This is the first book I’ve read by an Indian author. I wanted one which was set in India, but didn’t have India or “Indianness” as the theme of the book as such. I tried reading Midnight Chidren by Salman Rushdie and abandoned it because I found it too boring. Everyone assured me that “2 States” wasn’t about India as such, but about two people. They were right…and a bit wrong as well. The story is about how two people from different states fall in love and can’t get married because the parents will object to it.
I was shocked by how big a jerk the main protagonist was. It’s written in the first person, but I can’t feel any sympathy whatsoever for the lead character. He’s thoughtless, puts up with all kinds of rudeness from his overbearing and nauseatingly bigoted mother and doesn’t utter a peep when she openly insults the girl he loves. In one situation his mother complains about how she’s too independent, and thinking themselves alone he assures her that she’ll be brought under control once married. The girl overhears this and predictably leaves him in a fit of rage. He goes to pieces and we’re supposed to feel sorry for him.
Sorry dude, but if you act like an asshole you deserve to be treated like one.
After they both have sex for the first time, the girl begins to ask him about their future. Granted it’s a bit naive for her to simply assume that there’s going to be a future and I can’t blame the guy for not really thinking about it. But even after he becomes aware of how important the question is for her, he pretends not to understand what she’s talking about and keeps putting her off. Total jerk material.
Usually in books written in the first person, the author makes the reader sympathetic to his cause. Reasons are given for even shameful conduct and while the reader may not approve of his or her actions, they can at least understand the motivations. But Chetan Bhagat gives nothing – no explanations for why he acts like a prick. He completely alienated me and made me feel he deserved his misfortune.
His final plot resolution came out of nowhere. A complete deus ex machina. In real life he would be reaping the consequences of his actions to this date. Only in the middle of the book do I begin to like him when he’s trying to win over the girl’s parents. But then he falls back into prickiness again.
The girl is only slightly better. She’s unable to see how insulting her own parents are and refuses to say a word against them. She doesn’t want to marry anyone else, but still allows her parents to fix up meetings with other men. It’s not only unjust to the guy she’s in love with, it’s also unfair to the men who come to see her.
The book is full of stereotypes. No attempt is made at character development and our author happily judges people based on their hair do, their accent and the food they eat. Granted lots of people judge in this way, but I read an author for his superior insight into the world not for his superficial judgement of appearances.
My wife tells me that all people are like this. That almost everyone in India is entirely beholden to their parents. I can’t and won’t believe this. It’s not possible for everyone to be such a big asshole as the main protagonist. Perhaps he exaggerated and actually did try and restrain his mother when she behaved in such a shocking manner towards the girl and his parents. I certainly hope so. If my wife is right and most people in India are like this I’m gonna get real depressed.
Hahahaha..you actually expected the guy not to be jerk? 90% of Indian guys behave in exactly the same way. At least 90% of guys I know do. There has been only 1 exception so far.
This book wasn’t about the character development or intellectual message or even about the story. It was completely and totally about various stereotypes. I liked the book because I have seen almost all the stereotypes described in the book. So I throughly enjoyed it.
This book is not for analyzing or criticizing. Its a light read. And it is completely and totally about India. At least different stereotypes of India. With increasing number of cross culture marriages, I guess this book hits a nerve.
I won’t recommend any other book by Chetan Bhagat though. Most of them are actually either boring or offensive. This is one of his best…
In reply to Richa
“90% of Indian guys behave in exactly the same way”
I agree.
“There has been only 1 exception so far.”
What a coincidence! Even I’ve only come across one exception so far. And I married him ;)
Kidding. I know a lot of guys who are decent. But the thing is, one can never really predict how most of them would behave when put into the same situation as the protagonist here… (you know, the whole marriage..parents…societal norms thingy)
I agree with Richa though. The book is about stereotypes that exist in the Indian society. And you can only see the humor in the book if you know and (kind of) accept these stereotypes.
That aside, I did like Chetan Bhagat’s ‘5 point someone’. It was light and funny.. and takes you right back to college times!
In reply to Anupa
“in India even exceptions run into millions”
In reply to Richa
Well, I expected that a guy who’s educated, been to IIT/IIMA and is a writer would have broken out of the mould enough to be a decent guy!
In reply to bhagwad
Bhagwad,
Though I’ve not read the story, I’m not sure if it is indeed Chetan Bhagat’s story ‘ditto’. Has he made that claim?
His female character in 5.someone was lot less unidimensional, I thought.
In reply to Ketan
I didn’t say it was his story ditto – I was just going by what the character in the book is supposed to be…
Bhagwad your wife is right, Most men in India are like this. Its sickening fact to accept. Criticize the work not the characters of the story. But yes books do have impact on people.
In reply to Radhika
Radhika, the wife is always right. You will soon come to realise this :)
Yeah, I thought the protagonist was kind of jerk, too. I mean if 90% of Indian guys are like this, then I’m hoping this is just an exaggeration.
Then again it seems like you and I both missed the point of the book. ;)
In reply to RenKiss
I’m sure this 90% figure is wrong. It’s simply not possible for so many educated and thoughtful people to be jerks.
Your wife is right about Indian men (maybe, you should listen to her more) – most of them are like the protagonist…I’m surprised you picked this book – it’s at best, a good bathroom read…
In reply to Sraboney
A bathroom read…how apt!
2 States certainly NOT the best book of Chetan Bhagat to read. You are right, it’s full of stereotypes. His first book, 5 Point Someone, is the one I liked most. (BTW, he’s far from my favorite authors, okay.) And then the One Night @ Call center is likable as it’s a new concept. 3 Mistakes of My Life is also very good compared to this one.
In reply to Darshan Chande
I’m not sure I’m going to be reading Chetan Bhagat again…too much of an initial shock!
Most men are like that? Very good!
Why no one is saying anything about Mother in Law? Is she a man or a woman?
Secondly, these are very objective and to generalize these exposes their their own lack of understanding.
It is fair to ask women, what kind of men you want, mam?
Hrithik Roshan or Khans? Sorry, I am not going to go down to those levels.
Thirdly, what women want? Can this be answered in one affirmative?
You know what, after conversations with many women on web, I will be the last one to believe that women want independence.
In reply to What-to-do?
So according to you, if women don’t want independence, what do they want?
In reply to bhagwad
I will be very glad to know that and you can enlighten me. I will complete this question, do humans know what they want?
I am just replying to above comments of generalizing so easily. Typical male chauvinism exists to a large extent in our society but to blame this solely on men and stereotyping them is ridiculous like some commentators did who probably can not understand difference between modernism and western-ism.
Before I go, I will say this, and I said this at another blog i.e. I feel we all want to be understood.
In reply to What-to-do?
It’s possible we may not know exactly what we want. But I got the feeling you believe that women want to be dependent rather than independent.
Is that what you were trying to say?
Also, I’m not sure what this has to do with being modern, Indian, or Western. Could you please elaborate?
I don’t agree with your review. I don’t believe Chetan was being a jerk. There are ways to handle situations like when rude mothers wanna make a point. One doesn’t create a scene in front of future in-laws but handles it as delicately as possible, even if that means being a yes-man to pacify the mom. And yes, the characters in the book are very believable. Being a half punjabi I have seen the punjabi arrogance and, having lived in Chennai for 20 yrs have seen the simple and US-crazy tamilians as well. The book was very true to life and if you cannot understand that then it means you haven’t dealt with these two cultures enough :)
In reply to Sonal
Well, I feel that if the mother is being so openly rude, a scene has already been created. Pacifying her is like trying to politely hush a misbehaving kid who’s being rude to everyone around them. It’s his mom and she’s there because of him. Her behavior is his responsibility too.
“Pacifying” her only implies that there was nothing wrong with her behavior. This guy needs to grow a spine.
Bhagwad
In a country where people get killed for loving someone against their parents’ wish, this character must be a revolutionary, don’t you think? :P
I have read all of Chetan Bhagat’s books and I’ve reached a conclusion that he either has a unique sense of humour or he doesn’t have any sense of humour at all. I agree with one of the commentators point about that he simply tries to bring different stereotypes to life.
Having said that, I somewhat liked his two books – five point someone and one night at a call centre. Again, much of what he writes is black humour but he did bring those characters to life in these two books.
In reply to Ashish Deodhar
Well, thing is I didn’t expect this from a modern, educated and obviously self aware individual. Those khap wackos are a product of their circumstances. Here this guy’s got a chance to see the outside world and learn what’s right and what’s not and he still behaves like this?
In reply to bhagwad
You, sir, are obviously very important person. Please keep writing this type blog so that Indian can also get some piece of big knowledge from outside world from people like you. Big knowledge they must be teaching in big city like Chicago in US. Many time, I meet some woman from America also when I get chance to stay there for few year. At least 2 of them tell me their boyfriend/husband abuse them physically. Sometime husband even make house in foreclosure and then marry and cheat wife, they tell. But I not believe. How can? After all, in US, big knowledge, big country, big people, everyone so “decent”. I from small town, so my English bad, sorry. My American accent also not good.
And yes, I came to this post for a reason more selfish than it would be otherwise. :)
This was the very first story I had written (since then I’ve written 4 more): http://ketpan.wordpress.com/2010/11/17/residua/
If you find time, please do read and tell me what do you think.
And yes, I am ready to face abuse, because I know it is a very dry story, with no humor, no murder, not much of mystery, etc.
If you start reading the story, but get bugged in between, then also do let me know.
Thanks in advance!
In reply to Ketan
Let’s see if I get around to it :) …no promises though!
I hate saying bad things about anyone’s work, but I do agree that Chetan Bhagat’s 2 States is about two people that I find completely despicable and shallow. Both the male and female leads vie with each other to be nominated for the Darwin Awards. Perhaps that’s what he set out to do, so in that case, he has succeeded completely.
In reply to Careless Chronicles
Thanks for feeling the same way – I had begun to think that everyone felt it was normal!