Review: One Indian Girl

One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Having read all of Chetan Bhagat's previous novels I was pretty much prepared about what to expect from this one. His stories have a few fixed elements. The main characters are based in real world settings, urban, usually belonging to middle class families, and academically and professionally successful. The problems or conflicts they face arise through their interaction with social or personal circumstances. Eventually they overcome these obstacles and find happiness or redemption. Bhagat's stories tell very personal and intimate tales. This novel is no different from the Chetan Bhagat template. However, despite the presence of the common elements, there was a first with this book, unlike CB's earlier books where the main characters were usually male with minor exceptions, here he attempts to tell the story from the point of view of a female and thus the title 'One Indian Girl'. This coupled with the fact that Bhagat had openly promoted his book as a kind of never before insight into an Indian girl's mind and her life, almost a demystification of an Indian girl's thoughts, desires, aspirations, struggles and so on had me intrigued and somewhat raised my expectations.

Now, having read this let me put things straight. Contrary to my expectations about this being some sort of a study into the female mind, this book hardly reveals anything new or revolutionary about the female psyche or her struggles that is not already known or written about. Insecurities about looks and body shape, the constant struggle to prove themselves more than mere trophies for men to showcase, ambition to succeed professionally, the conflict to choose work over home or vice versa, the social pressures of marriage and settling down, relationship issues and the need to conform to social norms regarding how girls must behave and act are issues that the protagonist of 'One Indian Girl', Radhika, has to confront and overcome in this story. These are issues that have been cannon for woman oriented literature for years and Bhagat barely breaks into any new territory on that front. The only thing he deserves credit for perhaps is bringing these issues into mainstream, mass literature. It is perhaps an attempt towards sensitising his huge reader base about issues faced by women on a constant basis and thus creating empathy and better understanding. If that was the intent than it is an attempt worth appreciating.

Beside the intent though, the execution remains fairly average and run of the mill. The clichés and stereotypes that have become part of Bhagat’s style are revisited here. The big fat Punjabi wedding in all its glory, featuring nosy relatives, naughty bachelor parties, Sangeet functions, the flirtations between the boy and girl and the chaos and confusion are all present here. The Punjabi mother’s fixation with marriage and her concern about girl being coy and subservient are well described. But, as is the case with Bhagat’s books the book reads more like a screenplay for a Bollywood family melodrama than serious literature. It is marred by the plot and the protagonist Radhika who is one confused and slightly annoying character. She has major insecurities about her looks yet men are falling for her left, right and center. Is that a comment on what goes through a girl's mind or on men in general is open to interpretation.

So, to sum up my views, let me conclude by saying that while this is a reasonably entertaining and breezy read, the plot is convoluted and too outlandish. The story takes too long to unfold and becomes exasperating by the time it reaches the climax. It has its bright moments but overall it is an average read which brings nothing new to the table but only serves as a break from life without leaving any impression or a lesson to take home.


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