Chetan Bhagat “2 States- the story of my marriage”: Book Review

Chetan Bhagat is viewed as one of the best novelists in the sight of younger generation in India at present. The best thing about the novel of Chetan is - he deals with the problems of youth through his novels. While going through the pages of “2 States: The Story of My Marriage” a reader can unquestionably guess that the author might have been inspired by his own life to write this novel. The novel is based on two youngsters namely Krish and Ananya who belong to two different states, castes and religion. Both of them meet each other at IIMA and became good friends within no time. Eventually their friendship turns into love and they resolve to get married soon after getting settled in jobs which they wished. But they have an arduous task before them i.e., accomplishing their parents willing which is really challenging. As Bhagat says in his own words on the back cover of the novel …. “Love marriages around the world are simple: Boy loves girl. Girl loves boy. They get married. In India, there are a few more steps: Boy loves Girl. Girl loves Boy. Girl’s family has to love boy. Boy’s family has to love girl. Girl’s Family has to love Boy’s Family. Boy’s family has to love girl’s family. Girl and Boy still love each other. They get married.” Both of the protagonists especially Krish undergoes numerous hurdles to convince the member of the family of Ananya. It goes without saying that the orthodox people in India are very adamant and obstinate and are reluctant to allow people from other castes to get married. Bhagat has tried his level best to minimize the problems – intercaste, interstate and religious feelings through this novel. Almost until the end of the novel both Krish and Ananya take their turn at their own end to win the favor of each other’s families. Initially, Krish starts working in Chennai in order to maintain close proximity with Ananya family members, organizes a concert for Ananya’s mother to steal her heart, prepares a PPT for Ananya’s father that is related to his officer work and offering coaching in Physics for Ananya’s brother. Coming to Ananya – who is precluded by Krish’s mother and all his relatives. But with all her audaciousness and perceptiveness solves the problem of dowry that is occurred during the marriage ceremony of Krish’s cousin and thus wins the hearts of everyone including Krish’s mother. Chetan Bhagat has touched some of the sensitive issues in this novel which depicts the typical Indian mentality of not accepting inter-caste marriages.