Fri Mar 28 04:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Family Saga Explores Caste and Independence in Pre-Independence India
**Bengaluru, March 28, 2025** – Kavery Nambisan’s new novel, *Rising Sons*, a sprawling family saga set in a fictional Karnataka village before Indian independence, is receiving significant attention. The novel follows the Devaraya family, exploring themes of caste, societal expectations, and the burgeoning freedom movement.
The story unfolds through four parts, beginning with a family secret that threatens to unravel the Devarayas’ lives. Nambisan masterfully portrays the complexities of village life, including caste tensions, transactional marriages, and the stark inequalities between the privileged and the marginalized. The narrative vividly depicts the everyday lives of villagers, highlighting the challenges faced by those outside the dominant caste system.
A key plot point revolves around Devaraya’s hidden past, revealing a shocking caste transgression that significantly impacts his family and community. The novel then shifts to focus on his younger son, Anna, and his involvement in the independence movement, contrasting the idealism of the struggle with the realities of nation-building.
While praising Nambisan’s evocative writing and rich portrayal of pre-independence India, the review notes a perceived imbalance in the narrative. The reviewer expresses a desire for more focus on Chinni, Devaraya’s foster daughter, whose compelling character seems relegated to the background in favor of Anna’s experiences. Despite this observation, *Rising Sons* is lauded as a compelling and insightful exploration of family, caste, and the transformative period leading up to India’s independence.
First Piper 