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The Battle for Baramulla (Songs of Freedom Series)

The Battle for Baramulla (Songs of Freedom Series)

Set in 1947, Baramulla | Explores the Tribal Invasion of Kashmir & the Role of Maqbool Sherwani | Middle Grade Historical Fiction | Ages 10+

Mallika Ravikumar
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October 1947

Unwilling to join India or Pakistan, the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir wants his kingdom to remain independent. But then a wave of attacks from the northwest frontier, supported by Pakistan, ravages city after city . . .

As friends leave the town in panic, and fear grips every neighbourhood, it is a time of reckoning for Zooni, as for the other people of Baramulla—with whom should their loyalties lay?

A ragtag bunch of youngsters, including Zooni’s brave cousin Maqbool Sherwani, promise to protect Kashmir and its people—but Zooni isn’t sure how they can fight truckloads of tribesmen bearing grenades and guns. Zooni tries to find a safe space—but will it remain safe? And the dark secret she discovers makes the dangerous world even darker . . .

The Songs of Freedom series explores the lives of children across India during the struggle for independence.

Imprint: Duckbill

Published: Jul/2025

ISBN: 9780143473145

Length : 136 Pages

MRP : ₹250.00

The Battle for Baramulla (Songs of Freedom Series)

Set in 1947, Baramulla | Explores the Tribal Invasion of Kashmir & the Role of Maqbool Sherwani | Middle Grade Historical Fiction | Ages 10+

Mallika Ravikumar

October 1947

Unwilling to join India or Pakistan, the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir wants his kingdom to remain independent. But then a wave of attacks from the northwest frontier, supported by Pakistan, ravages city after city . . .

As friends leave the town in panic, and fear grips every neighbourhood, it is a time of reckoning for Zooni, as for the other people of Baramulla—with whom should their loyalties lay?

A ragtag bunch of youngsters, including Zooni’s brave cousin Maqbool Sherwani, promise to protect Kashmir and its people—but Zooni isn’t sure how they can fight truckloads of tribesmen bearing grenades and guns. Zooni tries to find a safe space—but will it remain safe? And the dark secret she discovers makes the dangerous world even darker . . .

The Songs of Freedom series explores the lives of children across India during the struggle for independence.

Buying Options
Paperback / Hardback

Mallika Ravikumar

Winner of the Atta Galatta Bangalore Literature Festival Award for Best Children’s Fiction 2023, and the Binod Kanoria Children’s Book Award, 2023, Mallika is a lawyer-turned-writer, published by Penguin, Hachette, Speaking Tiger, Karadi Tales, and Katha, amongst others. An MA in ancient Indian history and culture from St Xavier’s College in Mumbai, she was also the curator and chief content writer for the Government of India’s National Virtual Library of India portal on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Other than writing, she loves learning about trees, conducting tree walks and creating videos about trees on her YouTube channel, Tree Talk with Mallika Ravikumar. To learn more about her books, tree walks and talks, you can visit www.mallikaravikumar.com or reach her on Instagram at mallika.ravikumar

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