Ratna Vira’s debut novel describes the ordeal of a woman who struggles to find her identity. By Divya Kaushik
While she was interning with Warlaw, Women’s Action Research & legal Action for Women run by Rani Jethmalani, several years ago, Ratna Vira came across several cases of issues faced by women and realised that problems faced by women are not limited to any strata or class of society. In fact their suffering spanned the social and economic strata, the entire spectrum of women. This experience coupled with what she saw around her formed the basis of the story of her debut novel, Daughter By Court Order (Fingerprint).
The book tells a story of Aranya, who is denied her rights by her own family. She discovers that her family has been fighting a decade-long legal battle over her grandfather’s expansive estate, all the while not only keeping her in the dark, but also keeping her very existence out of the court’s knowledge. The narrative discloses the half-truths, betrayals and dirty family secrets. Aranya’s family, which is huge, powerful, rich and ruthless tries to suppress her but it is hope and optimism that keeps her going. She decides to stand for her rights, identity and existence.
Though the narrative is based around the court case, the story delves deeper into relationship issues that most women face. The writer shares, “This book is a nuanced look at relationships, especially of mother and daughter. Mostly it is seen that a relationship between mother and daughter is shown as a very strong one and it should be like that, but in my story it is the mother who has never accepted her daughter as part of the family. Though the grandparents, uncles and aunts love her but it is the mother’s voice that is strongest in the family and due to that she has to face so many issues while growing up. Also, through this story I have shared that the pain and rejection that some children face is carried forward to the next generation. I have tried to tell through the story that the future generation should not bear the burden of what we have gone through. That is why in the story Aranya tells her children that they are free to have their own lives and live their own dreams.”
Vira is a postgraduate in English literature and an MSc in Industrial Economics and Personnel Management from lSE. She has been exposed to the legal system due to the work of her maternal grandfather, HD Shourie. “Though the basic plot of the story is based on the legal grounds, there aren’t many legal jargons involved, to keep it reader-friendly. I researched deeply before stating legal facts about women and her rights in India. I noticed that there isn’t much documentation of legal rights for women and that is why most of them are not aware about it. Even if they are aware, they are reluctant to talk about them or claim them. It is taken that it will be men from the family inheriting the ancestral property. ‘Facts’ and ‘proof’ are recurring themes in the book. The legal basis for evidence in India is the Indian Evidence Act (Act 1 of 1872). Since it came into force, in 1872, the Act has retained its original essence, although it has been amended from time to time (for instance, to take account of electronic and similar communications and information). Before this Act, the rules of evidence varied for different social groups and communities. Aranya, the protagonist of the book, has to rely on the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, at various stages in her court battle,” informs the author, who has already started work on her second book, “which is about people, relationships and society.”