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Suresh Kumar’s debut novel shortlisted for Delhi Literature Festival jury award
Set in 1980s Kerala, the historical novel follows a period of intense political unrest, drawing connections to India’s broader freedom struggle.
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Pranavi Sharma - Sun, 20, Jul 2025
- 00:05 EDT
- 39
Book cover and Suresh Kumar signing the book. / Courtesy of Suresh Kumar.
Indian-American author, entrepreneur, and professor Suresh U. Kumar’s debut novel The Girl in Scarlet Hijab has been shortlisted for the 2025 Delhi Literature Festival Jury Award. Published by Rupa Publications, the book has also featured at the Kerala Literature Festival.
Set in 1980s Kerala, the historical novel follows a period of intense political unrest, drawing connections to India’s broader freedom struggle. At its center is a young woman whose resolve and strategic thinking make her a key figure in a student-led resistance. The story examines how personal conviction collides with state power in a volatile moment in India’s political history.
The narrative begins in Kochi in 1981, as student protests escalate across the state. Outside a hospital, demonstrators block the Home Minister’s convoy. Inside, a veteran revolutionary lies gravely injured after an assassination attempt orchestrated by a powerful political cabal. What follows is a state-wide crackdown. Three friends—two young men and a girl in a scarlet hijab—find themselves caught at the heart of the unrest.
The young woman, whose quiet courage and tactical skill earn her a reputation within the movement, emerges as a central figure of the resistance. As protests spread and the ruling Left Front government begins to falter, secrets come to light that threaten both the movement and the relationships within it.
According to the publisher, the novel is both a multi-generational family story and a reflection on the personal cost of political engagement. It explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the moral weight of resistance.
The book has received early praise from critics and artists. A Kendra Sahitya Akademi Awardee called it “brilliant… disturbing and illuminating.” Actor Mallika Sukumaran described it as “a tour de force,” while Neetha Raman referred to it as “goose-pimple worthy drama.”
The Girl in Scarlet Hijab is Kumar’s first work of fiction. He is known for his contributions to academia and business, and now brings his experience to literature with a focus on historical complexity and personal transformation.
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