We That Are Young

Preti Taneja's 'We That Are Young' reimagines Shakespeare's 'King Lear' against the opulent yet tumultuous backdrop of contemporary India. The narrative ignites with the return of Jivan Singh, the long-absent bastard scion of the powerful Devraj family, coinciding with the unexpected resignation of the company's aging patriarch. As Devraj steps down from his sprawling corporate empire, his youngest daughter, Sita, defiantly vanishes, refusing a pre-arranged marriage. This sudden vacuum thrusts her older sisters, Radha and Gargi, into a cutthroat battle for control of the 'Company' – a name that belies its vast holdings and the family's immense national renown. Set against the real-life fervor of India's 2011-2012 anti-corruption protests, the novel brilliantly intertwines personal betrayals with national upheaval, exploring themes of corporate greed, political manipulation, and the clash between tradition and modernity. It's a deeply insightful exploration of India's rapid economic growth, the generational divide, and the inevitable breaking points of ambition and the human heart.