The Binding

In a small town in Tamil Nadu, Rasangam lives with his widowed mother and aunt, and siblings and cousins. Thrust prematurely into the shoes of the patriarch and keenly aware of the need to protect the family’s standing in their conservative society, Rasangam abandons his dreams of higher education.

When great misfortune befalls his beloved elder brother and then his younger sister, Rasangam is heartbroken. However, the foundations of their ties and resilience as a family run deep, nurtured by the meticulous yet overlooked care of the women. He turns to his faith – surrendering to the will of Allah, devoting himself to religious service and undertaking the Haj – which earns him the respect that had eluded him all his life. But history appears to repeat itself years later with Imran, Rasangam’s dutiful son, whose love is thwarted by political propaganda, throwing up questions about the reality of societal progress.

In this sparkling narrative, celebrated Tamil author Salma grapples with the many forces that shape our lives: faith, family, tradition and the complicated bonds that link us to one another. Brought to life for English readers by award-winning translator Janani Kannan, The Binding is a quiet meditation on how that which tethers the human heart can also fetter it.