Name of the book: 2 States: The story of my marriage
Author: Chetan Bhagat Publisher: Rupa & Co, New DelhiYear of publication: 2009Pages: 269Reviewed by: J.N. ManokaranChetan Bhagat has created one more novel that would emerge as best seller. He has established himself in the mould of R.K. Narayan of this generation. It is a well written novel. The language is simple; style is great; vocabulary is postmodern; plenty of humour; lot of insights and sudden twists and turns in the plot. The novel brings to focus the diversity of Indian culture. The two states of India: Punjab and Tamil Nadu are culturally distinct. No wonder the Tamilians and Punjabis are proud of their own culture. There is lot of prejudice in the minds of people from both States. There are misconceptions and misplaced judgements in their minds about the other people. The novel brings out the clash of values of people from two cultures in a humorous manner. Also, it brings to focus about marriage, how nuclear families struggle and how relatives behave or misbehave or respond to various situations. The status of woman is subtlety evaluated in this novel. Dowry as an evil is attacked and condemned. Unfortunately, as in the author’s previous novels, pre-marital sex is portrayed as normal for modern young people in urban India. The author tries to critique both the Tamil and Punjabi culture in an objective manner. Some of the observations are valid and are insightful. Tamilans have a ‘complexion complex’, while Punjabis have a pride about their ‘milk white’ complexion. Tamilians dabbed talcum that gave them a grey skin tone and wonders why Tamilians are obsessed with colour. Punjabi mothers and daughters buy salwar kameezes by the dozen to show their material prosperity. The daughters all thin and the mothers were all fat. In Chennai the author first observations were: “First, the sign in every shop was in Tamil. The Tamil font resembles those optical illusion puzzles that give you a headache if you stare at them long enough. Tamil women, all of them, wear flowers in their hair. Tamil men don’t believe in pants and wear lungis even in shopping districts. The city is filled with film posters. The heroes’ pictures make you feel even your uncles can be movie stars. The heroes are fat, balding, have thick moustaches and the heroine next to them is a ravishing beauty. Maybe, my mother has a point in saying that Tamil women have a North Indian men.” (P.77-78)For Tamilians, , anything fun comes with guilt. In contrast, Punjbais are fun loving people. The Tamil sense of humour, if there is any, is really an acquired one. Fashion is not Chennai’s hallmark: as characters from Tamil Nadu wear misplaced accessories in unwarranted situations. Tamilians value education, but also love gold. Tamil women wear bangles that are thick like handcuffs. Punjabi sensibilities will not allow to go to someone’s house without gift like biscuits, to compensate the calories consumed there. Marble flooring is to a Punjabi what a foreign degree is to Tamilian. Tamilians love to keep complicated names first and then make acronyms for the same.“Few things bring out the differences between Punjabis and Tamilians than buffet meals. Tamilians see it like any other meal….For Punjabis, food triggers an emotional response, like say music.” (P.222) Tamilians ate their meals as if in mourning’A Punjabi house is never this silent even when people sleep at night. Tamilians homes are so silent that every crunch could be heard clearly in the room. Tamilans love to irritate non-Tamil speakers by speaking only Tamil in front of them. This is the only silent rebellion in their otherwise repressed, docile personality.Carnatic music for Punjabis are like long wails, as if someone was being slowly strangled. It could cause trauma for Punjabi women. The author makes stunning observations about men, especially married Indian men. They cannot stand any happiness in their wives’ lives, which includes her meeting her siblings. If not domestic violence, demonstration of power by men in homes is common. A crystal glass was smashed on the floor that brings out the intended anger against his wife. Indian men slam their wives for their sisters with zero hesitation. Indian men don’t do emotions too well. Married men have to endure every day; ‘you won’t understand’ statements from their wives. Eligible grooms are auctioned off by their parents to the highest bidder. Receiving dowry is loss of dignity for men. The only time grown-ups get excited about young people is when young people are getting married and the old people control the proceedings. In India, marriage is between two families not two individuals. Young lovers are in dilemma with a question: “But if our happiness makes so many people unhappy is it the right thing to do?” (p.163) Three steps for bride’s family should do to appease bridegroom’s family: Buy an expensive gift for mother – in – law; pay for all expenses and never allow son-in-law to work, when every one is around. When the women is being served by the girl’s father; they are excited - this is what grown ups live for anyway, considering they have so little fun otherwise. Mother-in-law as women get real identity only when she attains this status of being served by daughter-in-law and her family. Women always find other reasons to be miserable. Women have surplus emotions and they don’t need a big trigger to spill them out. “I guess there are no normal families in the world. Everyone is a psycho, and he average of all psychos is what we call normal.” (p.247) Mother-in-laws don’t want their daughters-in-law to raise their voice or answer back. They have to under the my thumbs of mothers-in-law. “For dysfunctional families, television is the biggest boon. Without this electronic glue, millions of Indian families will fall apart.” (p.233)The author looks into the advantages and disadvantages of ‘love marriage’ and ‘arranged marriage’. Youngsters struggle with idealism and emotional attachment. The lead characters do not want to elope but want approval of both parents for their marriage. Postmodern youngsters seek consensus and compromise. The new generation moves from idealism and pragmatism. In the Corporate culture, MBAs never left until eight. South Indians are top class number two officers, but horrible in number one positions – is an observation made by one of the characters. In Corporate culture you definitely have to get noticed, you don’t have to do the work. That’s how corporate work, everyone knows it. So, pinpoint presentation, sorry, power point presentation is the magic formula. Yes, one of the great value additions is to make everything sound important. “Like all corporate meetings worldwide, even this one had ended without a conclusion.” (P.147)The author has challenged the narrow parochialism in the minds of people and has daringly called to have broad minded attitude. Transcending beyond regional or state boundaries, all Indians should be Indians first. In the multi-cultural context of cities in India today, this novel is a eye opener for many who have closed minds. To understand the young emerging India, the novel is a great tool.
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Publications Book Reviews Name of the book: 2 States: The story of my marriage
Publications Book Reviews Name of the book: 2 States: The story of my marriage
Name of the book: 2 States: The story of my marriage
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