At the gulf edge of Tamil Nadu, India, lies Rameswaram Island. At its southernmost tip is Dhanushkodi, once a bustling port town shaped by wind, water, and shifting sands. Even today, its shoreline reflects nature’s beauty and power. Yet for all its serenity, Dhanushkodi’s story has been anything but tranquil.

On December 22, 1964, the day began innocently in the town. By nightfall, a devastating super cyclone would strike, destroying much of the town and claiming at least two thousand lives in what remains one of the worst natural disasters in South Indian history.

One Night at Bow’s End: When Storm and Sea Swallowed Dhanushkodi recreates the final day of the lost town through the experiences of the people who lived them, weaving together oral histories, historical records, and extensive research into a gripping narrative of everyday life on the eve of catastrophe.