Provoked

More about the book

Now a major motion picture starring Aishwarya Rai, this story follows Kiranjit Ahluwalia, who was born into privilege in India and married in England in 1979 to a man she barely knew. Her life quickly turned into a decade-long nightmare filled with physical, mental, and sexual abuse from her husband. In a society where domestic violence was a taboo subject, she found herself isolated, unable to seek help due to the fear of dishonoring her family. In a moment of desperation, Kiranjit killed her abuser, only to be bewildered by her subsequent life sentence for murder, compounded by her limited English and poor legal advice. However, prison brought her an unexpected sense of safety and the camaraderie of other women facing similar struggles. A grassroots campaign led by Southall Black Sisters began to gain traction, highlighting her situation and attracting high-profile supporters, including Diana, Princess of Wales, who encouraged her to share her story. In September 1992, Kiranjit was released when her murder conviction was reduced to manslaughter on appeal, marking a significant legal precedent that opened doors for justice for other women in similar circumstances.