The 13-Year-Old Queen and Her Inherited Destiny

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When the colonial rulers exploited the simple natives and their homeland, Dikanang began the Heraka movement, a socio- religious reform and political movement for self-rule and freedom. Leading to his arrest and execution on false charges of murder, Dijeanliu, his cousin, the 13-year-old girl emerged as a natural leader to carry the movement forward.

Set in the tri-junction of the states of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland in the North East India (1900- 1950), the book captures the support and hopes, the pains and anguish of betrayals and hence the ebb and flow of the struggles of a brave, committed leader. It gives an animated account of a historical scene which contested the worldviews of the colonial rulers and the natives, and also the resultant conflicts between the two. The book makes history come alive as it pulsates through the words of the characters, the suspense and the thrills of anticipating what is going to happen next...

Aashisha Chakraborty (b. 1992) was born and schooled in Delhi, studied computer engineering from Jamia Millia Islamia and holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi. Her passion for writing won her the 'Times of India Write India Season 2 for Shobhaa De' and Kaafiya (the Delhi Poetry Festival). As a program manager (Sales), she wrote a novel based loosely on her experiences titled Mis(s)adventures of a Salesgirl. She has penned stories for various Readomania anthologies and e-books by Women's Web and InsidelIM. Her articles have appeared in The Hindu, The Times of India, She The People, etc. A Visharad in Kathak, she has travelled to more than 25 countries and blogs on her online diary of sorts, 'The Mind Bin'. Being selected as a PM-YUVA author was a dream come true for her.

The human spirit is indomitable and can cause sky- crumbling and sea-parting transformations if we manage to harness it. Moreover, the power of a woman's will and resolve is a curious subtle thing. It can turn the crumbling sky into a fresh firmament populated with dreams and stitch the torn sea with the threads of humanity and courage, making it into a tapestry of freedom, strength and valor.

When I came across the story of Rani Gaidinliu, I instantly thought of her as a self-starter, an entrepreneur at a time when businesses were a man's domain, a fighter at an age when only men fought and conquered, and a queen in an era when there were only kings. She was the kind of queen who didn't know or care if her efforts would ever be rewarded but gave up her life in the service of her people. Working tirelessly to achieve recognition and suitable living conditions for her community, she ruthlessly drove away the British, and created a space that did not exist for women at that time. Being a champion of human rights and an advocate for women myself, this was a gold mine for me to dig into.