The lost legacy

The man used to wear the Kohinoor on his arm and reached a point in time in life when he was forced to sell eggs on a farm.

Navtej Sarna8217;s The Exile, a novel based on the life of Maharaja Duleep Singh, goes beyond historical facts to present the tragedy, trials 038; tribulations of the Maharaja

The man used to wear the Kohinoor on his arm and reached a point in time in life when he was forced to sell eggs on a farm. Separated from his family, kingdom and country, here was a Maharaja who was forced to live the life of a country squire in exile, in an alien land and made to change his religion twice. Defeated by destiny, put down by conspiracies, deceit and ridicule, this is the story of Maharaja Duleep Singh, who died a lonely, defeated man in a cheap hotel in Paris.

This is a painful past that has not escaped many, 8220;but whenever I heard the story I felt we had not been able to tell his story, fathom his pain, emotional state of mind, tragedy of his soul,8217;8217; Navtej Sarna8217;s second novel We Weren8217;t Lovers Like That, 2003 The Exile, published by Penguin, was released today in Chandigarh, is an artistic mix of fact and fiction. More than the bare bones of historical aspects, the emotional, psychological aspects of the Maharaja, his feelings, personality, misfortune8230;form the soul of the book and only a novel, in which you had the freedom to encompass the fictional aspect in known history could do justice to the life of Maharaja Duleep Singh. With as many as nine years of extensive research, voracious reading on the subject and frequent breaks, Sarna, a bureaucrat, has written a novel, which he says does not distort history, romanticize or glorify Duleep Singh. As for bringing out the emotional quotient and tragedy of the man, the author says while staying within the borders of possible, he has strived to reach out to Duleep Singh and his feelings by reading and sensing Duleep Singh8217;s personal letters, proclamations and also memoirs. 8220;You discern the tone of his voice, the anger, courage and the outcome is a personality which has been duped, a life filled with unjust and mitigating circumstances and so much loss,8217;8217; Sarna, who has a keen interest in Sikh history discovers a human character in search of recognition, stability, a will to do the right thing, but ending up losing it all. 8220;The theme is universal and at the end of it all you feel his tragedy and are moved by it,8217;8217; Sarna reflects.

Parul

Parul is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express in Chandigarh. She is a seasoned journalist with over 25 years of experience specializing in public health, higher education, and the architectural heritage of Northern India. Professional Profile Education: Graduate in Humanities with a specialized focus on Journalism and Mass Communication from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Career Path: She began her career covering local city beats and human interest stories before joining The Indian Express in 2009. Over the last decade and a half, she has risen to the rank of Principal Correspondent, becoming the publication’s primary voice on Chandigarh’s premier medical and academic institutions. Expertise: Her reporting is deeply rooted in the institutional dynamics of PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) and Panjab University. She is highly regarded for her ability to navigate complex administrative bureaucracies to deliver student-centric and patient-centric news. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 - 2025) Her recent work highlights critical reporting on healthcare infrastructure, academic governance, and urban culture: 1. Public Health & PGIMER "PGIMER expands digital registry: Centralized patient records to reduce wait times by 40%" (Nov 20, 2025): A detailed look at the digital transformation of one of India's busiest medical institutes to tackle patient influx. "Robotic Surgery at PGI: Why the new urology wing is a game-changer for North India" (Oct 12, 2025): Reporting on the acquisition of state-of-the-art medical technology and its impact on affordable healthcare. "Shortage of life-saving drugs: Inside the supply chain crisis at government pharmacies" (Dec 5, 2025): An investigative piece on the logistical hurdles affecting chronic patients in the tri-city area. 2. Education & Institutional Governance "Panjab University Senate Election: The battle for institutional autonomy" (Dec 18, 2025): In-depth coverage of the high-stakes internal elections and the friction between traditional governance and central reforms. "Research funding dip: How PU’s science departments are navigating the 2025 budget cuts" (Nov 5, 2025): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing researchers and the impact on India's global academic ranking. 3. Art, Culture & Heritage "Le Corbusier’s legacy in peril: The struggle to preserve Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex" (Dec 22, 2025): A feature on the conservation efforts and the tension between urban modernization and UNESCO heritage status. "Chandigarh Art District: How street murals are reclaiming the city’s grey walls" (Oct 30, 2025): A cultural profile of the local artists transforming the aesthetic of the "City Beautiful." Signature Style Parul is known for her empathetic lens, often centering her stories on the individuals affected by policy—whether it is a student navigating university red tape or a patient seeking care. She possesses a unique ability to translate dense administrative notifications into actionable information for the public. Her long-standing beat experience makes her a trusted source for "inside-track" developments within Chandigarh’s most guarded institutions. X (Twitter): @parul_express ... Read More