Shortlisted for the Hutch Crossword Book Award in 2006, Home is Manju Kapur’s third novel. The novel is a multi-generation family saga of Banwarilal family who is a victim of communal violence during the partition. The novel unravels the struggle and sufferings of the protagonist Nisha in her search of a home i.e. search for own place of shelter and security in society. The novel emphasizes on the alienation of Nisha in spite of living in a joint family. The novel also focuses on the evils happenings in the joint family. Home is one of her finest novels. It is the description of the struggle of a woman in search of her own spiritual home in the traditional society. In his article, “Joint Family System as the Basis of Gender Politics in Manju
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Their marriages augmented, their habits conserved- this is the principle upon which the family home is built. Children are brought up to protect the same values. All is well as long as they fall in line. For those who rebel, justice is swift and accurate: knives that wounded, and once the damage had been done, gestures that reconciled. (Kumar 116)
Yashpal’s parents want dowry to secure his family’s future. Manju Kapur questions the dowry system in the Indian society, which forces women to lead miserable and suffocating life if they are unable to give dowry. She writes:
...In order to remain financially secure, and ensure the family harmony that underpinned security, marriages were arranged with great care. The bride had to bring a dowry, come from the same background and understand the value of togetherness. Falling in love was detrimental to their interests. (Kapur 4)
The above statement explores the typical mentality and reason behind arranged marriages. Though the girl Sona is extremely beautiful like her name, she is unable to pay dowry. Sona always bears taunts from her in-laws. Though two years have been passed for their marriage, there is no child of Yashpal and
Their marriages augmented, their habits conserved- this is the principle upon which the family home is built. Children are brought up to protect the same values. All is well as long as they fall in line. For those who rebel, justice is swift and accurate: knives that wounded, and once the damage had been done, gestures that reconciled. (Kumar 116)
Yashpal’s parents want dowry to secure his family’s future. Manju Kapur questions the dowry system in the Indian society, which forces women to lead miserable and suffocating life if they are unable to give dowry. She writes:
...In order to remain financially secure, and ensure the family harmony that underpinned security, marriages were arranged with great care. The bride had to bring a dowry, come from the same background and understand the value of togetherness. Falling in love was detrimental to their interests. (Kapur 4)
The above statement explores the typical mentality and reason behind arranged marriages. Though the girl Sona is extremely beautiful like her name, she is unable to pay dowry. Sona always bears taunts from her in-laws. Though two years have been passed for their marriage, there is no child of Yashpal and