Raj

by Gita Mehta

Book Overview

Jaya Singh is the intelligent, beautiful, and compassionate daughter of the Maharajah and Maharani of Balmer. Raised in the thousand-year-old tradition of purdah, a strict regime of seclusion, silence, and submission, Jaya is ill-prepared to assume the role of Regent Maharani of Sirpur upon the death of her decadent, Westernized husband. But Jaya bravely fulfills her duty and soon finds herself thrust into the center of a roiling political battle...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671432486
• ISBN13: 9780671432485
• Release Date: January 1989
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 479 Pages
• Weight: 1.84 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The Best Novel I ever read by an Indian...

Raj is simply the best novel I have ever read by an Indian writer. Gita is very successful in portraying her intellectual, historical, emotional and fansitical abilities. I love Gita for this novel.

British India and Royal India Under The Raj - Excellent!!

Author Gita Mehta demonstrates her extraordinary grasp of the historical, political and cultural complexities of India, British and royal, under the Raj. She writes with realistic detail and subtlety about the period from Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee to the violent and bloody civil wars for independence. Ms Mehta brings her characters, both fictional and real, to life. She gives the reader a firsthand view of a maharajah's royal zenana, (harem), where women in purdah are guarded by corrupt eunuchs and she takes us to the battlefields of WWI along with Indian Calvary warriors. We witness Mahatma Gandhi march to the sea, with hundreds of thousands of his countrymen, to break British laws against making salt. And we witness, most vividly, India's struggle for independence and partition - from nationalist, royalist and British points of view. Gita Mehta brilliantly translates the cultural nuances and vividly sets her scenes of pageantry and poverty. At the center of this epic novel is Jaya Singh, the only daughter of the Maharajah and Maharani of Balmer. She was raised in the thousand year-old tradition of purdah by her mother and was educated exactly like her royal brother, (Balmer's heir), according to her father's decision. She learned to play polo, hunt tiger and wild boar, and how to govern and lead. Jaya marries the jaded, westernized Maharajah of Sipur and finds herself in a history-making position.I have always been fascinated by India, especially during the period of the British Raj. Usually, however, the focus of the books I have read has been on the Indian nationalist movements and those who supported and led them. This well researched novel also delves into the lives and politics of princely India. An engrossing read with a fresh perspective - I really enjoyed it.JANA

Percpective of an Indian Princess

From all the reviews i've read of "Raj" I cant identify with any one of them and I think thats the same for all the other reviewers. I personally loved the story of "Raj". It was rich with vivid images and completely engrossed me from the day i started reading it. Unlike other reviewers, i did not find it the least bit slow but more like a movie that I didnt want to end.Of course, for everything good there is always something negative. Even though the novel was generally wonderful the characters were not as sprightly as the images. There wasnt much character development that one could reflect upon at the end of the story. Even though the characters were a bit bland the style more than made up for it. A reader could feel the genuine and original knowledge of the subject with a strong sense of Indian culture. The end of the novel was not as good as the beginning. The final steps in the process that lead to Indian Independence and the description of what happened afterward was rushed compared to the beginning I felt as though there should have been more devoted to the second half because that part of the story was just as important and in some ways maybe more.From Indian origin myself, the struggle of Jaya Devi, not only as an Indian princess but as a woman, fascinated me. The opinions that she had and would stand to hold on to filled me with a new degree of respect for Rajput women. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants an interesting read and insight on the British Raj.

excellent as history, good as literature

I was drawn to this book by the period of time it covered, and because I am very interested in British history. I was further drawn by its historical depth, covering many events that very few Westerners outside of Britain have any knowledge of. I found little bias because it seemed there were two groups of main characters: those who were in support of royal India and those Indians and Angrez (British) who were in support of the Raj.I somewhat agree with the prevailing criticism that the characterisation is a bit thin, but if you are reading this for its historical significance (as I did) as opposed to its literary worth, then it really shouldn't matter very much.Overall, it is very well written book that examines the relationship between the maharajahs of royal India and the British Raj through the eyes of an Indian princess. In the vein of Rutherfurd's "Sarum" and "London," but not as broad and long-winded.

One of the best books I have ever read.

I read Raj several times and then loaned it to a friend. Since I haven't received it back, I'm ordering it again so I can have a copy of this excellent work in my library. It was a moving, touching book which opened my awareness to the plight of India during that time period. Most of the royalty were delightful and compassionate. Those who weren't were nevertheless interesting. Dee Lambert, Ph.D.