Lioness of Punjab

by Anita Jari Kharbanda, Anantjeet Kaur (Other)

Overview

"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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781949528718
Publisher:	Yali Books
Publication date:	09/17/2022
Pages:	202
Sales rank:	962,628
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.63(d)
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

Anita Jari Kharbanda is an Indian-American engineer by trade and a storyteller by heart. She lives in North Texas with her 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 thekinds 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. Connect with her at anitakharbanda.com.

Anantjeet Kaur is an independent illustrator and graphic designer. Born and brought up in Delhi, she graduated in graphic design and English literature. A varied life experience, and a love of life and her country, as well as her Sikh roots, propel her imagination in a unique way. See more of her work at anantjeetkaur.com.

Editorial Reviews

10/31/2022

Debut author Kharbanda crafts a riveting historical tale in this reimagining of the life of a Sikh warrior known as Mai Bhago (1670–1720), set in early 1700s Jhabal Kalan near Amritsar. Though Bhago is now a figure of Sikh legend, she was born Bhag Bhari and raised by a traditional family. From a young age, Bhag knew she “would not accept my fate as a woman,” especially while her uncles and male cousins went off to battle against the Mughal empire, most never to return. Throughout her life, she struggles to reconcile her self-imposed duty to protect her people with her yearning to be a good daughter. She soon persuades her father to teach her how to properly wield a weapon and, despite her insistence that she doesn’t want to conform to traditional expectations, marries. As war continues to ravage her people, Bhag comes into her own, intertwining her seemingly separate desires to bravely combat injustice. While the battle sequences are thrillingly wrought, it’s the narrative’s careful focus on Bhag’s development of her vocation; her relationship with her husband; and her community’s willingness to grow and change with her that proves thought-provoking and inspiring. An author’s note concludes. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jennifer Lyons, Jennifer Lyons Literary. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"...Bhag Bhari's strong Sikh faith and courage shine throughout...An illuminating look at Sikh history." — Kirkus Reviews

"A powerful, heart-stopping debut, LIONESS OF PUNJAB explores love, duty, honor, and faith. Mai Bhago is a strong and complex heroine."— Kelly Loy Gilbert, Author of Multiple Award-Winning CONVICTION and PICTURE US IN THE LIGHT

"LIONESS OF PUNJAB is exciting, surprising, and important with a heroine we won't forget. Kharbanda gives Mai Bhago her own special voice in a coming-of-age story that is simple but adventurous, intimate but epic. We are the fortunate ones to have this novel and author debut." — Kalisha Buckhanon, Author of ALA Alex Award Winner UPSTATE

"LIONESS OF PUNJAB is an immersive, poignant, coming-of-age tale of legendary heroine, Mai Bhago. Kharbanda masterfully brings to life a remarkable, complex young woman who finds the strength and courage to fight for her beloved people. Everyday life, family dynamics, action, adventure, and significant historical events are blended seamlessly and skillfully to create an unforgettable world. This is historical fiction at its best!"

— Betty G. Yee, Author of GOLD MOUNTAIN

"The inspiring tale of the real-life heroine Mai Bhago, a Sikh warrior in 17th century India, finally gets its due in this evocative novel from Anita Kharbanda. A must-read!"— Preeti C. Sharma, Author of REDEEMING THE DEMON'S DAUGHTER

From the Publisher

2022-06-22
A sweeping tale about a legendary 18th-century female Sikh warrior who went to war against the Mughal empire.

Now known to generations of Sikhs as Mai Bhago, the young woman born Bhag Bhari is a teen at a crossroads when the novel opens. Growing up in a traditional Sikh family in Jhabal Kalan near Amritsar, Bhag Bhari resists prescribed feminine tasks like cooking and sewing. Rather than dreaming of settling down and raising a family, she yearns to study martial arts like the men in her family—and displays striking talents when she does so. She also yearns to use her skills to protect her people. When her uncle and cousin are sent to war, she both worries about them and longs to be part of the fight. But Bhag Bhari’s parents urge her to focus more on finding a respectable husband and being a good bride. Kharbanda’s novel is at its strongest when it describes Bhag Bhari’s struggle to push back against the often sexist environment around her. While many parts of this legend’s fictionalized story are fascinating, the pacing feels uneven—often quite slow but too rushed when it comes to the main character’s evolving relationship with Nidhan Singh, her husband. Still, readers will likely be drawn to the rich historical details, and Bhag Bhari’s strong Sikh faith and courage shine throughout.

An illuminating look at Sikh history. (author’s note, sources) (Historical fiction. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews