Book Review : One Indian Girl
I doubted that grooming of children suffers in homes where both parents work. The doubt however remains. I believed women who don't 'work' (paid work) are no lesser then who do. The belief still remains. But my hope that women get every right to do whatever they want to - work, wed, whatever - has been reinforced. My wish that men - father, husband, whoever - don't get to decide what a woman should do or not, has been revived. Thanks to 'One Indian Girl.
The journey of Radhika has no epiphanic eureka. It has euphoria. It has hits and misses. It has stumbling and soaring stories. It has delight and despair of a girl who, though rock solid "in work", vacillates on what is the best course of action "in life". Nevertheless she at all junctures is able to muster and carry the conviction to follow her instincts, wild or wise. Her ups and downs in New York, Hong Kong, London and Goa don't make her a hero or a martyr, but she is a survivor as she is able to decide and account for the going-ons in her life.
The book reaffirms what a spot-on story teller is Mr Bhagat. Personally, my creative english gets new shape and depth. And my languishing views and values get a further lease of life.
Excerpts from the Book.
"Why don't they call white-skinned people rice-ish?" (nice ironical extrapolation of 'wheatish')
"Especially for someone like you" (Someone who is not fair and lovely, coy like cow, thus stereotyping women as either qualifying or not as bride or wife material)
"... Mom wanted a sunflower in the lobby when the Gulatis arrived" (objectified as an attractive prize money)
"this inner mini-me... " (a fresh new phrase for conscience)
"With their significant others" (a fresh change from 'better half')
"You are this simple Indian girl. You need to love and be loved." (setting patriarchal standards for her)
"Then I cried. And cried. Till my eyes were as empty as Debu's cupboard." (powerful analogy with a cupboard vacated by the ex-lover)
"... Stared at the bed room ceiling or watched American TV infomercials about slimming products promising eternal fitness and happiness." (poignant replay of distressed and desperate state of mind)
"Why can't women get a wife?" (yes, why not?
"You work hard. That's when luck creeps up on you." (it's hard work, more than anything else, that pays at the end)
"Cold menthol balm on my bruised, wounded heart" (powerful imagery)
"The girl who moved continents but can't move on" (apt play of words)
"It was not the dance (I minded). But the thoughts that danced in the mind." (excellent juxtaposition of dancing mind and body)
"Fresh white lilies and deep red roses" (evocative)
"... My dark life rather than my dark circles" (poignant analogy)
"The girl throws a party for her guy's promotion but the guy can't handle the girl's bonus" (sharp contrast between reaction to 'his' promotion and 'her' increment)
"Fly, as long as you fly beneath me." (patronising patriarchy).
"We want to fly and also want a beautiful nest" (the simple ambition of a simple girl)
I doubted that grooming of children suffers in homes where both parents work. The doubt however remains. I believed women who don't 'work' (paid work) are no lesser then who do. The belief still remains. But my hope that women get every right to do whatever they want to - work, wed, whatever - has been reinforced. My wish that men - father, husband, whoever - don't get to decide what a woman should do or not, has been revived. Thanks to 'One Indian Girl.
The journey of Radhika has no epiphanic eureka. It has euphoria. It has hits and misses. It has stumbling and soaring stories. It has delight and despair of a girl who, though rock solid "in work", vacillates on what is the best course of action "in life". Nevertheless she at all junctures is able to muster and carry the conviction to follow her instincts, wild or wise. Her ups and downs in New York, Hong Kong, London and Goa don't make her a hero or a martyr, but she is a survivor as she is able to decide and account for the going-ons in her life.
The book reaffirms what a spot-on story teller is Mr Bhagat. Personally, my creative english gets new shape and depth. And my languishing views and values get a further lease of life.
Excerpts from the Book.
"Why don't they call white-skinned people rice-ish?" (nice ironical extrapolation of 'wheatish')
"Especially for someone like you" (Someone who is not fair and lovely, coy like cow, thus stereotyping women as either qualifying or not as bride or wife material)
"... Mom wanted a sunflower in the lobby when the Gulatis arrived" (objectified as an attractive prize money)
"this inner mini-me... " (a fresh new phrase for conscience)
"With their significant others" (a fresh change from 'better half')
"You are this simple Indian girl. You need to love and be loved." (setting patriarchal standards for her)
"Then I cried. And cried. Till my eyes were as empty as Debu's cupboard." (powerful analogy with a cupboard vacated by the ex-lover)
"... Stared at the bed room ceiling or watched American TV infomercials about slimming products promising eternal fitness and happiness." (poignant replay of distressed and desperate state of mind)
"Why can't women get a wife?" (yes, why not?
"You work hard. That's when luck creeps up on you." (it's hard work, more than anything else, that pays at the end)
"Cold menthol balm on my bruised, wounded heart" (powerful imagery)
"The girl who moved continents but can't move on" (apt play of words)
"It was not the dance (I minded). But the thoughts that danced in the mind." (excellent juxtaposition of dancing mind and body)
"Fresh white lilies and deep red roses" (evocative)
"... My dark life rather than my dark circles" (poignant analogy)
"The girl throws a party for her guy's promotion but the guy can't handle the girl's bonus" (sharp contrast between reaction to 'his' promotion and 'her' increment)
"Fly, as long as you fly beneath me." (patronising patriarchy).
"We want to fly and also want a beautiful nest" (the simple ambition of a simple girl)
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