Kausalya Saptharishi, a freelance journalist in the United States, in her debut novel The TamBrahm Bride traces the matrimonial journey of protagonist Shalu, whose parents belonging to Tamil Brahmin community make it their full-time job to search a ‘perfect match’ for their daughter.
The TamBrahm Bride, explores the dizzying world of South Indian arranged marriage market dominated by stars, astrologers, matchmakers and a variety of ego characteristic boys' families.
"I had never planned that my first fiction would be about the TamBrahm arranged marriage set-up. It just happened the way because, I guess, somewhere in my subconscious, my own experiences as a Tamil Brahmin bride was waiting to be told through fiction," Kausalya, who was born in erstwhile Madras and brought up in Delhi, said.
Shalu's parents are passionate for an NRI groom, who carries more clout than his India-based counterparts.
During the course of the marriage, 23-year-old Shalu is forced to present herself in traditional attire (saree), and serve hot drinks and traditional snacks for the groom and his family members and sit modestly in front of them answering questions posed by the boy's parents.
Shalu, an obedient daughter of an orthodox Tamil Brahm parents, agrees to an arranged marriage, but stays stubborn on continuing her dreams, regardless of her matrimonial destiny.
"Ever since I experienced some of the aspects integral to the arranged marriage system such as bride-viewings, I got interested in this topic.
