2 States: A Quintessentially Indian Story of an Interreligious Marriage

India is well known for its varied cultural heritage as it is known for the effervescent and traditionally diverse marriages. '2 States' is a story of a marriage which is as simple as it can get, yet so intricate. It is a well known fact that marriages in India are more of a family affair where the bride and the grooms' families approve of one another before the couple ties the knot.

The story revolves around Krish and Ananya; hailing from two different states in India and their simple love story laced with intricacies as they decide to take the plunge. The families do not approve of the diverse traditions and think low of the future of their marital harmony. The book is a take on inter-religious marriages and their alleged ambiguity in India.

'2 States' by Chetan Bhagat takes you on a splendid journey to the land of mystic splendor -India. A boy from Punjab falls in love with a girl from Tamil Nadu and they decide to tie the knot. The next important thing they ought to do is convince their families about the alliance. Chetan Bhagat says, in India when a boy and a girl love each other, there is a sequence of events that ensue before the nuptials. The families need to approve of each other and the events that proceed are fodder for drama, verbal arguments and in this book, a whole lot of wit.

What makes the book special? The explicit aura which envelopes Chetan Bhagat's books is certainly the highest scorer. Chetan Bhagat narrates the beautiful story of his marriage to a Tamil Brahmin and has dedicated '2 States' to his in-laws. He vows to bring to his readers, the best that an Indian love marriage can offer.

Three blockbusters and one more in the making; Chetan Bhagat certainly knows to wield his pen. His earlier books have been acclaimed and consequently made into movies.  They created quite a ripple in the literary world and his latest is now up for sale. Although critically analyzed and castigated for not being a literary genius, books by Chetan Bhagat, do have mass appeal and an inexplicable aura.

Love marriages in India are often a bumpy ride with arranged marriages being the family's preference. Parent's opinion does matter to youngsters and Bhagat is one of those to whom it matters a great deal. The book has all the quintessential nuances of a Chetan Bhagat book. The language is simple so is the story. It has anecdotes from his life; a reflection of his marriage to a South Indian Brahmin. Since the book is drawn from his life experiences, it makes for an interesting read. Readers who have loved his earlier books are bound to take to this one as well. Interestingly, the price of the book remains the same as it was five years ago. If the direct message is "too many surprises in one bag" then one ought to read the '2 States' to unravel more.