Queen Tara: Kali of the Deccan novel chronicles Maratha resistance

The historical fiction novel ‘Queen Tara: Kali of the Deccan’ by Medha Deshmukh Bhaskaran chronicles the life of Tarabai, a figure who resisted the Mughal Empire under Aurangzeb.

Set beginning in 1680, the narrative follows Tara from her childhood in the Satara province, where she received training in horse riding, javelin throwing, and sword fighting. The story details her rise following the death of Chhatrapati Sambhaji and her marriage to Ram Raja, eventually becoming Tarabai Raja Ram Bhosale. The book focuses on the volatile period of the Maratha resistance against two decades of relentless warfare by the Mughal Badshah.