Manoj Kerai

In India, one woman is murdered every hour by her husband's family for a dowry. The Burning Bride follows the story of Uma, a newlywed woman. She starts her new life with many dreams. However, her dreams turn into nightmares when her parents are unable to fulfil the dowry demands made by Madhu, her mother-in-law. The heaven she had imagined transforms into a hell, and the worst part is; there appears to be no escape.

Violence against women is high in India but the irony is that Indian people worship women in the forms of many goddesses. The most commonly worshipped goddess is Durga who has nine forms. Therefore The Burning Bride is told through nine women's perspectives. The multiple perspectives highlights social, psychological and cultural factors which allow the dowry system to claim so many lives every year.

At least 10% of the profits made from the sales of The Burning Bride will support the Asian Circle to fund Oxfam projects to end domestic violence in India.