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2 States The Story Of My Marriage

2 States: The Story of My Marriage (Paperback)

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2 States: The Story of My Marriage (Paperback)

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3 Stars

150 Ratings

26 Reviews

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Published by Rupa Publications on November 1, 2009

269 pages

ISBN-10:

8129115301

(

ISBN-13:

9788129115300)

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Rs. 140

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Welcome to 2 States, a story about Krish and Ananya who are from two different states of India, deeply in love and want to get married. Of course, their parents don't agree. To convert their love story into a love marriage, the couple have a tough battle in front of them. For it is easy to fight and rebel, but much harder to convince. Will they make it?

Chetan Bhagat,

Indian Authors,

Bad Story,

Two States-Story of my Marriage,

26 Reviews of 2 States: The Story of My Marriage (Paperback)

Official Review

Again, as in Five Point Someone, Chetan Bhagat derives the story from his own life. This time it is from his own marriage.

Bhagat is not a great constructor of words. His strong point and saving grace is his wonderful sense of humour. The other factor with 2 States is that he does not mess with is the story; whenever he manages to have a linear simplicity in the storyline, the book has being readable.

Moving on to the book, the take on South Indian and North Indian cultures and traditions is hilarious. Trust Bhagat on the tongue and cheek stuff. For instance, during the Tamil marriage ceremony, the bridegroom has to pretend that he is going to Benares, and the prospective father-in-law has to coax him back. The bridegroom takes the custom seriously and promptly takes an auto rickshaw. When the astounded father-in-law finally stops him, the bridegroom quips that he was just following the ritual.

Filled with several funny moments, the girl-boy bonding, over-protective Indian parents and a cross-culture marriage, and various elements of humour, 2 States is a one-time breezy read, at best.

Community Reviews

durgesh nandini

Jul 10, 2012, 2:45 pm

Rated this book

awsm!!!!! More details

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mirza arique alam

Jul 3, 2012, 9:04 am

Love marriages around the world are simple. Boy loves girl. Girl loves boy. They get married. In India, there are a few more steps: Boy loves Girl. Girl loves Boy. Girl's.. More details

Love marriages around the world are simple. Boy loves girl. Girl loves boy. They get married. In India, there are a few more steps: Boy loves Girl. Girl loves Boy. Girl's family has to love boy. Boy's family has to love girl. Girl's Family has to love Boy's Family. Boy's family has to love girl's family. Girl and Boy still love each other. Then they get married.

Chetan Bhagat is a name familiar to most Indians. He has single-handedly changed the face of Indian fiction in the last six years since his first book Five point someone was launched on an unsuspecting public. His latest book, 2 States: The Story of My Marriage has all the elements that have made his other books so successful. 2 states is the story of Ananya and Krish, IIM Ahemdabad alumni from, you guessed it, two different states.

As the lines from the book’s blurb suggest, it follows their numerous attempts to win their parents over to the Idea of an ‘inter-caste marriage'. Chetan Bhagat has admitted that this story is partially autobiographical. The story is narrated from Krish’s point of view in first person, a style Bhagat uses often. The story starts when Ananya and Krish first meet in the IIM cafeteria and follows the predictable course of the hot girl and nerdy guy becoming friends and then falling in love. This is when all the fun begins.

Ananya is from Chennai, with conservative parents who want her to marry a ‘well-settled’ Tamil boy. Krish is from Delhi. He has a boisterous Punjabi mother who is hell bent on him getting married to a well-to-do ‘fair’ Punjabi girl. Despite all the differences they do manage to get together and get married and more importantly they do it with their parents’ blessings!

The book is light and breezy and the language is simple. The author uses a lot of cant words that Indians use every day. The narrative of the story stays fresh. Though the ending of the story is predictable, you still find yourself rooting for the lead characters to get together at the end, which I think is the best thing about the book. You get involved with the characters, their despair, confusion and joy. As a South Indian who has lived all her life in Delhi, I found myself relating to both the characters and their families at some level. Be it the mom who brings biscuits to her son’s graduation or the one who loves to sing Carnatic music but is intimidated by her more qualified peers.

Bhagat utilizes the common stereotypes we are all familiar with. Be it the stress in the Punjabi household for marrying a girl with a big dowry, or the importance given to education and success in a south Indian household. However, I feel he manages to use these without hurting the sensibilities of either group. The book is not very long and the story ends before you start to lose interest. Though the story is not a literary masterpiece, it works as a ‘time pass’ novel that can fill up a couple of hours of your day.

Chetan Bhagat’s books work for two basic reasons. One is the engaging stories that read like a modern fairytale and the other is the sound marketing strategy of the publisher. His books are priced lower than most foreign fiction and his print runs are double of those same books. The publisher’s confidence in the mass appeal of the books has netted them rich dividends.

Where the book falls short is the interpersonal dialogue between the characters. The way they interact with each other sometimes leaves much to be desired. One case in point will be the relationship between Krish and his father. I feel the reasons for their estrangement and their subsequent partial reconciliation, though hinted at, are not properly explored. Also, the author’s habit of using informal English in print sometimes leaves the reader feeling as if it is more of a gimmick rather than a legitimate literary device. However, this type of informal writing also appeals to a wide spectrum of audiences.

I must confess that I have not been the greatest fan of Chetan bhagat books. While respecting his mass appeal, I found his earlier books a little trite. I found his characters stereotyped and the situation in his books forced or too implausible. However, compared to his other books, Bhagat’s latest offering shows a marked improvement in his style. Hide details

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Jun 25, 2012, 2:18 am

Chetan Bhagat, India’s beloved author’s new adaption The two states is based on his personal life. The book has no magical love story or an expected amalgamation of c.. More details

Chetan Bhagat, India’s beloved author’s new adaption The two states is based on his personal life. The book has no magical love story or an expected amalgamation of cliques and coincidences; it is a straightforward and pure boy-meets-girl and falls in love kind of extraction. He has used his own life incidents and managed to create an innocent love story between Anaya and Krish. In the book, these two characters are portrayed to be brilliant and are pursuing post graduation in a hallowed university. They meet and fall in love, but like a typical Bollywood masala flick, belong to different cultures that result in opposition by their respective families when the matter of marriage arises. The unwieldy incidents they undergo to fight for each other, only shows that true love can pave its way out of the darkest corner and prove to be victorious in the end. The real essence of this book lies in their struggle to gain companionship even though the world opposed their union. Hide details

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Jun 17, 2012, 1:30 am

Rated this book

I enjoyed the book. Simple writing and easy readding More details

I enjoyed the book. Simple writing and easy readding Hide details

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Jun 7, 2012, 2:00 am

Rated this book

I think this is most interesting book by Chetan Bhagat More details

I think this is most interesting book by Chetan Bhagat Hide details

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Mar 30, 2012, 12:10 am

Rated this book

gud one... More details

gud one... Hide details

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Feb 17, 2012, 3:32 am

Rated this book

Nice book... More details

Nice book... Hide details

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aleron thaddeaus

Jun 16, 2011, 5:33 am

@Noombood......I dun understand yur skepticism about the book,the book is no magical story,no doubt abt that, but the way the man has fabricated and paved the whole story.. More details

@Noombood......I dun understand yur skepticism about the book,the book is no magical story,no doubt abt that, but the way the man has fabricated and paved the whole story sounds volume,Yu surely a bad critic...yu need to be a bit more open Hide details

1

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Jun 8, 2011, 6:27 am

fantabulously written book..
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fantabulously written book..
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May 13, 2011, 2:17 am

Rated this book

this is the second book that i have read of chetan's books.He depicted it with his adept skill. More details

this is the second book that i have read of chetan's books.He depicted it with his adept skill. Hide details

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Rajneesh Vasudevan

May 11, 2011, 9:47 am

it's a good read. More details

it's a good read. Hide details

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Mar 7, 2011, 9:57 pm

Rated this book

This is the the only book i have read of Chetan Bhagat. Interestingly written, if u wanna read light book which is funny cum nostalgic cum a bit fictional and loads about.. More details

This is the the only book i have read of Chetan Bhagat. Interestingly written, if u wanna read light book which is funny cum nostalgic cum a bit fictional and loads about ur college days n your first job, u gonna like this book but warning is that don't get in too depth of the book .. Happy Reading!!
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Mar 6, 2011, 1:52 pm

Rated this book

First i thot why would we be interested in knowing to whom n how did he got married to...but then i read it just to get back to my first thot...y wud we be interested in .. More details

First i thot why would we be interested in knowing to whom n how did he got married to...but then i read it just to get back to my first thot...y wud we be interested in knowing how did a north indian manage to get married to a south indian girl.
like tht is impossible?!?!? u got millions of ppl/friends/relatives around who've done that...wud advice these ppl/relatives/friends-please dont write a book about how u got married unless u've done it on mars.
after gathering fame by the best seller "5 point someone" it was real easy to sell this one to the impressed readers...just to disappoint us...atleast me. Hide details

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Feb 19, 2011, 4:08 am

awesome book More details

awesome book Hide details

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Feb 4, 2011, 7:19 am

want to read all Chetan Bhagat books,please visit www.indiareads.com and either purchase or rent the book @ a discounted rate. most important of all you will get the deli.. More details

want to read all Chetan Bhagat books,please visit www.indiareads.com and either purchase or rent the book @ a discounted rate. most important of all you will get the delivery at your doorstep within 2 working days. Hide details

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Feb 1, 2011, 6:40 am

it's a good read. Loved it. More details

it's a good read. Loved it. Hide details

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Jan 23, 2011, 9:07 am

Rated this book

1 who doesn't

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1 who doesn't

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Jan 8, 2011, 10:39 am

Rated this book

a must read

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a must read

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Aug 31, 2010, 7:31 pm

Two States is a love story about Krish and Ananya. Krish is a Punjabi from Delhi and Ananya is a Tamilian from Chennai. They meet and fall in love while pursuing their MB.. More details

Two States is a love story about Krish and Ananya. Krish is a Punjabi from Delhi and Ananya is a Tamilian from Chennai. They meet and fall in love while pursuing their MBA at IIM-Ahmedabad ( the country’s premier management institute).The story moves at a rapid pace and involves the usual- sex, sleepovers, studies and a complacent, private existence.

The honeymoon period ends when their parents meet for the first time at their convocation ceremony. Things quickly turn sour their parents evidently disapprove of a relationship where boy and girl are from opposite ends of the country. Since Krish and Ananya are deeply in love and are resolute in their decision to get married, the rest is about how they try to win over their in-laws through a series of futile attempts. The story swings back and forth between Delhi and Chennai. Like all love stories, this one, too, has a happy ending.

2 States is an easy read that is made is made digestible with a healthy dose of colloquial humor. It’s not as exciting as ‘Three Mistakes of my Life’ and or as absorbing as ‘Five Point Someone’. It’s a tale where the protagonists don’t let their parents’ decision sway their choice and stick to their guns.
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Aishwarya Thapa

Aug 9, 2010, 8:59 pm

Chetan Bhagat’s 2 States revolves around Krish and Ananya, two IIM students in love who are faced with a common problem for an Indian love story – they belonged to .. More details

Chetan Bhagat’s 2 States revolves around Krish and Ananya, two IIM students in love who are faced with a common problem for an Indian love story – they belonged to two different states. Krish, the protagonist happens to be a typical Punjabi boy from Delhi and Ananya, a beautiful and smart south Indian girl from Chennai.
They fall deeply in love in a rather clichéd, quite Bollywood-like style, and of course it would be incomplete without a series of conflicts due to the differences in culture and backgrounds. So Chetan Bhagat introduces the most obvious barrier – Parents.
As the story progresses, there are a series of ups and downs in their relationship that they struggle to overcome in the name of love.

It is mostly based on Bhagat’s own life; as he narrates the story in first person. His easy style of writing is a relief, and we see glimpses of colloquial languages from south and north India as well. The addition of humor, works for the younger readers.

The story on the whole is pleasant, probably enjoyed more by the teens or the younger generation who aren’t looking for a serious read.
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Aditi Chatterjee

Aug 6, 2010, 3:42 am

After IIT, it’s IIM. No, we aren’t talking about the author’s educational qualifications – though this chronology would be true in that case too. We are talking a.. More details

After IIT, it’s IIM. No, we aren’t talking about the author’s educational qualifications – though this chronology would be true in that case too. We are talking about the setting of 2 States : The Story of my Marriage. After writing about IIT life in Five Point Someone, Chetan Bhagat talks about India’s other premier institute, IIM. Of course, though the story takes off at IIM-Ahmedabad, it is not about life at IIM per se. That does seem to be the pitching point, however.
2 States is about the love story of Krish and Ananya, two brilliant students pursuing their post-graduate studies in the hallowed institute. In a setting where beautiful girls are scarce, Krish ends up befriending the most beautiful of the lot. They become friends, start studying together every night and eventually fall in love. That’s when they hit a tiny snag – they both belong to different cultures. Krish is a Punjabi from Delhi, and Ananya’ s family is staunch Tamil. Though they couldn’t care less about the cultural differences, their parents do – a lot!
What follows is a hilarious comparison of how the North is the North, and the South is the South and never the twain shall meet. Their love story sees more troughs than crests because of parental concerns. The story is said to be part autobiographical, inspired from Chetan Bhagat’s own life and love at IIM-Ahmedabad. The most notable aspect of this book is how it shatters the myth of unity in diversity in India. And sadly, it’s almost true.
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Jul 30, 2010, 10:34 am

A good read, brings smile in many occations. More details

A good read, brings smile in many occations. Hide details

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Apoorva Mallick

Nov 30, -0001, 12:00 am

Rated this book

I was so disappointed with One Night at the Call Centre that I never wanted to read another Chetan Bhagat book. I was further disappointed at seeing the movie version of .. More details

I was so disappointed with One Night at the Call Centre that I never wanted to read another Chetan Bhagat book. I was further disappointed at seeing the movie version of ONATCC. I swore to myself I'll never read a Chetan Bhagat book. Hide details

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Nov 30, -0001, 12:00 am

Rated this book

Dedicated to his in-laws Chetan Bhagat admits that the book ‘2 States’ is inspired by his own experiences. Bhagat is a North Indian guy married to a South Indian girl.. More details

Dedicated to his in-laws Chetan Bhagat admits that the book ‘2 States’ is inspired by his own experiences. Bhagat is a North Indian guy married to a South Indian girl and the story narrates what difficulties they had to go through to convince their parents for their marriage.

A Punjabi guy and a Tamilian Brahmin girl meet in IIM Ahmedabad, fall in love and decide to get married but know that their parents would not approve of their relationship. The story of their falling in love has been rushed through but the story picks up when their parents meet at the convocation ceremony and do not make any efforts to hide their hatred towards each other.

It explores the differences between culture, life style, food habits, thoughts and life of Punjabis and Tamilians. What makes Bhagat a hit among Indian readers is his simple language, lots of emotions and an inspirational lead. Read the book to be reminded of how love is still at the mercy of societal norms in India. His humour and subtle observations are commendable as he vividly describes each scene. The book also makes a perfect plot for a typical Bollywood movie. Hide details

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Nov 30, -0001, 12:00 am

Rated this book

The story commences in the IIM Ahmedabad mess (a not so happening place, surely), where Krish, a Punjabi boy from Delhi spots Ananya, a Tamilian girl from Chennai, quarre.. More details

The story commences in the IIM Ahmedabad mess (a not so happening place, surely), where Krish, a Punjabi boy from Delhi spots Ananya, a Tamilian girl from Chennai, quarreling with the mess staff about the food, and wonders about the beauty in an otherwise drought of pretty faces. They become friends because Ananya considers Krish harmless (one who could only be a friend). They start studying together and over time, she is proved wrong as a romantic fire is kindled in their hearts. They both land good jobs, and have serious plans of getting married. However as Chetan puts it, in India the story doesn’t end with ‘Boy and girl meet, fall in love and get married’. Thus, the focus shifts to convincing their families, which they eventually succeed in achieving after much ado.

The novel is narrated in first person with the characteristic informal storytelling. In a humerous manner, Chetan takes digs at the absurdness of Punjabi and Tamilian cultures at the same time impressing upon the strength of the love of Krish and Ananya which makes them perform ridiculous feats. The story has a personal angle with the Author drawing upon his own experiences. Yes, there are clichés and certain unreal events which make you feel a little out of place. However, recommended for all lovers who have gone the extra mile to prove their love (if at all it required one).
Rating: 3/5 Hide details

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Apoorva Mallick

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About Chetan Bhagat

Chetan Bhagat is an Indio-Anglican author who has written books like Five Point Someone and One Nigh...

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