The ups and downs of human life, the upheavals in relationship are nicely crafted in this novel "In custody". A novel of shattered emotion and scattered dreams in Custody reflects the intriocacies of relationships.

Anita Desai is one of the world`s best-known authors. She has influenced lot of writers to come up with their views in a proper way. Her own daughter Kiran Desai is a famous writer who is very much influenced by her mother. Since 1993, she has been teaching in MIT`s program in writing. Anita was born in 1937 in mussoorie. From her very childhood she had an inclination for writing. She was educated in Delhi where she received an AB in English literature from the university of Delhi. Her published works include short stories, children`s books, and eight novels all of which are remarkable in it`s own way. Two of her novels were short-listed for the booker prize. She received the guardian award for children`s fiction and also the 1978 national academy of letters award. Anita Desai is a fellow of the royal society of literature in London. She has been a member of the advisory board for English of the national academy of letters in Delhi and also a member of the American academy of arts and letters. She has been visiting fellow at Girton College, Cambridge. She is married and has four children.

Synopsis: `In custody` is a creation of Anita Desai, which deals with the life of a schoolteacher. The protagonist in this story is Deven. From his childhood he wanted to become a poet but couldn`t do so because of the worldly responsibilities and eventually becomes a schoolteacher. The story revolves around Deven, his feelings and his excitement when he gets the chance to interview the great poet Nur, the greatest living Urdu poet. Nur used to be the inspiration for Deven once. Having always loved Urdu poetry and missed the chance to be an Urdu language professor, he is excited into going to Delhi. Even though he shrinks at the idea of possibly being exploited by his sharp and selfish friend Murad, the dream of meeting Nur draws him on. So he sets off on a number of adventures on Sundays, the one free day that he should have spent with his wife and son. When Deven visits the person Nur he becomes totally disappointed seeing his lifestyle. He is old surrounded by flattering crawlers, married to a younger calculating wife who wants to use his glory to win herself fame. Deven`s thoughts were totally shattered. In order to save the name and works of Nur for posterity, he decides to record his voice on tape for his small-town university. But in this way Deven is exploited monetarily and emotionally. Murad refuses to pay him for submissions to his self-proclaimed literary magazine. His wife Sarla is incensed at his time away. His fellow professors were also against to him.

`In custody` by Anita Desai is published by the famous publishing house HarperCollins, William Heinemann Ltd., Vintage, Minerva, Penguin Books Ltd., etc.

`In custody` by Anita Desai is a touching and wonderful book. This is all about the happenings of a small town professor while he goes to North India. The ups and down of human mind is illustrated in a beautiful way. The protagonist`s dream project of interviewing his dream man ends up in disaster and he remains deserted at the end of the story.