History remembers the Lion of Punjab as a conqueror, a nation-builder, a visionary ruler. But the story of Maharaja Ranjit Singh is incomplete without the women who stood beside him, behind him, and often far ahead of him. The Veil & The Sword brings these women out of the footnotes of history and restores them to the centre of the Sikh Empire’s political and emotional world. This is the untold history of queens, warriors, widows, entertainers and powerbrokers who shaped the court from within the zenana. They negotiated alliances, influenced policy, protected bloodlines, and in some cases held the empire together when the throne itself was unstable. Some were married for love, others for politics, and many were sacrificed to ambition, rivalry and betrayal. Yet every one of them changed the fate of Punjab in ways history chose not to record. With its blend of political intrigue, hidden histories and unforgettable female voices, The Veil & The Sword is a compelling read for anyone who loves empire, biography, grandeur, feminist history and powerful storytelling rooted in fact.
About the Author
Ranjit Powar has a PhD in psychology and honours in English literature. She taught psychology at the Punjabi University, Patiala, before joining the Punjab State Services. Ranjit has been writing for several national dailies and speaking on various media and in-person platforms. She is also a podcaster. Ranjit has authored two books, Dusk over the Mustard Fields (also translated into, and published in, Punjabi) and Living a Good Life. The first captures the essence of pre-partition rural Punjabi life and culture against the backdrop of partition through the life story of its protagonist, Nimmo. The second documents examples from daily life to encourage students to make recommendable behavioural choices through derivation and logic.
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