Chetan Bhagat's 'Two States'

I just finished reading Chetan Bhagat’s Two States. I have read lot of piping reviews about the book. But didn’t know why I decided to put off reading it. Now, that I have completed it, I feel that a void has suddenly disappeared. Chetan has done a fabulous job. There are writers waiting for a chance to rip him to pieces. They have called him names. They claimed it was luck that made his “ Five point someone” a hit. Some have even questioned, “Why is he even thinking of writing more books?”

My thoughts were much, much on similar lines. With top-seeded writers like Arundhati Roy, Vikram Seth, Amitav Ghosh, Shobha De…excelling in this part of the literary world, I thought this guy hasn’t a chance. Not an iota of it. Scripting biographies is different, but when it comes to writing gripping fiction only a few Indians have tread the path successfully. So, I was quite sure in my mind that his books would sink like stone in water.

But Chetan seems to be made up of sterner stuff. He had gone on to prove his detractors wrong with ‘Two States.’ If you are an Indian and understand cross-cultural differences, Chetan’s “Two States’ is a story that rings home perfectly. The story of Krish and Ananya (Initially, I thought which guy would think of names like that and succeed!) are people from typical middle class families. Like all typical middle class families, their parents hate love marriages. Like all typical Indian real life happenings, the story takes you on a whirl-wind of a ride.

With Krish and Ananya hailing from two different regions matters only take to worse. The book subtly puts across these glaring differences in the mindsets. The mismatch in the mental frameworks is absolutely fun to read. Imagine Tamilian and Punjabi families forced to stay in the same room for over an hour and you’ll know that colorful fireworks of a different kind are set to explode.

It’s obvious that Chetan has done a good amount of research, the way he brings in the differences and takes potshots at each others cultural differences is bone tickling. His humour is subtle. I liked the part, where Rajji mama along with his Punjabi clan dance to the Tamil version of the songs from the movie, Gentlemen, at Krish and Ananya‘s engagement. As there weren’t any Hindi CDs available in Tamil Nadu, Rajji mama had to make do with the Tamil version. With drinks taking complete toll, in a fit of excitement, he declares that with a top up of two more drinks everyone of his Punjabi brethren could even understand Tamil words. You couldn’t help but laugh out loud at such outrageous statements. The story is juicy and the humour, juicier.

Chetan Bhagat with his book, 'Two States' has surely won new hearts apart from reinforcing his stand as a good writer to his earlier loyalists. Kudos to him!

Sungha Jung - Can play on your emotions

I was searching for Eric Clapton’s, “Tears in Heaven” song when I came across this kid. I have never seen anyone so good at guitar. And look at him, he is so young, he’s got a whole future ahead. I have been on the guitar, for say, 15 years still I don’t think I can ever come any closer to this little fella's playing!

He is so cool and collected when he is playing the instrument, I am dead sure he will go a long way. Hats off to this prodigy! And,and...guess what piece he is playing here?

Miss Hussain... Miss His Works.

Actually, I had written this piece in a cyber café the day after Hussain Saab died. But thanks to the technology there all that remained was a blank sheet at the end. The icing on this was, the cafe owner demanding money for utilizing his piece of junk which he claims is a top-end computer. This, after calling him over and giving him ample time to save the write up on the comp – which he couldn’t do. Ah! Talk of looting, the Indian way.

Back to my favorite artist. Actually, when someone in the agency screamed Maqbool Fida Hussain passed away. I hardly paid any notice. Thinking it was someone else. Not for one moment relating it to the world renowned Indian artist. While the world was feeling for the loss of this virtuoso, I was, in fact, hardly aware of it. Only when the front lines in the newspaper screamed at me the next day, did I knew of it.

Ironically, as if some divine force was hinting that his stay on earth was almost edging to a finish, I, only a few days before the ill-fated event, downloaded a painting of his as a memoir, hoping I would hang it in the living room after furnishing it with other collaterals (I am not so rich to own a real Hussain, not yet though.). The only time I saw Hussain’s real work was a mural deftly crafted on a huge expanse of a wall in my dad’s office. While it colorfully sat on the wall I know it also conspicuously stood out. I, like many others, agree his works transcend time and each piece looks like it has been specially crafted for that era.

Although I have a vague recollection of the mural I have seen years ago, I still take time to google-search his works on the web. His horses were something that blew my imagination every time and kept me wanting to see more. The bold strokes. The fiery play of colours. The complex emotions…yes, these works carried the hallmark of a true genius. And there’s none who could beat him easily at this game on the eastern horizon.

Of course, many Indian artists vehemently refuse to agree on this. But one would easily see through that they are only burning with envy. Hussain was the only artist who, in fact, brought all the Indian artists’ works into international limelight. His jacked-up prices for his works not only caused a ruffle but actually garnered global reputation for Indian art. Instead of heaping praises on such an individual, these flocks only sulk. Which I feel is downright intolerable.

I have been and will always be a huge fan of his. I feel no shame to state this. Of course, I don’t support his vagrant artistic indulgence which hurt religious sentiments of people but when you overlook the part that makes him look “shady”, you see beyond: a man who literally painted the town red. M. F. Hussain truly deserves everyone’s praise.

P.S: Some have told me that the name M.F. Hussain is wrongly spelt with a double 'ss' in this post but I have intentionally retained it like many others writers - who did so keeping in context with the standard pronunciation rules. Yes, M.F Hussain does sign his works with a single 's.'