A RAW, UNFLINCHING MEMOIR BY A FORMER US MARINE CAPTAIN CHRONICLING HER JOURNEY FROM DUTIFUL DAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANTS TO RADICAL ACTIVIST EFFECTING HISTORIC POLICY REFORM. AFTER A LIFETIME OF BUCKLING TO THE DEMANDS OF HER STRICT INDIAN PARENTS, ANURADHA BHAGWATI ABANDONS GRAD SCHOOL IN THE IVY LEAGUE TO JOIN THE MARINES—THE FIERCEST, MOST VIOLENT, MOST MASCULINE BRANCH OF THE MILITARY—DETERMINED TO PROVE HERSELF THERE IN WAYS SHE COULDN`T BEFORE. YET ONCE TRAINING BEGINS, ANURADHA’S FANTASY IS PUNCTURED. AS A BISEXUAL WOMAN OF COLOR IN THE MILITARY, SHE FACES UNDERESTIMATION AT EVERY STAGE, CONFRONTING MISOGYNY, RACISM, SEXUAL VIOLENCE, AND ASTONISHING INJUSTICE PERPETRATED BY THOSE IN POWER. PUSHING HERSELF BEYOND HER LIMITS, SHE ALSO WRESTLES WITH WHAT DROVE HER TO PURSUE SUCH PUNISHMENT IN THE FIRST PLACE. ONCE HER SERVICE CONCLUDES IN 2004, ANURADHA COURAGEOUSLY VOWS TO TAKE TO TASK THE VERY LEADERS AND TRADITIONS THAT CAST SUCH A DARK CLOUD OVER HER TIME IN THE MARINES. HER EFFORTS RESULT IN HISTORIC CHANGE, INCLUDING THE LIFTING OF THE BAN ON WOMEN FROM PURSUING COMBAT ROLES IN THE MILITARY. A TALE OF HEROIC RESILIENCE GRAPPLING WITH THE TIMELY QUESTION OF WHAT, EXACTLY, AMERICA STANDS FOR, UNBECOMING IS ABOUT ONE WOMAN WHO LEARNED TO BELIEVE IN HERSELF IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING. IT IS THE KIND OF STORY THAT WILL LIGHT A FIRE BENEATH YOU, AND INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF INDOMITABLE FEMALE HEROES.
माजी युएस मरीन कॅप्टन अनुराधा भगवती यांचं हे विलक्षण अनुभवकथन. आपल्या कठोर शिस्तीच्या भारतीय पालकांपासून मनाने दुरावलेली अनुराधा सैन्यात दाखल झाली. पण अमेरिकन नौदलातला स्त्री-पुरुष भेद आणि पुरुष सैनिक-अधिकाNयांकडून होणारं स्त्री सैनिकांचं लैंगिक शोषण, या गोष्टींनी तिला अस्वस्थ केलं. तिची सैन्यातील कारकीर्द संपल्यानंतर स्वान या संस्थेमार्पÂत तिने यासंदर्भात आवाज उठवला. परिणामी अमेरिकी सैन्यातील जाचक अटीही बदलल्या गेल्या आणि अमुलाग्र बदल घडला आणि लढाईसंदर्भातील महिला अधिकाऱ्यांवरील बंदी उठवण्यात आली. अनुराधा यांच्या अनुभवांचं आणि त्यांच्या लढ्याचं हे दाहक दर्शन.