Angioplasty Inspired Dr. Suresh U Kumar’s Debut Novel

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India] : Sometimes, the most powerful stories are born not out of ambition, but out of moments of deep personal reckoning. For author Dr Suresh U Kumar, that moment arrived while waiting alone in a hospital room before undergoing an angioplasty. The experience became the emotional catalyst for his debut novel, Girl in a Scarlet Hijab.

This deeply personal journey was recently shared at an engaging book reading and discussion session hosted by Title Waves Bookstore. The evening saw the author in conversation with educator and writer Dr Swaroop Sampat Rawal and noted author and reading coach Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta. Actor and Paperbacktalks founder Rahul Saini moderated the session.

A prominent Indian-origin business leader based in New Jersey, Dr Kumar is currently visiting India to finalize plans for a Malayalam translation of the book. Born in Kerala and later migrating to the United States, Kumar draws deeply from his roots in this evocative novel, which is set against the politically charged landscape of 1980s Kerala.

Recalling the defining moment that led him to write the book, Kumar shared, “As I waited alone in the pre-surgery room, one thought kept returning to me—I had not told the stories of my land and my people to my son, who was just twelve then. What if something went wrong? How would he learn about their courage, love, and sacrifice?” That realization, he said, became a promise to himself: if he survived, he would write those stories first.

It took the author nearly three years to craft Girl in Scarlet Hijab, a gripping narrative that weaves together themes of revolution, identity, and sacrifice. The novel follows Rukhsana Mirza, a young woman whose scarlet hijab emerges as a powerful symbol of resistance as she joins student activists Murali and Shibu in their struggle against political corruption.

Blending fiction with historical truth, the book references pivotal moments from India’s past, including Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to Kerala in 1925, the 1942 jailbreak of Jayaprakash Narayan, and the 1946 Royal Indian Navy mutiny. “By bookmarking these incidents,” Kumar explained at the event, “I’ve attempted to create a Rang De Basanti–style narrative of youth awakening.”

The discussion also explored the enduring value of reading fiction and what makes a story compelling enough for cinematic adaptation. A packed audience of book lovers actively participated in the conversation, many lining up afterwards to have their copies signed, marking the evening as a celebration not just of a book, but of the life-altering moments that give birth to stories worth telling.