Introduction

Chetan Bhagat is an eminent literary figure in Indian fiction writing. He is famous for writing on modern issues and considered youth’s icon for dealing with contemporary issues. All his novels are youth centered. He was brought up in a middle class Punjabi family. Bhagat is a motivational speaker and believes in the power of motivation, according to him it works better than intelligence in human life. He is also a column writer in which we finds a different kind of spark, many of his columns had been the subject of serious discussion among intellectual persons in Indian Parliament. He has become successful in accomplishing his dreams by bringing change in the thinking of Indian youths to a great extent. He has been rewarded many awards and recognitions from different reputed agencies, at the time of pursuing his masters degree at IIM; Chetan Bhagat was rewarded ‘Most Outstanding Student’ of his batch. In 2010, he was included among hundred most influential people of the world by ‘Time magazine’ besides it in 2011 he was recognized among 100 most relative people in business by Fast Company. He was listed in the top 100 celebrities of India in 2012 by Forbes India, and also recognized in the category of power list by India today in 2013.We see sometimes he tweets on various sensitive issues like, corruptions, social evils and politics which spark controversies among public, so he has to face great contention on account of his unnecessary intervention in some current issues. His ‘2 States ’or The Story of My Marriage is fourth novel in which he has given an autobiographical touch. He has portrayed real life characters in his novels like R. K. Narayan in Indian writing. The story of this novel is the amalgam of two different cultures. Custom of two different States in their rituals, rites and regulation have been expressed through Punjabi and Tamil family. He exhibits diversity of these two state’s culture through their wearing way, language, food habits, rituals and social customs.

This is the story of two IIM students Krish and Ananya’s struggle from love to their nuptials. Krish, belongs to a Punjabi north Indian family and Ananya from Tamil south Indian Brahmin family. Their marriage is not only inter- caste but also interstates, so cultural conflicts creates great hurdles in making their love nuptial successful. Krish and Ananya both are in deeply love with each other but custom conflicts come in their way of marriage. They want to get married with their parents consent but to win their blessings they have to face many difficulties in adopting both culture’s rituals. They don’t want to elope but marrying with the consent of their parents. Such a big issue of inter-caste or inter-state marriage of present modern society has been treated very skillfully by the author in this novel. Krish and Ananya plans to introduce their parents on the day of convocation. We see on the day of convocation Krish’s mother brings sweets of different type because Punjabis are fond of eating milk products. This cultural difference creates a great misunderstanding between Krish and Ananya’s parents. On the other hand we see Krish mother is shocked when Ananya instead of greeting her say Hi! In western style, but anything modern doesn’t go with Indian parents. Krish mother see south Indian scornfully same thing is with Ananya’s parents. Krish mother doesn’t want her son to get married with a south Indian girl, she also instructs him that all south Indian girl ensnare north Indian boys from heroine Shri Devi, Hema Malini to ordinary girl.

We see due to these cultural conflicts both of their parents don’t like each other. Krish’s mother make taunts on Ananya’s parents that these south Indians leaves their daughter free to ensnare Punjabi boys also adds that they are shameless. We also see not only parents but relative also do their best to make them understand to marry in same caste and states. Thus this couple has to face many problems in getting their parents consent for love marriage. Their parents take them for many exorcists considering them they are under influence of spell this is why they are not in state of listening them. They both face many obstacles in the way of wining each other parents heart. They both try to convert their love into love marriage and decides to overcome their in- laws to convince them to accept their marriage proposal. It was decided by them that they will manage to reveal their love in presence of their parents on convocation day, but cultural difference of both families creates a gap between parents instead of bringing them close.

The author has presented in this novel realistic portraiture of custom conflict, and disagreement of people in contemporary society on various occasion. Krish starts a job at city bank in Tamil to win Ananya’s parents favour and learn their rituals. They decide to take their parents Goa to convince them and bring them closer to each other. Krish mother is from a punjabi family where boys family is given more respect and honour but in south Indian family, boys family is treated normally, when both families meet in Goa Krish mother gets upset seeing that Krish is helping his would-be in-laws in lifting bags. She thinks her son has been trapped by these south Indians, and also expects some gifts from Ananya’s parents and feels disappointed on seeing them empty handed because in Punjabi family boy’s family gets more respect and gifts from girl’s side. These custom clashes can be seen during Goa trip where misunderstanding occurs between both families Krish mother says;

Whatever, have you noticed their biggest blunder? “She said ‘what?’ ‘They didn’t get anything. I gave their daughter two bangle box they should have shame, In Punjabi terms, Ananya’s parents had committed a cognizable offence. You don’t meet the boys side empty handed even few things bring out the differences between Punbaji’s and Tamillian’s than buffet meals. Tamilian’s see it like any other anything that has little black dots of mustard, coconut or curry leaves. (Bhagat, P-222)

Thus, we see after a great controversy and cultural difference both the family gets ready for this marriage but this difference creates hindrances till the ends in marriage. Krish tells Ananya about Punjabi cultures to makes his mother happy; step one that her parents should buy expensive gifts for his mother, step two when they will go out at restaurants her parents should always offer to pay to taxis or anywhere else, and step three never let him (Krish) do any work when everyone around, her mother should bring tea for him at breakfast table. These all things what a Punjabi mother expects from her son’s in-laws besides, it we find that south Indian speaks less while eating food but Punjabi can’t enjoy food without speaking on the dining table. These all things create a gap between the thinking of south Indian and Punjabi. In Goa Krish mother says to Ananya’s mother, how much time has changed now kids decide and parents have to meet each other, in taunting way she says that they must be happy to find such a beautiful and qualified match for their daughter, Ananya’s mother gets irritate hearing this she responses that they do get qualified boys, Tamil’s education value a lot, their relatives are doctors and engineers. Krish mother said they all must be dark boys not fair like Krish, besides it they are also suffering with this relation Ananya’s father is also against this marriage. At this Krish’s mother says our all relatives are also not happy with this marriage. These types of sarcastic comments and arguments represent traditional differences of both the families. At last, we see after facing many hurdles Krish and Ananya got married but these cultural and traditional differences bring to marriage on the verge of breakdown many times before their wedding. Punjabi likes fast music and delicious food in marriage on the contrary Tamils like marriage in a simple way and food should be idli with coconut chutney served on banana leaves. Thus, for Punjabi’s this type of marriage is just like a torture.Punjabi like lassi, butter, sweets and other dairy products on the contrary South Indian wear Kanjivarm saree, gold jewellery and flowers in their hair. They don’t wear suit and pant like Punjabis. In Punjabi families there is the dominanceof groom and given more respect but in Tamil family no superiority from groom side is tolerate. At the time of tying in nuptial knots each family faces custom conflicts.Tamilian’s culture and ritual were quite different from punjabi’s. Krish reveals such one custom of Varutham in which wedding initial prayers were made and Nischayathartham the formal engagement ceremony was celebrated. In Varutham priest were chanting so loudly that many of Krish’s small cousin start to weep with fear. Krish tells us about one ceremony of wearing Vasthi which was put on to him without top by Ananya’s father that was quite transparent and he felt shameful in front of all relatives. There was another ritual of going to Kashi which has been described in a realistic manner;

Ananya’s father gave me the details I had to stand up and announce. I was not interested in the wedding and was going to Kashi to become a sadhu. I didn’t know why they give me an umbrella, but I have to open it and place it to cover my head as I walked out Ananya’s father would come after me and convince me that I should marry his daughter instead I decided to do an extra good job with this ceremony especially as I had dressed up with the vasthi. I stood up gave Ananya’s parents a disgusted look and sprinted out of the hall, he followed me but I walked way faster than him I come to the road took an auto sped off. Hey; Ananya’s dad screamed at full volume. I come out from auto what are you doing? He said panting after the jog, going to kashi, I said and smiled, you didn’t tell me when to stop. (Bhagat,P-262).

Many types of rituals for which Krish’s family was unaware were performed by Ananya’s family. After this ceremony donation ceremony was celebrated by Krish in which he was asked by the priest to put money in Thamboolam and decorated it with pan, betel nut and banana leaves, then it was offered to priest who decided nuptial time and nakshtram. After performing this Ananya’s family and relatives congratulated to each other, wedding time was early in morning. Hearing this Krish relatives were aghast because for Punjabis it was a torture to get up so early in the morning. Tamil ceremony Maalai Maatral is performed in which krish and Ananya exchanged garland like Punjabi jaimala after that another ceremony Onjal takes place in which both married couples are made to sit on swing and Ananya’s relatives fed Krish piece of banana soaked in milk. Finally, Kanyadan was made according to which Ananya sit in lap of her father to perform this ceremony. After it Ananya and Krish dipped a coconut in turmeric and her mother poured water on it. Finally, they are asked by priest to stand for Saptapthi or seven sacred steps in which saree of Ananya was connected with a knot to Krish Vsthi, and held hand in hand Krish placed his feet under Ananya’s feet and take seven steps around the fire. Krish has to slipped silver ring onto Ananya’s toes to perform this custom. Marriage is considered complete after this ceremony and Krish has to take blessing from all relatives by laying fully flat on the ground, then speech and cake cutting ceremony take place. These all customs make Krish’s relatives surprised and Krish irritate. This is the reason why Krish says he will never forget Tamilian’s customs in his life.

On the contrary in Punjabi family there is the tradition of bhangra dance. They don’t enjoy marriage without bhangra, bridegroom sit on the horse and all family members and relatives dance with bhangra in front of bridegroom horse.In marriage of Punjabi boy there is great noise and enjoyment but in south India marriage are performed in a very simple way. Punjabi gives more importance to dowry and luxurious lifestyle but in south Indian marriage education of girl is given more importance than dowry.Thus, we see in many parts of India marriage of an educated boy is on dowry based especially in Punjab. Krish mother and all relatives create many problems in the way of Krish marriage when they come to know about his affair with a Tamil girl Ananya. His mother is very sad hearing his love affair because she wants to tie him in nuptial knot with a Punjabi girl Dolly, not for same religion but for her property because Dolly has no brother and her father is the owner of six petrol pumps so all his property will go for Dolly and her sister. According to his mother twelfth pass dolly is a right match for IIM graduate Krish because she is the daughter of a wealthy father.

Krish’s Rajji mama spends five lakhs on his daughter marriage party and gives Centro car in dowry. Duke his would be son in-law has completed engineering from a local college is earning ten thousand per month. Rajji mama get issued loan to meet the dowry demands of Duke’s family and make his daughter marriage splendid. Kamlamami reveals this marriage budget has broken their back. In all guest expensive gifts are distributed this is the authentic example of Punjabi’s marriage. In spite of spending such a large amount on marriage Duke’s father frowns when Rajji mama comes to hug him for welcoming. All the marriage party denies for eating the food Rajji mama keeps his turban in the foot of Duke father but he is not ready to take Centro car, because he is insisting for Accent Centro car which is in price is five lakhs worth. All ladies come and gives their Jewellery unless Hyundai centro is replaced with Accent car but Dukes’s family is not ready to eat and perform marriage rituals but with the help of Ananya matter is somewhat solved. This is why Krish’s family members and relatives expects a great dowry in his marriage as he is graduate from a reputed institution IIM, his mausi says dowry is based on the salary of bridegroom so he can find better option from Punjabi family. This is also another cause of barriers in interstates marriage of Krish and Ananya.

Conclusion

Chetan Bhagat has expressed custom conflicts which take place in interstates nuptials in a very beautiful and realistic manner. Krishand Ananya have to face many difficulties to convince their parents for marriage.They both are deeply in love but family from both sides is just opposite to their love. This novel brilliantly explores custom conflict of north and south Indian traditions. Krish goes to Chennai where he learns Tamil culture and faces many difficulties for making Ananya’s parents mentally prepare for marriage. After Krish there is the turn of Ananya to impress Krish’s parents for marriage and learn north Indian culture. They both faces difficulties in convincing both families, there is not only cultural differences but clashes can be noticed from food habits to wearing and language also. At last, they both success in winning their parents’ consent. These cultural differences can be seen in their marriage which attracts relatives to attend marriage for seeing all rituals.

We see when Krish’s family approach in Tamil for marriage they are shocked by seeing Tamilian’s traditions, rituals, customs, food habits and language. Krish’s family is told that to perform marriage ritual they will have to get up early in the morning. This is shocking news for them which compelled to think about the cultural difference. They are surprised when idli, rice, rasamand sambhar are served to them on banana leaves, though Punjabi families are fond of Paneer and sweets. All relatives in gift they are given only Kanjivaram sarees. Thus, we see from beginning to end custom conflicts takes place on every occasion in marriage. Through this novel Bhagat wants to show oneness, fraternity and unity between interstates culture and custom after having a great diversity. Through this story author has presented the cultural conflicts of two different states, if lover wants to marry in inter caste and interstate how they have to suffer from beginning to the end. We see not only lovers but family member also suffers due to these custom conflicts. Ananya’s parents are also opposite to this marriage they also go to many exorcists considering their children under influence spell. This happens only due to customs conflicts that many barriers come in the way of their marriage.

References

Bhagat, Chetan. 2 States. The Story of My Marriage. Rupa Publication India Private Limited, 2009.

Ryan, Michael. Cultural Studies: An Anthology. Backwell Publishing Ltd, 2008.

Verma, R.R. The concept of progress and cultural identity in Deutsch, E (ed.) Cultural and modernity: East west philosophic perspectives. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 1994.

William J. Long, English Literature English Literature, AITB. Publishers and Distributers, 2004

Meenakshi Mukharjee, The Twice Born Fiction. Pencraft International, 2010.

Aarthi, M. Multiculturalism in Chetan Bhagat’s ‘2 States’ Research Scholar.2.1(Feb. 2014): 565- 571.

Bhagat, Chetan. An interview-with-Chetan-Bhagat. Forbs Magazine and peter Griffin. 23 jan, 2009. Web. 5 June, 2016 <http://forbesindia.com/interview/magazine-extra/an-interview with-chetanbhagat/8452/1>