BANDH MUKTA HOTANA

📘 Book Details

• Translator: Sunanda Amrapurkar

• Publisher: Mehta Publishing House

• Language: Marathi

• Edition: 1

• Publishing Year: April 2018

• ISBN: 9789387789012

• Pages: 248

• Cover: Paperback

• Category: Autobiography

📖 About The Book

“A Life Reclaimed” is a brave and moving memoir by Padma Desai, recounting her extraordinary journey from the sheltered world of Surat in the 1930s to becoming an influential scholar and academic. Born into a strict Gujarat Anavil Brahmin family, Padma’s upbringing was traditional and sheltered, but her exceptional academic talents led her to Bombay University, where her encounter with the freedom of the big city had both liberating and tragic consequences.

In her early years, Padma faced the tragic consequences of a failed marriage, which she was coerced into after a seduction by a fellow student. Seeking to escape this marriage, she converted to Christianity, marking the first step in her long journey of self-liberation. Her journey took a significant turn when she received a scholarship to America in 1955, where she began her transformation—academically, personally, and culturally.

As Padma navigated her new life, she met and married celebrated economist Jagdish Bhagwati, became a mother, and rose to academic prominence at Harvard and Columbia Universities. But her story is not just one of academic success; it is also a tale of navigating the tumultuous road to assimilation in American society, while still holding onto the values and traditions of her Indian upbringing.

Written with the flair of a novelist and the insight of a scholar, this memoir offers not just a glimpse into Padma’s personal transformation, but also explores culture, society, and family from an academic and personal perspective. A Life Reclaimed is a powerful account of resilience, growth, and self-discovery, showcasing how Padma Desai rose from the constraints of her early life to find freedom, success, and fulfillment on her own terms.