‘2 States – The Story of My Marriage’ is a novel written by Chetan Bhagat. The writer took inspiration from his own life, but the novel is a work of fiction. The novel is based on the story of a couple, who belongs to different states, castes and religion and wanted to get married. How they meet at IIMA campus and the way they convince their parents for their marriage is the actual plot of the novel. 2 States, as it is commonly called, is a very interesting novel, which is light and seems real as every second couple in India can relate to this story.
Two main characters of the novel are Krish Malhotra, a north Indian Punjabi boy and Ananya Swaminathan, a Tamilian Brahmin girl. Ananya, who is from an economics background, is the most talked about girl at the campus of IIM Ahemadabad, whereas Krish is an IIT graduate. Soon they become good friends and their friendship turns into love and they start to live together. After the course both of them get job in the companies they have wished. Then Krish proposes to Ananya for marriage. While both of them were ready but not their families as, being from different states opposition from the respective families is obvious in India. Both of them irrespective of their own state and caste specific culture are not stereotyped. They are liberal in their thoughts. In spite of all this, they pick to convince their parents and take turn to win each other’s families. For this, Krish asks his company for his placement in Chennai just to remain close to Ananya’s family. Finally Krish manages to convince them. Then he takes Ananya with him to meet his mother. Except for Krish’s father rest of the family accepted her after an incident in which Ananya saves the marriage of Krish’s cousin. Krish has a very troubled relationship with his father so he tries to ignore him. Again due to cultural difference the marriage is called off and with this Krish goes into depression. Finally Krish’s father convinces everyone for the marriage and they both get married and are blessed with twins.
The entire plot of marriage between individuals from two different states and their cultural differences have been very interestingly depicted. The book really questions the prevalent racism in India and how a couple like Krish and Ananya has to struggle for a marriage. Indians have much fear in accepting the girl or a boy of other clan as in India marriage is not between a boy and a girl but the entire two families. So the fear of that a girl will not adjust in a new culture or she may take a boy along with her is very strong. The book is so compelling that I completed it in one go. The language used is very simple and easy to understand with a humorous tone.
