Reenita Malhotra Hora’s Vermilion Harvest is a Star-Crossed Wartime Romance Transports Readers to a Pivotal Moment in India’s History

July 16, 2024 at 10:00 AM EDT

Vermilion Harvest: Playtime at the Bagh by Reenita Malhotra Hora is a dark and poignant love story that spotlights the blood spilled on Baisakhi in 1919 during the horrifying massacre at Jallianwala Bagh, a pivotal moment in history that sparked a nationwide push towards freedom.

Reenita Malhotra Hora is a multiple-award-winning novelist, screenwriter, entrepreneur and audio producer.

A prolific author, Reenita has written seven books. Her literary works include YA & MG novels with a focus on promoting diversity and inclusivity, and non-fiction books focusing on Ayurvedic Medicine and personal finance. A California based South Asian storyteller, Reenita’s writing is unapologetically Indian, pulsing with the colors and rhythms of her culture, deftly blending humor and authenticity. LA Weekly spotlighted her unique approach to weaving Indian humor and culture into the American tapestry.

With multiple years of experience in media, entertainment, communications, tech/innovation, and wellness industries in the U.S. and Asia, she grows organizations ranging from early-stage startups to mid-size businesses through storytelling, creative marketing, and business strategy.

She was a journalist, editor, and writer for platforms like National Geographic Kids, Disney India, Cartoon Network Asia, the New York Times, CNN, Radio Television Hong Kong, and Bloomberg.

She is currently Chief Storyteller at Chapter by Episode, a digital publishing platform for immersive chat fiction stories with diverse themes. She is also the Creator & Executive Producer of two podcasts, SHADOW REALM and the TRUE FICTION PROJECT.

Her awards and accolades include the Eric Hoffer Book Award, IndieReader Discovery Award, Santa Barbara International Screenplay Award, Script2Comic, Launchpad and Emerging Screenwriters.

This one-on-one interview shares Reenita’s background and experience in writing Vermilion Harvest - Playtime at the Bagh.

Tell us about Vermilion Harvest - Playtime at the Bagh.

Vermilion Harvest: Playtime at the Bagh can be described as Titanic meets Gandhi. Titanic in the sense that it was a love story set against a disaster, and Gandhi because of the time period.

In the book, Aruna, a revolutionary Anglo-Indian school teacher, and a young but passionate Muslim law student, Ayaz, navigate a secret affair in politically charged Amritsar during 1919.

After meeting and falling deeply in love, their romance faces insurmountable challenges due to their different backgrounds and Ayaz’s political activism, which not only keeps them apart but presents a constant threat to their lives.

As Colonel Dyer’s historic attack on Jallianwala Bagh lurks in the near future, Aruna must race against the clock to warn her lover of the impending massacre before it’s too late. The truth slowly begins to unravel, unveiling unexpected betrayals and highlighting the undying power of love in the face of hatred and colonial violence.

What inspired you to write Vermilion Harvest - Playtime at the Bagh?

I wrote Vermillion Harvest to bring to light a chapter of history that the world needs to remember and reflect upon: the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

Officially, records cite 379 deaths and about 1,500 injuries, but unofficial estimates suggest the death toll could have been as high as 1,500+. The ferocity of General Dyer's unannounced attack, delivering such a devastating number of casualties in just a brief hail of bullets, surpasses that of almost any other terrorist attack, with the notable exception of 9/11.

What's more is that this brutal event was a catalyst for the Indian independence movement. Yet, despite its significant impact, it seems to have slipped through the cracks of global historical consciousness.

In 2019, during the 100th year anniversary of the massacre, there was a move by the Indians to Queen Elizabeth II of England, where they asked her to extend an apology. That didn’t happen.

It’s shameful that thousands can die from a planned terrorist attack and no one knows about it or learns from it, it is just forgotten and swept under the rug. In addition, there has never been a fictional story set against this massacre, so I was inspired to change that.

How did your background and experience influence your writing?

My connection to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre runs deep.

As a Punjabi, the tragedy of Amritsar holds a significant place in my family history. My grandfather hailed from there, and my mother was born there, making this calamity intensely personal for me.

Growing up in post-colonial India, I learned about the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in just a brief section of our history textbooks. Both at school and at home, discussions about the freedom movement and patriotic values were ever-present. My grandfather, a staunch advocate of the Home Rule movement and Gandhian principles, often shared stories that instilled these ideals in me. It wasn’t just through my grandfather's experiences though, but also through my portrayal of a character in a related play during my teenage years.

There is something profoundly personal about weaving elements of one's heritage and life experiences into storytelling. My stories often find their roots in places close to my heart—Mumbai, San Francisco, Punjab.

What is one message you would like readers to remember?

The main message I hope readers take away from Vermilion Harvest is the profound duality of life—how beauty and tragedy, creation and destruction are intertwined, represented by the color vermilion.

This vibrant vermilion, which adorns the hair parting of a married Hindu woman, symbolizes both life and vitality as well as the bloodshed during tragic events, such as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, highlighting the stark contrast between celebration and calamity. The subtitle, ‘Playtime at the Bagh’, further deepens this metaphor. It refers to the innocent gatherings of families during the Baisakhi harvest festival, which tragically turned into a deadly “game” of bullets under General Dyer's orders.Through Vermilion Harvest, I aim to convey a narrative that delves into the complexities of historical trauma, the enduring scars of colonialism, and the resilient spirit that emerges from understanding and reconciling these deep-seated wounds.

Purchasing the Book

Vermilion Harvest - Playtime at the Bagh has received positive reviews from well-known literary organizations, experts, and reviewers around the world. Saugata Mukherjee, Head of Content at SonyLIV, Sony Pictures Network India, writes, “Reenita creates a stunning love story amidst one of the darkest moments in modern Indian history. Read it!”

The book is available for sale on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other online bookstores. Readers are encouraged to purchase their copy today: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1953278523

To connect with Reenita, purchase a copy of the book and receive updates on upcoming events and new book releases, visit: http://www.reenita.com. You can also find Reenita on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

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Reenita Malhotra Hora’s Vermilion Harvest is a Star-Crossed Wartime Romance Transports Readers to a Pivotal Moment in India’s History

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