Author Description

Women all over the world are treated less than equal and are fighting for equality. But patriarchal traditions are a bit too firmly entrenched in Indian society as they have the sanction of religion. The system of dowry, which requires the bride's parents to give gifts to the groom and his family that cost the former side a fortune, is unique to the Indian sub-continent. In addition, there is a lot of pomp and show and wastage in marriages and major portion of that has to be borne by the girl's parents. Consequently, girls are considered a burden. Birth of a girl is sad news. Millions of girls are killed in the womb or soon after birth simply because they are girls. A number of girls are sold because parents don't have money for their marriage. The situation has to change. Women must get not only protection but full respect. Luz Elena's novel, Prisoners of Tradition laments, "How sad it is to see that in the twenty-first century, there still are women who do not have the right to choose the man they love and to marry for true love....... How much honor and respect women were given in ancient times, how people would die to save the honor of women! What a pity that woman who in the past was worshiped in all the three forms - daughter, sister and mother - was being insulted, dishonored and killed!" 'Prisoners of Tradition the Real Story' is the story of Sudama's daughters - Kusum, Juhi and Pallavi. Kusum is married to the son of Sudama's wealthy friend Ghanshyam who professes to seek no dowry but is greedy within. Juhi sees through Ghanshyam's evil plans but is too young to be taken seriously. All hell is let loose on Kusum on the wedding night itself. On the top of it she conceives a child which is found to be a girl. Pressure is mounted on her to abort the child but she does not want to do so. Help comes from unexpected quarters and also from her sister who becomes a lawyer. But will Kusum survive the monster of dowry? Will she be able to give birth to her daughter?