Scent of Yesterday is the personal story of a woman who chooses to stand tall at the forefront of cultural transformation - as an East Indian immigrant in the 60's, a female technologist in the 70's, and a global human rights activist in the new millennium.
Born by candlelight in August 1947, Jaya Kamlani and her family are among the millions displaced by the Partition of India. She transports readers to post-British Raj Bombay, now known as Mumbai, with sweet and spiced vignettes of family traditions, convent school capers, and the taste of first love.
In 1969, Jaya gets an opportunity to further her studies in America. She recounts this pivotal period of activism - a time when civil rights, women's rights and anti-war sentiments become mainstream. With newfound freedom, she rebels against the Indian tradition of arranged marriage and launches an exciting career in New York. Years later, as a senior staff member, she confronts the glass ceiling at a large Silicon Valley technology company. She also details her family's experience during 9/11 and what inspired her to begin a new chapter in her life as a writer.
In the book, Jaya thoughtfully explores how cultural exposures and personal experiences shape her views of patriarchy, justice, and war. Her spirited candor and ceaseless determination will inspire others to overcome their inhibitions and embrace new frontiers. Jaya has come a long way since her convent girl school days.
The image on the book cover shows a woman looking into the horizon, her sari pulav on the floor. It represents a woman who has found some freedom, but is still bound by traditions.
Scent of Yesterday is a prequel to Jaya Kamlani's book, To India, with Tough Love (2013).