THE LAST QUEEN

‘I am Rani Jindan, Mother of the Khalsa. That is my identity. That is my fate.’

Daughter of the royal kennel keeper, the beautiful Jindan Kaur went on to become Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s youngest and last queen; his favourite. She became regent when her son Dalip, barely six years old, unexpectedly inherited the throne.

Sharp-eyed, stubborn, passionate, and dedicated to protecting her son’s heritage, Jindan distrusted the British and fought hard to keep them from annexing Punjab. Defying tradition, she stepped out of the zenana, cast aside the veil and conducted state business in public. Addressing her Khalsa troops herself, she inspired her men in two wars against the ‘firangs’. Her power and influence were so formidable that the British, fearing an uprising, robbed the rebel queen of everything she had, including her son. She was imprisoned and exiled. But that did not crush her indomitable will.

An exquisite love story of a king and a commoner, a cautionary tale about loyalty and betrayal, and a powerful parable of the indestructible bond between mother and child, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s unforgettable novel brings alive one of the most fearless women of the nineteenth century, an inspiration for our times. 

 #1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER IN INDIA.

WINNER OF THE TIMES OF INDIA 2022 AUTHER BEST FICTION AWARDS. WINNER OF BEST BOOK 2022 AWARD, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WORKING WOMEN. WINNER OF THE FICCI (Federation of India’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry) AWARD FOR BEST FICTION.

PUBLICATION: The Last Queen is in available in USA (William Morrow/HarperCollins, 2022) and in India (HarperCollins India, 2021).

FILM: The Last Queen has been optioned for a movie.

PUBLICITY: Information on interviews and talks about The Last Queen can be found here. A Hindustan Times interview with Divakaruni about the writing of The Last Queen is here.

REVIEWS:

‘Stunning and moving … Chitra Banerjee is writing at the very top of her game.’ William Dalrymple

‘An unforgettable story about the fearless, much-feared queen whom history seems to have forgotten.’ Shabana Azmi

‘Divakaruni and her women characters are … formidable’ The Wire

‘Path-breaking, poignant, exhilarating ... unputdownable’ Business Standard

‘It’s heartening that this woman of substance ... is finally getting her due’ The Tribune, Chandigarh

‘The author’s mastery with words and her gift of weaving in fictional moments while staying true to the original premise ... continues to shine through ... The greatest victory of The Last Queen is perhaps that it leaves the reader eager to know more about the real life of this royal rarely spoken of.’ Scroll.in

‘Divakaruni’s magic with words and exceptional storytelling skills shine through her writing.’ Times of India

‘A literary page-turner, a deeply satisfying historical novel that crackles with the pace and the vivaciousness of top-tier genre fiction ... a protagonist that a millennial/Gen Z readership can get behind’ The Hindu Businessline

‘A relevant read for our times … The Last Queen retrieves Rani Jindan from the forgotten annals of history’ Financial Express

‘The author [has] outdone herself with this magnificently packed offering ... Unputdownable.’ Deccan Herald

‘The riveting tale of an extraordinary woman.’ The Indian Express

‘A compelling retelling of the magnificent history of the Sikh empire through the eyes of a fearless woman who influenced much of it.’ The Daily Star

‘The author invokes the feelings and passions, courage and wisdom, mistakes and recklessness of this historical figure.’ Firstpost

‘Divakaruni lives up to her ability to create the inner world of women and their dilemmas… Jindan’s story is something to be told, re-told and read out aloud.’ The Week

‘The story unfolds confidently in Jindan’s own language…the story of an imperfect Indian woman in complicated times who dared to dream of glory. May this tribe of imperfect women increase.’ Open

‘Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s The Last Queen paints Jindan as an inspiring figure…The narrative moves from young adult-style steamy romance to hard-edged history pretty swiftly, with Jindan establishing herself as a formidable character the British are increasingly wary of.’ Mint Lounge

‘Divakaruni breathes life into the character of this enigmatic historical figure, making her seem more real and human than any textbook ever has.’ Punch

‘Invokes in you the spirit to fight your circumstances and come out a winner.’ Women’s Web

‘Absolutely laudatory’ Punjab Today

‘Divakaruni’s latest novel, The Last Queen, demonstrates the power of unrepentant ambition, unabashed assertiveness and unapologetic resolve as a means for realizing one’s birthright—whether presumed or ordained.’ — Khabar Magazine

“The Last Queen provides a glimpse of a little-known historical figure in Rani Jindan. The author’s meticulous details take readers into the 19th-century, where they have a front-row seat.” — Novels Alive

"In this dazzling novel, based on true-life events, bestselling author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni presents the unforgettable story of Jindan, who transformed herself from daughter of the royal kennel keeper to powerful monarch." — Hasty Book List

"This unforgettable novel is a truly inspirational tale about a woman who refused to back down in the face of what was most important to her, her country, her culture --- and especially her family." — Bookreporter.com