Publisher's Synopsis
History is often told through the grand proclamations of kings, the marches of armies, and the rise and fall of empires. But behind every historical moment lies an untold story-one of ordinary men and women, of whispers and shadows, of quiet acts of bravery that never made it into official records. This book is one such story. In 1911, the British Empire sought to immortalize its glory through a once-in-history event-the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to India, and the Delhi Durbar coronation as Emperor and Empress of a vast, diverse, and subjugated land. It was a time of spectacle and symbolism, choreographed to dazzle both rulers and ruled. But beneath this imperial celebration existed tensions that could not be silenced by pageantry. This novel, while rooted in real historical events, is a work of historical fiction, weaving together fact and imagination to bring to life the emotional, political, and cultural undercurrents of that time. It explores a secret plot-conspired not by rebels, but by a disillusioned British spy and her allies, and how a loyal Indian, through the courage of his beloved, and the unexpected alliance of an Englishwoman of conscience, helps thwart a crime that could have reshaped the Empire's destiny. At the heart of this tale lies Rabindranath Tagore's anthem "Bharat Bhagya Vidhata", later known as Jana Gana Mana-a song performed during the King's arrival, believed by some to be a tribute to the monarch, yet rich with nationalist symbolism and spiritual pride. It marked the beginning of a new kind of resistance-one not waged with swords or slogans, but with poetry, identity, and cultural awakening. Through this narrative, I have attempted to show how loyalty and rebellion are not always opposites, and how the choices of individuals-motivated by love, faith, and justice-can quietly shape the tides of history. It is a tribute to those forgotten in the margins of colonial chronicles, and to the transformative power of truth in times of deception. "King George V - 1911 Visit to India" is not just a story about royalty. It is a story about India at a crossroads, where romance meets espionage, where songs become weapons, and where enemies can sometimes act more honorably than friends. I invite the reader to walk into this world-of palaces and prisons, of conspiracies and courage-and witness a time when India, still in the chains of empire, began to stir in spirit.
