Ties of Tradition: The story of the emotional growth of a young village girl, steeped in South Indian traditions, coming to terms with the discovery of a long buried secret about her ancestry

Janaki, the eldest daughter of an impoverished school principal, seemingly hits the jackpot when a handsome village doctor, the youngest son of a large traditional South Indian family, chooses her as his wife. Shy and diffident Janaki initially struggles to live up to her husband’s expectations. But over time, she manages to earn his love and settle down to a happy married life, only to have her peace of mind shattered by the accidental discovery of an unsavoury secret about her ancestry.As Janaki learns about the long buried family secret, she is mortified and decides to bury her new-found knowledge forever. But the realisation that its revelation could help other members of her husband's family forces her to find the courage to accept the knowledge and then use it to forge better relations with all of her extended family. Read more