Two States by Chetan Bhagat

Two States by Chetan Bhagat an Indian writer is an immensely readable book. I picked it up at the Wheelers as I was about to board a train. I found the book of great interst as it concerns the life and times of young, educated Indians and professionals who are living life the modern way and succeeding to convince their parents of their good intentions in breaking traditions.

Chetan Bhagat has created two very realistic characters:Ananya and Krish from two different states, Punjab and Tamil Nadu. They meet in IIM their alma mater, and decide to marry. Hailing from different backgrounds it seems impossible at first, but the account of how it is finally achieved through a lot of drama and emotional fan fare is regaling as well as thought provoking. Tamilians and Punjabis are juxtaposed in true filmy style and the travails and grandeur of Indian weddings sympathetically dealt with.

The novel depicts the tough battle the two are engaged in in making cultures meet . The novel in that sense is a metaphor for the breaking of boundaries and cultural frontiers with out which it would be impossible to live amicably in the fear and prejudice driven world of today.

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Originally Posted by sadhana

Two States by Chetan Bhagat an Indian writer is an immensely readable book. I picked it up at the Wheelers as I was about to board a train. I found the book of great interst as it concerns the life and times of young, educated Indians and professionals who are living life the modern way and succeeding to convince their parents of their good intentions in breaking traditions.

Chetan Bhagat has created two very realistic characters:Ananya and Krish from two different states, Punjab and Tamil Nadu. They meet in IIM their alma mater, and decide to marry. Hailing from different backgrounds it seems impossible at first, but the account of how it is finally achieved through a lot of drama and emotional fan fare is regaling as well as thought provoking. Tamilians and Punjabis are juxtaposed in true filmy style and the travails and grandeur of Indian weddings sympathetically dealt with.

The novel depicts the tough battle the two are engaged in in making cultures meet . The novel in that sense is a metaphor for the breaking of boundaries and cultural frontiers with out which it would be impossible to live amicably in the fear and prejudice driven world of today.

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It is really nice to see you on this forum starting off with Chetan Bhagat and I have recently read his best seller One night at the call center and of course he is a good writerl though some times from a literary or critical standpoint he does not rank next to Arundhati Roy or, Amitav Ghosh or the rest of new genres. Notwithstanding this criterion I enjoyed reading his book. However the one you quote must be his new debut and I have yet to read it and I will do so once it comes in my local bookshop

This is a great review. I like to read books from other cultures as I get sick of reading the classics. The book sounds appealing.

Chetan Bhagat is not listed among the classics. But he is higly contemporary in his assessment of present day society. He also writes for the Times of India. To those who would like to learn about social reality and India in transition this book would definitely be helpful. I wrote about this book mainly because I had a fell good sensation that he could be so humane in approach, blaming none for being different, respecting difference, and understanding human nature. The style is detached and humour abundant.

Well, I did say I get sick of reading the classics.

As for detached as a writing style, I usually don't like that. But thanks for the follow-up.

This book is not listed on Amazon in the states. No, I have not gone to my local book store.