Custody by Manju Kapur

Manju Kapur’s debut novel “Difficult Daughters” brought her instant fame and recognition. Released in 1998, the novel fetched her the prestigious Commonwealth Eurasia Region Award for the best debut novel of 1999. Born in Amritsar, Kapur studied in both India and Canada.  She attained her post graduation degree from Dalhousie University, Canada. Presently, she teaches English at Miranda House College, University of Delhi. A globe trotter at heart, she has travelled extensively .A Married Woman (2002), Home (2005), and The Immigrant (2008) are some of her other novels.

Kapur’s writings have more to do with the feministic approach. She clearly depicts the paradigm shift in a woman’s outlook in post liberalization period. Her protagonists are the independent women of today, born into a transforming socio, political and economical order. Kapoor’s latest novel “Custody”,  was released in March this year. It creates an intimate portrait of marriage and family. The story unfolds when a beautiful couple decides to call it quits. The wife is interested in another man and wants a legal separation. The story is a critique of the Indian Judicial System with regard to cases pertaining to the custody battle of children after a failed marriage. The husband’s new wife can’t conceive and is eagerly looking forward to being the step- mother . The novel clearly depicts the pain, betrayal and suffering resulting from separation. It also highlights the plight of the children whose pain often remains hidden from the public view. After all estranged couples make for good gossip, the psyche of lonely children does not.

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