In this episode, we explore one woman’s struggle to protect her culture and her family amidst the backdrop of a military occupation.

Our book is: Call Her Freedom (Simon and Schuster, 2025), by Tara Dorabji, which is set in the foothills of the Himalayas, where the picturesque mountain village of Poshkarbal is home to lush cherry and apple orchards and a thriving community—one divided by a patrolled border. Aisha and her mother Noorjahan live on the outskirts—two women alone in a world dominated by men. As the village midwife, Noorjahan teaches Aisha how to heal using local herbs and remedies. Isolated but content, Aisha is shocked when Noorjahan decides it is time for her to attend the village school as few girls do. Despite the taunting of her classmates and the teacher’s initial resistance to having her in the class, Aisha becomes a star student, destined for college. When Aisha becomes engaged to a local boy, she is forced to abandon her dreams of college. She comforts herself by staying on her ancestral land, creating a nourishing life with her children and husband. But her mother’s secrets haunt her, and the growing military presence in Poshkarbal forces Aisha to make impossible choices. Call Her Freedom is also an investigation of colonialism, militarization, sacrifice, honor, and fighting for your home.

Our guest is: Tara Dorabji, who is the author of Call Her Freedom, winner of the Simon & Schuster Books Like Us contest. She is the daughter of Parsi-Indian and German-Italian migrants. Her documentary film series on human rights defenders in Kashmir won awards at over a dozen film festivals throughout Asia and the USA. Tara’s publications include Al Jazeera, The Chicago Quarterly, Huizache, and acclaimed anthologies: Good Girls Marry Doctors and All the Women in My Family Sing. She lives in Northern California with her family and rabbit.

Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, who is the creator, producer and show host of the Academic Life podcast.

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