Broken Chains

A sweeping tale of forbidden love that shatters the walls of bigotry and dogma, forever reshaping how you see love, faith, and science.

Broken Chains is a powerful historical love story about Sam, a Syrian Christian, and Devi, a Dalit woman (an Untouchable) from Kerala. Together, Sam and Devi defy India’s entrenched caste and religious boundaries, social rejection, and public shame in pursuit of a “forbidden love” and inter-caste marriage. Their love lays bare the centuries-old caste system, its legacy of servitude and bigotry, and the religious narratives that have long been used to justify social injustice.

Fearing continued oppression, they migrate to the United States. There, Sam’s groundbreaking research in evolutionary biology and genomics—particularly on the origins of the human species and the emergence of the caste system in India—exposes the “moral blindness” surrounding untouchability and bigotry. As a renowned evolutionary biologist, Sam writes a best-selling book that reveals the uncomfortable truths behind systemic caste oppression and racial injustice, earning him the Pulitzer Prize. Consequently, India bans both Sam’s controversial book and his re-entry into the country.

Through Devi’s existential struggles and her redemption through Sam’s unconditional love, the novel explores existentialist philosophy—especially the belief that “existence precedes essence” and that humans create meaning in their own lives, controlling their own destiny, not by any teleology or predetermined caste, religion, or race. Yet the success of our collective destiny depends on the moral choices we make, echoing Kant’s “categorical imperative.”

“…On Saturday, Sam went to their private meeting place under the jackfruit tree and excitedly waited for Devi. A few minutes later, Devi arrived dressed in a beautiful sari and a matching blouse. She wore a radiant red dot (bindi) on her forehead, and her silky black hair cascaded down her shoulders. A bunch of short ringlets of hair caressed her upper body with a tantalizing melody of its own in the soft autumn breeze…”

Devi brought a mesmerizing gentle breeze of warmth and an alluring presence that evoked a palpable desire in him. As she stood by him, her beautiful body in brown skin shimmered in the sunlight, not like any Dalit or an upper caste Brahmin, but with the glimmering elegance, grace, and attractiveness of a woman who took away any man’s breath at first glance. Sam could not take his eyes off her. He had grown deeply in love with her beauty, warmth, elegance, and profound grace…

“Yes, I was brought up as a Christian, but I’ve grown skeptical of old Christian mythologies that contradict the laws of nature. I don’t have any scientific evidence to support the tale of a talking serpent. The story of the snake tempting Eve in the Garden of Eden is not meant to be taken literally. According to many Christian theologians, it’s an allegory—Satan took the form of a serpent to deceive Eve. As a student of biological science, I don’t see any scientific basis for believing in talking snakes or that Satan could take the form of a reptile to defy God and deceive humans.

Have you ever come across a talking snake, dear? Snakes are just snakes. They live by the same natural laws we do. They’re not guided or directed by supernatural beings. Their tiny brains can’t receive signals from gods or forces beyond nature,” Sam explained.

“My dearest Sam Kunju, I am terrified of our meaningless existence as Untouchables. From the moment I was born, society labeled me polluted and untouchable, condemning me to a life of servitude. My future seemed predetermined, and our falling in love won’t change that. A romance between us could endanger my family’s livelihood and safety. Please don’t come looking for me again. I can’t bear the thought of you being in danger or fighting for your life once more. You nearly died already, and it seems you haven’t learned your lesson. If you ask to meet me in private again, the consequences could be disastrous for both of us. I love you, but I’m forbidden from desiring or marrying you. I’m old enough to understand that marriage between us is both impermissible and impossible,” Devi exclaimed.

“I don’t believe your future or essence was predetermined by anyone or by fate. Your essence, future, and meaning will be created by us. I understand the societal constraints imposed on innocent people like you, but I truly believe that if we marry, I can help change the meaning of your life,” Sam said confidently.