Ahimsa
By Supriya Kelkar
Hardcover: $21.95
Ebook
In 1942, after Mahatma Gandhi asks Indians to give one family member to the freedom movement, ten-year-old Anjali is devastated to think of her father risking his life for the freedom struggle.
But it turns out he isn’t the one joining. Anjali’s mother is. And with this change comes many more adjustments designed to improve their country and use “ahimsa”—non-violent resistance—to stand up to the British government. First the family must trade in their fine foreign-made clothes for homespun cotton, so Anjali has to give up her prettiest belongings. Then her mother decides to reach out to the Dalit community, the “untouchables” of society. Anjali is forced to get over her past prejudices as her family becomes increasingly involved in the movement.
When Anjali’s mother is jailed, Anjali must step out of her comfort zone to take over her mother’s work, ensuring that her little part of the independence movement is completed.
Inspired by her great-grandmother’s experience working with Gandhi, New Visions Award winner Supriya Kelkar shines a light on the Indian freedom movement in this poignant debut.
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N. H. Senzai, author of TICKET TO INDIA
Vidhu Vinod Chopra, director of the films 1942: A LOVE STORY and EKLAVYA: THE ROYAL GUARD
Uma Krishnaswami, author of BOOK UNCLE AND ME and STEP UP TO THE PLATE, MARIA SINGH
Cynthia Levinson, author of THE YOUNGEST MARCHER and WE'VE GOT A JOB
Rajkumar Hirani, director of the films 3 IDIOTS, PK, and LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI
Padma Venkatraman, author of CLIMBING THE STAIRS and A TIME TO DANCE
About the Creators

SUPRIYA KELKAR grew up in the Midwest, where she learned Hindi as a child by watching three Hindi movies a week. Winner of the New Visions Award for Ahimsa, Supriya is a screenwriter who has worked on the writing teams for several Hindi films and one Hollywood feature. Supriya’s books include Ahimsa; Strong as Fire, Fierce as Flame; American as Paneer Pie; and That Thing About Bollywood, among others. Visit her online at supriyakelkar.com.