Integral Yoga Institute, and especially Chandra Jo Sgammato, for giving veterans a safe place to heal, grow, and play.
My dear students, especially Jimmie Farmer, for helping me survive my most difficult years.
The army of healers who helped put me back together again, especially Marcia Stern, Ghislaine Boulanger, Sharon Morrison, Cami Stock, Taylor Hatcher, Britney Falcon, Ellen Chang, Mike Kalajian, and K9s for Warriors.
My friends, for holding me up when writing seemed impossible, especially Eesha, Maurice, Peace, Molly, Parsa, Jaishri, Jules, Barbara, Joe, Nidhi, Emily, and James.
The good people at Coney Island Brighton Beach Open Water Swimmers (CIBBOWS), Trapeze School New York, and Natural Gourmet Institute, for showing me a world of wonder.
Mom and Dad, for your continued patience, trust, and boundless generosity. I couldn’t have done this without you.
The women and men who came forward against a sea of opposition to make a better nation. I honor you and offer deep bows of gratitude. If I acted in any way to harm you whether knowingly or unknowingly, I humbly ask your forgiveness.
About the Author
ANURADHA BHAGWATI is a writer, activist, yoga and meditation teacher, and Marine Corps veteran. She founded the Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN), which brought national attention to sexual violence in the military and helped overturn the ban on women in combat. Anuradha is a regular media commentator on issues related to national security, women’s rights, civil rights, and mental health, and is the recipient of numerous awards. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Politico, Foreign Affairs, and the New Republic. She lives in New York City with her service dog, Duke.
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Copyright © 2019 by Anuradha Bhagwati
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First Atria Books hardcover edition March 2019
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Interior design by Kyoko Watanabe
Jacket design and illustration by Anna Morrison
Author photograph by Seher Sikandar
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Bhagwati, Anuradha Kristina, 1975– author.
Title: Unbecoming : a memoir of disobedience / Anuradha Kristina Bhagwati.
Description: First Atria Books hardcover edition. | New York : Atria Books, [2019] | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018034263 (print) | LCCN 2018050734 (ebook) | ISBN 9781501162565 (ebook) | ISBN 9781501162541 (hard cover : alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: Bhagwati, Anuradha Kristina, 1975– | United States. Marine Corps—Officers—Biography. | United States. Marine Corps—Women—Biography. | United States. Marine Corps—Minorities—Biography. | Women marines—Biography. | East Indian American women—Biography. | Bisexual women—United States— Biography. | Women political activists—United States—Biography. | Women and the military—United States.
Classification: LCC VE25.B47 (ebook) | LCC VE25.B47 A3 2019 (print) | DDC 359.9/6092 [B] —dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018034263
ISBN 978-1-5011-6254-1
ISBN 978-1-5011-6256-5 (ebook)
Unbecoming Page 33