WINGS OF FREEDOM--A HISTORICAL ROMANCE SET IN INDIA

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INTERNATIONAL ACCLAIM FOR WINGS OF FREEDOM--A HISTORICAL ROMANCE SET IN INDIA

WINGS OF FREEDOM has received excellent reviews from reviewers across the globe-USA,  UK,  AUSTRALIA, SCANDINAVIA and INDIA


Depicting a cross- cultural romance in the backdrop of  intense political and social conflicts in turbulent colonial India with the tapestry of of coronation celebration of King George V in India amidst speculations of sabotage, freedom revolution swirling furiously in the country and the ravages of World war I




Blurbs posted by amazon (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0063C0VT4):

"The story flows with the ease of cleverly descriptive language. " Juanita Kees  |  6 reviewers made a similar statement

"Mr. Kaul should be commmended for writing a fascinating book about the British Raj in pre-independence India. " Ron  |  3 reviewers made a similar statement

"Any readers of historical romance will really love this novel. " A Book Vacation  |  1 reviewer made a similar statement

Thanks to all for  an overwhelming response to the book.

PRAISE FOR WINGS OF FREEDOM--A COLONIAL INDIA ROMANCE

I'm glad to share  the latest 5 star review posted today on amazon:

Love Prevails, May 5, 2012

By 

BrendaUSA 

This review is from: Wings Of Freedom (Kindle Edition)

If you like a good love story with a historical setting this is a great book to read. Raj, an Indian college boy and Eileen, the artistic daughter of a British diplomat meet and fall in love during a tenuous political time in India. The stirrings of India's struggle for freedom are taking shape and things are beginning to get dangerous. There's a huge fire in the British camp and an assasination attempt on King George during his coronation ceremony. Raj and Eileen are caught up in the fervor of revolution and must also face the cultural differences between their families. (The British frown upon their daughters marrying Indian men) In spite of the difficulties, Raj and Eileen prevail. What I loved most was the glimpse I got into Indian culture through Raj's family and the overall picture of England's rule and occupation of India at that time. Raj's interactions with his mother and father, uncle, his friends, etc. are well portrayed as is Eileen's side - her privileged life as the daughter of a high ranking British officer. A lot of research went into the details of the history here and the love story that endured in spite of so much against trhem was truly heart-warming. Love really does conquer all, especially in the Wings of Freedom.


http://www.ratankaul.in

WINGS OF FREEDOM--A BRITISH RAJ ROMANCE NOVEL

AUTHOR RATAN KAUL'S INTERVIEW

I’m glad to share the great news of my interview of April 4 on http://teazurs.blogspot.in/2012/04/interview-with-ratan-kaul-author-of.html

An excerpt from the interviewer Angie Azur’s comments:

“This story is one that needed to be told. Not only does it peak my interest, but I will learn about a culture that I know little about. And what an easy and unexpected way to learn about another culture, through a love story.
Thank you Ratan for your dedication, and all of your research that went into this book.”

Excerpts from the interview:

Q. How much research did you do for this book? And what was the most interesting thing you came across?

Ah! It took me over two years of research. It was accomplished in two phases: At the concept stage-in government archives, libraries, historical museums and over the internet.

After I'd worked out the plot, characters and locales, I supplemented the research by visiting the heritage sites of British India and the exact places where the characters were imagined to have lived. That's how I was able to add the flavour of the period into my novel.

During the research I found several interesting things. One related to a news report in the December 16, 1911 edition of The New York Times with the headline--LONDON HEARD THAT GEORGE V. WAS SLAIN. However, it turned out to be a false alarm.

I also came across various technological improvements that took place during the period of novel. You‚ll find the timeline of some such developments viz. Kerosene fed street lamps giving way to electric lamps and horse carriages being replaced by trams in the first decade of twentieth century. In fact the novel is dotted all along with references to such innovations.

Q. Why did this novel have to be written?

I'm glad you asked this question. As you know, most of the novels on British India like A passage to India by E.M. Forster, The Jewel in the Crown by Paul Scott or The Far Pavilions by M.M.Kaye, were written by western authors. Obviously, they represented a certain point of view.

I was longing to write a novel on British raj with an Indian perspective, adding to it the authentic flavour
of emotions, culture, language and traditions as were prevalent a hundred years ago in British India.

Q. Do you see this novel being a tool used in colleges?

A similar question came up in various forums of social networking websites, and there has been a general consensus that historical novels have immense educational value as they not only encourage critical thinking about events of the past in contrast with a plain reading of history, but also enrich the students‚ mind about other social science subjects like anthropology, archaeology, political science and
sociology.

I take the liberty of giving an excerpt from a pre-publishing review on authonomy.com that will support this view:

"Wings of Freedom is a compelling historical account. I like your extensive footnotes which help guide the reader and make this work so educational. I didn‚t know much about the history of India prior to reading this book. You succeed in taking the reader back in time and you describe the setting so vividly that it makes it easy to imagine the events which unfold."

Indie Book Review: Wings of Freedom by Ratan Kaul

Indie Book Review: Wings of Freedom by Ratan Kaul: A cross-cultural romance set during the fury of British imperialism and the social-cultural divide in early twentieth-century turbulent Bri...

AN ODE TO SPRING

At dawn when I open my doors, windows
I am greeted by my regular companions
Flocks of tiny, playful and lively sparrows
with spirited mynas, bulbuls, and pigeons,

Who come gliding from their night shelters

in the Kachnar, Champa, Harsingar, Neem
And Gulmohar trees, shrubs and creepers
adjoining and touching balcony of my room

They come looking for their daily feeds
with friendly tapping on my window sills
For jowar, bajra, corn and other seeds
even rice, wheat puffs, nuts and biscuits

Squirrels watchfully spy the bird rations
and it is a sight to see how they pick the nut
Clasp and gnaw on it with swift actions
hiding in the small openings in the parapet

Bird experts say sparrows are getting extinct
and no longer dwell in concrete jungles
But I am blessed with the idyllic mornings
with my little friends providing jingles

The sweet sound of sparrows chirping
their calls of mobbing, duets and mating
Make my idyllic and cheerful morning
as my mind is enchanted in their playing

But it is now time to bid adieu to my lovable pals
For getting prepared for my share of earthly tasks
And face the day’s targets, meetings and mobile calls
With the polluted air, din of horns and traffic jams

***

Great Reviews of kindle book WINGS OF FREEDOM--HISTORICAL ROMANCE FICTION

I’m thankful for the reviews of my historical romance novel, WINGS OF FREEDOM set in early twentieth –century British India. I feel honored and inspired.

Have a look at a recent review posted on amazon and Goodreads.com

Book Review: WINGS OF FREEDOM
ByA Book Vacation

This review is from: Wings Of Freedom (Kindle Edition)

Any readers of historical romance will really love this novel. Kaul has created a wonderful story dealing with amazing fictional characters during the British occupation of India in during the early 1900s. It's a story of forbidden love, society ideals, betrayal, and danger as Raju and Eileen fall deeply in love and begin a love affair that could easily end in Raju's death and Eileen's banishment. What I thoroughly enjoyed about this novel is that there is so much character building and background information given that it's like the reader is a part of the story. Though the novel is a bit long, it weaves together a very powerful historical romance, following the characters throughout the years as they grow and mature, fighting for what they believe.

Kaul is a fabulous writer, engrossing the reader in his story as the beautiful descriptions, the gripping action, and the sweeping romance all come together to create a wonderful novel that I couldn't put down. I am not usually a reader of historical novels, yet Kaul's historical fiction is fabulous and I would recommend it to anyone.

Any readers of historical romance will really love this novel. Kaul has created a wonderful story dealing with amazing fictional characters during the British occupation of India in during the early 1900s. It's a story of forbidden love, society ideals, betrayal, and danger as Raju and Eileen fall deeply in love and begin a love affair that could easily end in Raju's death and Eileen's banishment. What I thoroughly enjoyed about this novel is that there is so much character building and background information given that it's like the reader is a part of the story. Though the novel is a bit long, it weaves together a very powerful historical romance, following the characters throughout the years as they grow and mature, fighting for what they believe.

Kaul is a fabulous writer, engrossing the reader in his story as the beautiful descriptions, the gripping action, and the sweeping romance all come together to create a wonderful novel that I couldn't put down. I am not usually a reader of historical novels, yet Kaul's historical fiction is fabulous and I would recommend it to anyone.