The Outcasts - A Thousand Dreams of Redemption

The Outcasts is a story of loss running away hope and return. Three protagonists boldly confront a tradition-driven and repressive world. Through a series of serendipitous encounters and against all odds their paths intertwine at a time when each stands at a personal crossroads. Tabu is a rebellious young Muslim woman who speaks her mind under the guise of jinn influence. Santan an aging Hindu man in the face of a near-death experience suddenly discovers a new spark for life. And Chameli a dazzling but emotionally fragile transgender woman is forced to leave the community which had once provided her with safety and identity. Together they embark on a transformative journey laced with doubt and danger. They are forced to re-examine their values renounce their old risk-averse selves and face a dark night of the soul. Set in contemporary India a land of dichotomies the novel challenges the notions of gender feminism vis-à-vis spirituality/religion and culturally appropriate romantic expression.