hard time deciding what theme to discuss for this book because there were sooooo many good choices. But, in the end, I narrowed it down to one: If your purpose is clear to you, then you should follow it.
If your purpose is clear to you, then you should follow it.
While I was reading this book, the words that kept coming back to my mind were destiny, purpose, duty, and expectations, among others. All of these words have one thing in common: they refer to a person's place in society.
I don't know much about Sikh culture, but what I gathered about it from reading this book is that one's dharam, or duty is determined at birth. And, as with most societies, in the year that the book takes place in, men and women follow traditional gender norms where women tend to the home and children while men go to work, whether that work be selling items in a marketplace or heading off to war.
The majority of the book discusses this through Bhag Bhari's upbringing, where she mentions several times that she wants to be a warrior, but her family is against it because it is not what a woman is supposed to do. One of my favorite scenes that embodies this takes place in Chapter Four when Bhag's cousin Gurdas is training her to wield a sword, and her father appears.
-------
Pitaji balled his hands into tight fists. "Gurdas, how can you call yourself a veerji if you are training your bhen to die?" Pitaji stormed over to me and grabbed me by the ear to drag me home.
I was utterly humiliated. "Yes, because I am a female, I cannot die in battle. I suppose you think a woman's life is more important than a man's!" I wasn't making much sense. I yanked myself free of Pitaji's grip...
-----
I will admit, when I first read this scene, I was a bit confused about Bhag Bhari's words as well. I actually thought it was a typo.
But, after I thought about it, I understood her thoughts exactly. When Bhag Bari points out that her Pitaji thinks a woman's life is more important than a man's, she's saying that men and women aren't treated equally in their society. She's saying that if a man can give his life up for the Guru, then a woman should be able to do the same. That she should be able to do this same. This book may take place in a different time period, but the sentiment gives full-on Disney 1998 Mulan vibes because the themes are so similar. (Both feature strong women who take on the gender norms in their communities and come out better for it, while also maintaining their version of what beauty means to them.)
Throughout Lioness of Punjab there is NEVER a moment where Bhag Bhari questions who she is or what she's supposed to do with her life, and this was something that I really appreciated in the novel.
Although there were certain points where Bhag Bhari's words become repetitive (and she becomes slightly annoying), I like that she never falters in her conviction. Which, is definitely the main point of the book. You see, there are many sections where she talks about how being a Sikh is about honor and duty. And being a warrior coincides with that. In Chapter Five, she specifically says:
"I will never stop wanting to fight. That is what I was created for. Our people are at risk of being annihilated, and every day, more men die fighting. And I will never want to marry if I cannot take up arms to protect us." I felt unsure of myself, but I held my head high and feigned conviction. "If Mamaji and Gurdas die, then we all deserve the pain we will feel since we did not fight with honor alongside them."
And this scene is probably the most accurate way to describe her entire personality throughout the book. And it is because of her personality that she does exactly what she's meant to do: Become a warrior.
As far as messages in books go, I think this one is perfect, especially for young girls today who might be into activities or professions that are male-dominated (such as STEM) and may have parents, family members, or friends who try to dissuade them against joining such activities or professions.
We need books like this for women, especially those told from a perspective that is not our own. Besides, we all know that girls run the world. (I had to make that Beyoncé reference fit somehow, lol.)
Now, I could go on and on about other instances in the book where this occurs, but I think it's best if you just read it for yourself. That said, let's jump into what I didn't like about this book/wished the author did differently.
What, if anything, did you dislike or wish the author would've done differently?
There were three things that I wish were different about the book. First, I wish there was a glossary, second I had issues with names, and, third, the description on the back of the book was misleading.
There was no glossary and I was trying to figure out what a kirpan is/was. Luckily, I came across [a] handy video.
Glossary
There were a ton of terms in the book (like Mataji, Pitaji, veere, dhi, dharam, kirpan etc.) and, though they added a lot of depth to the story, I wish there had been a glossary. There were several times where I forgot what the terms meant, and I had to either use context clues or go back to another section of the book to remember what it meant, and a glossary would have been helpful to have.
Names
There were also a lot of names in the book, some of which I didn't feel were important because we only see them mentioned once or twice. My personal opinion is that if a character isn't essential to the plot, they don't need a name. However, and I didn't ask this question in the interview with Anita Kharbanda, but I imagine that—as in most religions—names are sacred. And so, perhaps the extra names were added to show respect to those characters, even if they weren't essential to the plot.
Also, on names, I don't know why, but I got annoyed that Nidhan Singh was always referred to by his full name instead of just Nidhan. And, though I'm sure this is also to show respect to the character and/or the person the character was named after, the same thing is not done with any of the other main characters.
Description of Book
When I first read the description for Lioness of Punjab, I thought the book was going to take us on a journey with Mai Bhago and the forty soldiers. Essentially, I thought it would be the storytelling of Redeployment by Phil Klay (i.e. what went on during the journey) meets the format of Peak by Roland Smith (i.e. told chapter by chapter) meets Sikh culture. And, that's not what this book is.
Instead, this book strikes me as a fictional slice-of-life-type memoir. Think Scaachi Koul's One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter, except told in chronological order, partially fictional, and add death. (Sorry that I don't have better comparisons, I haven't been reading a lot of memoirs lately.)
In essence, the story that I read wasn't the story that I expected. This, isn't necessarily a bad thing, just that it's a bit misleading if you're looking for a journey-type story as opposed to a slice-of-life story.
How many stars would you give this book and why?
I struggled between giving this book three stars or four because I couldn't decide on whether or not I was disappointed that the story I was promised wasn't necessarily what I got. However, Kharbanda's unique voice and captivating writing paired with a badass main character who sticks with her convictions, along with themes relevant to today's world really boosts the score. In other words, I really liked this book despite the negatives, so I'm awarding it four stars.
More Information
Anita Jari Kharbanda is the author of Lioness of Punjab. Her book will be available in bookstores on September 17, 2022.
If you want to hang out with her virtually, she'll be chatting with Daman on @11questionpod about all things Lioness of Punjab in September.
If you want to meet Anita in person, her book launch party will be held at Whose Books in the Oak Lawn area of Dallas on September 24, 2022, from 2:00-4:00 PM CST.
There will be swag, treats, copies of Lioness of Punjab for purchase, an author signing, and special reading. And, even if you aren't local, you can still attend the reading virtually! There is literally no reason to miss it if you're free between those hours.
But, if you want to come in person and absolutely can't make it to the launch event, don't fret. There will be a second book signing event at the Half Price Books Flagship Store in DFW on October 9, 2022, from 1:00-3:00 PM CST.
If you still can't get enough of Anita, you can check out her website.
If you enjoyed this book review and want to know more about her, check out this interview.
What are your thoughts on Lioness of Punjab? Tell me in the comments. And, remember to like and subscribe to The Write Voice. Thanks!
What's up, what's up, WHAT'S UP!
I'm just over here living life, and I hope y'all are too. I don't know if y'all heard yet (although it was posted on a previous blog post), but I've had my second short story published in Issue 7 of The Pandemic Post! That's right, ya girl is PUBLISHED. So, do me a favor, and go ahead and order a copy for these two reasons: 1) ALL the profits go to F12 People's Kitchen and 2) you'll be supporting me.
But, as excited as I am, this blog post isn't about me. It's about Lioness of Punjab by Anita Kharbanda, (which you should also buy, and I'll tell you why). So, let's jump into the review!
What's the novel about?
Lioness of Punjab is about Bhag Bhari, a thirteen-year-old girl who grows into the fierce warrior known today as Mai Bhago. From the day she was born, Bhag Bhari wanted nothing more than to fight for the Guru, her people, and her beliefs. Even when her Mataji (mother) told her it was unladylike. Even when her Pitaji (father) told her that her dharam (duty) was to care for the home. But destiny doesn't care about the naysayers, and when you feel it calling to you, you have to answer. So Bhag Bari does just that. She trains with her cousin Gurdas, and eventually her Pitaji as well, to fight and becomes the most skilled warrior in her village. And, when the time comes, she answers the call to war, leading forty soldiers back to Guru Gobind Singh Ji's side.
Now, normally after telling you what the novel is about, I would jump into what themes are present in the book and then tell you what I liked about it. But in the case of Lioness of Punjab a lot of what I liked about the book coincides with the themes. So, this time, I've combined the two sections together. (Please don't hate me.) So, here it is, the main theme of the book and what I liked about it:
What themes are present in the book? And what did you like about the book?
I had a hard time deciding what theme to discuss for this book because there were sooooo many good choices. But, in the end, I narrowed it down to one: If your purpose is clear to you, then you should follow it.
If your purpose is clear to you, then you should follow it.
While I was reading this book, the words that kept coming back to my mind were destiny, purpose, duty, and expectations, among others. All of these words have one thing in common: they refer to a person's place in society.
I don't know much about Sikh culture, but what I gathered about it from reading this book is that one's dharam, or duty is determined at birth. And, as with most societies, in the year that the book takes place in, men and women follow traditional gender norms where women tend to the home and children while men go to work, whether that work be selling items in a marketplace or heading off to war.
The majority of the book discusses this through Bhag Bhari's upbringing, where she mentions several times that she wants to be a warrior, but her family is against it because it is not what a woman is supposed to do. One of my favorite scenes that embodies this takes place in Chapter Four when Bhag's cousin Gurdas is training her to wield a sword, and her father appears.
-------
Pitaji balled his hands into tight fists. "Gurdas, how can you call yourself a veerji if you are training your bhen to die?" Pitaji stormed over to me and grabbed me by the ear to drag me home.
I was utterly humiliated. "Yes, because I am a female, I cannot die in battle. I suppose you think a woman's life is more important than a man's!" I wasn't making much sense. I yanked myself free of Pitaji's grip...
-----
I will admit, when I first read this scene, I was a bit confused about Bhag Bhari's words as well. I actually thought it was a typo.
But, after I thought about it, I understood her thoughts exactly. When Bhag Bari points out that her Pitaji thinks a woman's life is more important than a man's, she's saying that men and women aren't treated equally in their society. She's saying that if a man can give his life up for the Guru, then a woman should be able to do the same. That she should be able to do this same. This book may take place in a different time period, but the sentiment gives full-on Disney 1998 Mulan vibes because the themes are so similar. (Both feature strong women who take on the gender norms in their communities and come out better for it, while also maintaining their version of what beauty means to them.)
Throughout Lioness of Punjab there is NEVER a moment where Bhag Bhari questions who she is or what she's supposed to do with her life, and this was something that I really appreciated in the novel.
Although there were certain points where Bhag Bhari's words become repetitive (and she becomes slightly annoying), I like that she never falters in her conviction. Which, is definitely the main point of the book. You see, there are many sections where she talks about how being a Sikh is about honor and duty. And being a warrior coincides with that. In Chapter Five, she specifically says:
"I will never stop wanting to fight. That is what I was created for. Our people are at risk of being annihilated, and every day, more men die fighting. And I will never want to marry if I cannot take up arms to protect us." I felt unsure of myself, but I held my head high and feigned conviction. "If Mamaji and Gurdas die, then we all deserve the pain we will feel since we did not fight with honor alongside them."
And this scene is probably the most accurate way to describe her entire personality throughout the book. And it is because of her personality that she does exactly what she's meant to do: Become a warrior.
As far as messages in books go, I think this one is perfect, especially for young girls today who might be into activities or professions that are male-dominated (such as STEM) and may have parents, family members, or friends who try to dissuade them against joining such activities or professions.
We need books like this for women, especially those told from a perspective that is not our own. Besides, we all know that girls run the world. (I had to make that Beyoncé reference fit somehow, lol.)
Now, I could go on and on about other instances in the book where this occurs, but I think it's best if you just read it for yourself. That said, let's jump into what I didn't like about this book/wished the author did differently.
What, if anything, did you dislike or wish the author would've done differently?
There were three things that I wish were different about the book. First, I wish there was a glossary, second I had issues with names, and, third, the description on the back of the book was misleading.
There was no glossary and I was trying to figure out what a kirpan is/was. Luckily, I came across [a] handy video.
Glossary
There were a ton of terms in the book (like Mataji, Pitaji, veere, dhi, dharam, kirpan etc.) and, though they added a lot of depth to the story, I wish there had been a glossary. There were several times where I forgot what the terms meant, and I had to either use context clues or go back to another section of the book to remember what it meant, and a glossary would have been helpful to have.
Names
There were also a lot of names in the book, some of which I didn't feel were important because we only see them mentioned once or twice. My personal opinion is that if a character isn't essential to the plot, they don't need a name. However, and I didn't ask this question in the interview with Anita Kharbanda, but I imagine that—as in most religions—names are sacred. And so, perhaps the extra names were added to show respect to those characters, even if they weren't essential to the plot.
Also, on names, I don't know why, but I got annoyed that Nidhan Singh was always referred to by his full name instead of just Nidhan. And, though I'm sure this is also to show respect to the character and/or the person the character was named after, the same thing is not done with any of the other main characters.
Description of Book
When I first read the description for Lioness of Punjab, I thought the book was going to take us on a journey with Mai Bhago and the forty soldiers. Essentially, I thought it would be the storytelling of Redeployment by Phil Klay (i.e. what went on during the journey) meets the format of Peak by Roland Smith (i.e. told chapter by chapter) meets Sikh culture. And, that's not what this book is.
Instead, this book strikes me as a fictional slice-of-life-type memoir. Think Scaachi Koul's One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter, except told in chronological order, partially fictional, and add death. (Sorry that I don't have better comparisons, I haven't been reading a lot of memoirs lately.)
In essence, the story that I read wasn't the story that I expected. This, isn't necessarily a bad thing, just that it's a bit misleading if you're looking for a journey-type story as opposed to a slice-of-life story.
How many stars would you give this book and why?
I struggled between giving this book three stars or four because I couldn't decide on whether or not I was disappointed that the story I was promised wasn't necessarily what I got. However, Kharbanda's unique voice and captivating writing paired with a badass main character who sticks with her convictions, along with themes relevant to today's world really boosts the score. In other words, I really liked this book despite the negatives, so I'm awarding it four stars.
More Information
Anita Jari Kharbanda is the author of Lioness of Punjab. Her book will be available in bookstores on September 17, 2022.
If you want to hang out with her virtually, she'll be chatting with Daman on @11questionpod about all things Lioness of Punjab in September.
If you want to meet Anita in person, her book launch party will be held at Whose Books in the Oak Lawn area of Dallas on September 24, 2022, from 2:00-4:00 PM CST.
There will be swag, treats, copies of Lioness of Punjab for purchase, an author signing, and special reading. And, even if you aren't local, you can still attend the reading virtually! There is literally no reason to miss it if you're free between those hours.
But, if you want to come in person and absolutely can't make it to the launch event, don't fret. There will be a second book signing event at the Half Price Books Flagship Store in DFW on October 9, 2022, from 1:00-3:00 PM CST.
If you still can't get enough of Anita, you can check out her website.
If you enjoyed this book review and want to know more about her, check out this interview.
What are your thoughts on Lioness of Punjab? Tell me in the comments. And, remember to like and subscribe to The Write Voice. Thanks!
September 10, 2022
This was such a great book! I've learnt a lot about wars during the Mughal empire in school , but this is my first time reading a story about the wars from a common person + warrior's perspective, and the author has done an amazing job!
💫 The writing! It was so good, I never felt like keeping the book down! It flowed really well and the first pov narration really took me into Mai Bhago's mind!
💫 I liked all the character interactions in this book. I felt that they were very realistic (including the actual words used! Her mom calls her and her siblings as bandar (Hindi word meaning monkeys), and this was so reminscent of my parents calling me a monkey xD)
💫 The romance! This wasn't a huge part of the book, but it was so sweet 😭
💫 This book has the theme of following your dreams regardless of society's stereotypes, I personally loved that
💫 .... and I'm still crying about the epilogue, it was the best
TWs - war, violence, blood/gore, death on the battlefield, family members dying in a war, stereotypical expectations of women
---- thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy ----
💫 The writing! It was so good, I never felt like keeping the book down! It flowed really well and the first pov narration really took me into Mai Bhago's mind!
💫 I liked all the character interactions in this book. I felt that they were very realistic (including the actual words used! Her mom calls her and her siblings as bandar (Hindi word meaning monkeys), and this was so reminscent of my parents calling me a monkey xD)
💫 The romance! This wasn't a huge part of the book, but it was so sweet 😭
💫 This book has the theme of following your dreams regardless of society's stereotypes, I personally loved that
💫 .... and I'm still crying about the epilogue, it was the best
TWs - war, violence, blood/gore, death on the battlefield, family members dying in a war, stereotypical expectations of women
---- thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy ----
June 22, 2022
I saw the title and knew I had to read it. I grew hearing stories of Mara Bhag Kaur and her courage. To me, she will always be the woman that stood up to a bunch of men who abandoned their discipline and religion because of a few hardships. It was nice to read a book that features Mai Bhago.
However, I think I would have liked this book a bit more if there wasn’t such a fictional effect. Mai Bhago’s story is interesting all by itself and I do not think many of the elements that were added should have been added.
Thank you NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
However, I think I would have liked this book a bit more if there wasn’t such a fictional effect. Mai Bhago’s story is interesting all by itself and I do not think many of the elements that were added should have been added.
Thank you NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
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