Uma Lohray’s The One-Way Ships offers a poignant and powerful narrative that shines a light on a little-remembered facet of colonial history. At its heart is Asha, a young girl from Shimla whose life takes a drastic turn after the loss of her father.

Thrust into the unfamiliar and often unforgiving world of domestic servitude, her story becomes a window into the complex realities faced by countless women during the British Raj.

What makes the novel truly resonate is not just its historical grounding but its emotional depth. Asha’s evolution—from a girl with limited choices to someone slowly carving her own path—is told with sensitivity and nuance. Lohray’s prose is lyrical and immersive, seamlessly weaving historical fact with narrative fiction, and offering readers both insight and empathy.

Drawing from archival material and oral testimonies, Lohray brings authenticity to the page without ever compromising on storytelling. The result is a narrative that feels both urgent and timeless. Through Asha’s eyes, we confront themes of identity, injustice, and the quiet endurance of women whose stories have long remained untold.

This is a novel that not only keeps you turning the pages but also urges you to pause and reflect—on privilege, humanity, and the intersections of fate and will. The unexpected yet deeply satisfying ending offers a sense of poetic justice, making Asha’s journey all the more memorable.

The One-Way Ships is a moving, thought-provoking debut. Lohray handles a difficult subject with grace and insight, delivering a story that is as engaging as it is important. A must-read for lovers of historical fiction and anyone interested in the untold stories of the past.

About the Author

Uma Lohray is a writer, lawyer, and literary debutante whose historical fiction novel, 'The One-Way Ships' explores the overlooked history and the quiet strength of marginalised voices of Indian ayahs—young women and girls sent across oceans to serve in British households during the colonial era.

Raised across Pune, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad by scientist parents, Uma studied law at one of India’s premier national law universities and worked as a lawyer in Delhi.

Reviewed By - Roopkamal Shrivastava