I came across ‘Chetan Bhagat’ few weeks ago in a blog; I was impressed by the story- a man quitting his Investment banking job to become a writer and his internal and external struggles as he started his writing career. And soon I came to know his books were made into bollywood movies and it was then I got “2 States, the story of my marriage” from a friend of mine to read.
Chetan aspired to be a writer because he hoped to bring changes through the mightier weapon. Conversely, the book reflects the drastic changes that already have occurred in my country. Moving in with a classmate and living together in campus was unheard of not so long ago when I was in the campus. (For my sanity I want to believe that sixteen years is a small time frame!) The conflict between the change in moral and social values of our younger generation with that of older generation who resists those changes are the main theme of the book. After sixty some years of independence, it will take a few more generations to break the boundaries of language and culture to assert we are Indians first and any other identity comes only second to this. As always, the first ones who try to break free have to get over the inertia.
Ananya and Krish represent modern India, middle class overachievers who earn in a year what their parents earned in a life time. What strikes me the most is their willingness to go to any length to get the parents onboard with them. As they widen their horizon to the endless possibilities of the new world they conquered through hard work and parental support, they are also held back because of their love and devotion to their parents. Their parents brought them up with great sacrifices, providing everything they wanted. The grateful children don’t like to go against the parents even when many of the customs, values, and tradition of their parents are not relevant anymore in the new world. How Kirsh and Ananya convince their parents of their choice and transcend the boundaries of the region and caste is the plot of the story. As for parents, they have a new struggle to face – while they feel proud of their children’s accomplishments, they can’t digest the price they have to pay for this success they help their children achieve. They can’t let go of their children.
Chetan’s language is crisp and humorous. As you read, you identify with the feelings of the characters and that’s exactly in my opinion, makes this book an irresistible read. You have heard this story before in many different forms, but there is something in the book that makes you want to finish this book in one sitting, at the end you feel as if you have come out of a movie theater watching a successful bollywood masala. I see a great scope for him as a script writer and wish him all the success.
