Rewriting History: Love and Struggle in ‘Vermilion Harvest - Playtime at the Bagh’
History weaves itself into our lives in unexpected ways. For me, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre isn't just a textbook chapter—it's personal. My grandfather's haunting tales of the horrific scenes at Jallianwala Bagh days after the massacre and my own portrayal of a character in a related play during my teenage years, deeply connect me to this event. Back then, Erich Segal's Love Story sparked my dream of writing an epic love story, further ignited years later by watching Titanic, as I shared with HubPages and Writer’s Life magazine.
In just a few days, my novel, Vermilion Harvest: Playtime at the Bagh, will be released. It blends fiction and nonfiction, exploring “the psychology of motivation and relationships amidst political struggle,” as praised by the MidWest Book Review. Saugata Mukherjee, Head of Content - SonyLIV, calls it "a stunning love story amidst one of the darkest moments in modern Indian history.”
Vermilion Harvest is a period romance akin to ‘Romeo and Juliet’ or ‘Heer-Ranjha,’ set in post-WWI Punjab and challenged by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. But this is more than just a historical novel. It’s my way of transporting readers to a pivotal moment in India's history, captivating fans of historical fiction, forbidden love, and strong female protagonists.
As the New York Times noted in its 2019 article titled Why Are We Living in a Golden Age of Historical Fiction, history is often written by the victors, but it's up to the marginalized to tell their stories. This novel delves into themes of gender roles, power, and identity, focusing on an Anglo-Indian protagonist marginalized by both Indians and the British. Societal acceptance of Anglo-Indians stood in stark contrast to the melting pot mindset of a growing America during those years and even today. A different kind of 'untouchable.'
The same New York Times article also pointed out that historical fiction shapes our societal narratives, and Vermilion Harvest reveals the often untold colonial Indian stories, stepping away from typical Bollywood or Hollywood portrayals.
Most historical fiction in America focuses on Western narratives. My goal with this novel is to reveal who we South Asians were as a society back then. Because today, despite growing awareness of our community in an increasingly diverse America, there is little understanding of our past or what shaped us. Very little colonial Indian fiction is written by Indians. Writers like Amitav Ghosh, Abraham Verghese and Sujata Massey, are outliers. Most of our colonial fiction is authored by the British; reviews of my book already pair it with those written by British authors, such as The Raj Quartet.
For me, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre is too important a piece of Indian history to be swept under the rug — not simply because my maternal grandfather hailed from Amritsar or because I studied it deeply in history textbooks, but because it spurred the independence movement. This act of terrorism by colonialists cannot be forgotten. Despite the 2019 centenary bringing a slew of non-fiction works and calls for an apology from Queen Elizabeth II of England, the massacre remains a vital, often misunderstood piece of our past. As I noted in my interview with Hollywood’s In Entertainment magazine, no official apology was ever given even though General Dyer’s actions, as my publisher at Indignor House pointed out in last week’s episode of the True Fiction Project podcast, are akin to those of Hitler.
How can we members of the Indian diaspora communicate our relevance in American society and in the world if we do not understand and confront the full scope of our history, including its atrocities? Representing our culture goes well beyond the familiar images of desi khaana and Bollywood. These themes permeate my storytelling, from books to screenplays, including "Vermilion Harvest." And I discuss them constantly in the media. See this news spot with ABC Tennessee and this news spot with Fox 19, Cincinnati.
Half of my pre-order sales will support Interact Mumbai, a teen-run charity aiding the underprivileged. This cause is close to my heart, tied to my teenage volunteer work and my early engagement with the Jallianwala Bagh story.
Vermilion Harvest releases on July 15th, 2024, available for pre-order at major bookstores.
Join me in honoring this significant historical moment. Through the lens of love and resistance, Vermilion Harvest aims to preserve the memory of those lost at the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, reminding us that the past, no matter how painful, shapes who we are and who we strive to become as Indians and/or Indian Americans.
About the Author
Reenita Malhotra Hora is an award-winning screenwriter, novelist and audio producer. Passionate about storytelling the Indian narrative, her books, audio and screenplays reflect the South Asian experience. Learn more about her projects at: http://www.reenita.com.
