Apr 01, 2010 09:20 PM
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Here comes the James Bond – Aha! Not the detective who goes overboard solving queer and breath-taking mysteries. But an Indian James Bond who risks his own life and career to Bond the two poles-apart communities (North and South) through his own marriage.
Krish, an IIT, IIMA Punjabi guy, the hero and the protagonist character of the novel goes narrating his story when he met Ananya, a Tamilian Brahmin in his early days of IIMA. Ananya who was the heart throb and also voted as the best girl in the institute was Krish’s area of pride and possessiveness at the same time. Though he inwardly appreciated Ananya’s company but couldn’t stand his stature as the thirteenth one in her suitor’s line to be dropped dead. Gradually with the pace of time and intimacy their relationship solidified into love. However, you are bound to give Ananya here, the higher grades for actually being the ‘man’ in this relationship. I found her spontaneous, lively and organized who led from the front and also maneuvered Krish to enter the danger zone of convincing her family.
In love another important factor that resides side-by-side is Fatal Attraction. And it has been repeatedly put across by the author in various ways where he fell in love with Ananya everytime by her amiable gestures. Her letter, her snap, her kisses she planted on him at his official function or a shop, her groovy dance steps, her makeover at special occasions etc. made him long for her at every passing day. He landed up taking his Citi Bank job in Chennai to woo Ananya’s parents along with her. Here, he faced invisible but indomitable boulders to convince her parents. Tough luck and tough time! From cold behavior to ignorance of language to bookworm brother-in-law, Manju to Ananya’s over qualified suitor he faced them all, finally to win their hearts by his noble intention to marry their daughter.
Back at home in Delhi, Krish did not have a very congenial family who would accept a communal wedding with pomp and honor. Krish’s mom lived more of her life catering what her maternal relatives would say and making paneer recipes. She had a strange fetish for a daughter-in-law as white as milk and one who would bring petrol pumps or santro cars more than happiness for her son. His father, an x-army man, was extremely dominating who expected his son to be a mere extension of his own ego. But since destiny didn’t permit such an easy life, he landed up failing and falling against his own defiant son. That incident gave birth to a perpetual hatred between the son and the father for the next coming years.
In this tug-of-war between his in-laws and parents will Krish make his foothold strong for himself or he would be drawn into depression? Will he again come to terms with his lonely dad? Will Anaya and Krish suffice the insurmountable differences of the two communities? Will Krish win back everyone’s confidence and make everyone smile in their wedding? Will love win against communal rigidities? Take a deep breath and finish the book at one go!
The most attractive part of the book is the language that the author has chosen. Mr. Bhagat never missed to put masalas of all brands in his sambar and paneer dishes that will keep you hooked all the way. He dared to put forth the hypocrisy and fake mannerisms that every community boasts on, be it Tamil or Punjab. Community and culture should help one to grow and build his latent faculties, instead of being the hanging rope to compel him to give away his life. The way Chetan Bhagat has depicted this message off and on through various situations, characters, harsh language, sarcasm that reveals his inner crave to begin a war of unity against diverse minds.
Lastly, having sex for national integrity is surely not a bad cause to be questioned upon; rather, I feel a person who believes in love and has been in love would look beyond racial and communal disputes to give his children a national acclaim. Hats off to you Mr. Bhagat to be one of the torch bearers of this New India!
