Hyderabad, Oct. 15 -- The Sirens of September, Zeenath Khan's accomplished debut, is a subtle and evocative coming-of-age novel set against the charged backdrop of Hyderabad's annexation in 1948 under Operation Polo. Told through the diary-like voice of Farishteh, a bright fifteen-year-old pupil at St. George's Grammar School. Farishteh's grandfather, her Dadajaan, nurtures her curiosity and quiet courage.

The novel is divided into three parts that trace the fraught years around 1947-48 and culminate in the accession. It offers readers both an intimate personal record and a broader view of a city at a historic turning point. Khan's prose is direct, favouring vivid scenes and decision-making over unnecessary description. This makes the bo...