Vaishnavi Patel imagines an India that didn’t gain independence in 1947. Instead, in the world of Ten Incarnations of Rebellion, India remained a colony into the 1960s after Gandhi, Nehru, Ambedkar, and others were killed. Dissidents and revolutionaries are transported, jailed, or executed. The population are subject to extreme censorship, rationing, power cuts, and more. It’s not safe to talk to people you don’t know about a free India. In spite of all this, Kalki Divekar dreams of independence.
Each chapter of Ten Incarnations of Rebellion advances the story one year. Each year, Kalki grows more rebellious. Her father has been gone from Mumbai (called Kingston here) for years. He fled when the authorities came after him. Her mother is very cautious; she doesn’t want anything to happen to Kalki. But in spite of the very real dangers, Kalki starts to take small risks. Her first act, taken at the age of 19 in this alternate 1962, is to find a censored song, make copies of it, and then anonymously post those copies all over the city. The act terrifies Kalki’s mother, raises her friends’ eyebrows, and thrills Kalki.
Kalki’s growth over the novel is incredibly moving. In spite of her father’s rebellious activities, Kalki lives a relatively privileged life. She has a great education. She finds a good job (even if her supervisor is slimy). She could live an ordinary, safe life if she didn’t have such a (justified) fire for freedom. The British need to go; India should have the independence that was stolen from them. But at 19 years old, Kalki has a lot to learn about what freedom costs. The stakes rise over the years and as Kalki gets deeper and deeper into fighting for Indian independence. It’s one thing to post songs or even pass along information. It’s another thing entirely if your plans might require people to give up their lives, be imprisoned, or get exiled to another continent.
Each chapter also features a story from Hindu lore. These stories feature characters like Krishna, Manu, Vishnu, Rama, and others outsmarting seemingly invincible villains, fighting impossible odds, and paying terrible prices for mistakes. I enjoyed these a lot. Not only did I get to dive into another culture’s stories (and I can never get enough of new stories), I also appreciated them as commentary on Kalki’s actions as she becomes a revolutionary. There’s plenty of action in this novel—including an incredible prison break—but many of the chapters center on choices Kalki has to make. Is it ever acceptable to commit an act of violence against the British if it also leads to the loss of innocent lives? Can a just revolution leave the Dalits behind? What kind of future India are they fighting for? What sacrifices are necessary to achieve freedom?
This book is stunning, honest, and beautifully written.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration.