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by Anoop Judge (Author)
Meena Rawat has everything she was taught to want: a husband, a daughter, a safe life in America. So why does she feel trapped?
At twenty-eight, Meena lives in California with her controlling husband and young daughter, trying to be grateful for the middle-class stability she never had as a child. Born into the Dalit caste in a village in North India, Meena survived loss, humiliation, and cruelty before being sent to an orphanage where she learned early that survival often meant silence.
But the past will not stay buried.
When Ramu-the boy who was once her closest friend, first love, and fellow outcast-reappears in her American life, Meena is forced to confront everything she has hidden from herself: the trauma of her childhood, the compromises of her marriage, and the person she might still become. Unlike Meena, Ramu has shed the shame of where they came from and built a life of confidence, purpose, and success. Their connection reignites instantly, as does their shared desire to help the forgotten children of the community they left behind.
Now Meena must decide whether survival is enough-or whether she is finally ready to claim love, dignity, and a future on her own terms.
The Awakening of Meena Rawat is an emotionally powerful novel about caste, memory, marriage, motherhood, identity, and the painful courage it takes to break free.
"With its emotion-provoking plot and well-drawn characters, this novel will remain in your thoughts long after the last page is read." -Sublime Book Review
"While the romance between Meena and Ramu makes for an excellent way to pass a few evenings reading, what makes the book so interesting are the author's deep ties to her Indian culture." -Hollywood Book Reviews
