The World of Bachelors!

Book Review: THE(In)eligible Bachelors
Author: Ruchita Mishra
Format: Paperback/literary fiction, Language: English
Pages: 242, Price: RS.195, Publishers: RUPA&Co/2011
Personally, I always believe satire as profound form of expression inside the literary ambit. Here a writer needs not only to unwrap his or her ideas but also have to advance before the readers with intertwining own life experiences. So, a satirical fiction shows the inner world of a writer, though magnitude of sharing varies with the relative temptations of a wordsmith. The debutant writer Ruchita Mishra’s THE (In) eligible Bachelors could be classic pick in this regard. Still in het twenties and already have made an impressive journey in both the academic and professional domain, narrates the challenges of her generation with representative authenticity.

Ruchita has simply relied on flowing expression, so leaves no chances for her readers to grapple with the odd frills in understanding either the plot or its development. Second most striking thing with this novel is its beautiful characters, all are meticulously felt and their presence seems inevitable like the real life story. Further, they all lives their part aptly throughout the book and allow a chance of lively debate on new age marriage which is now either being determined by the arranged or adventurous romances. Case of middle class, particularly those aspiring to be in the high sphere of hierarchy are consistently deconstructing the age old values…shockingly, these deviations are again being hatches by previous generations of generation next. In the wake of reform, many new tendencies have been escalating in the institution of family where the choices are increasingly decided by the pre-imagined lust that badly haunting the self of educated girls like never before. Surprisingly, mothers are no longer exudes the virtuousness; however she still think best for her child but without compromising the shine of material side. On this front, protagonist Kasturi Shukla, with a magical combine of tech/management skill sets represents the oppressed human resources, and her mother commands like a CEO, who values the things by a buzz materialistic principle, Return on Investment {ROI}or venture and nothing beyond that!

THE (In)eligible Bachelors practically deals with the complexity of life and its two primary stages-love and marriage. Love of Kasturi resembles a sort of assertness from her natural boisterousness against the mechanized sentimental shackles around her, which approaches her through artificially arranged family affairs with prospect of getting settled with a man having arithmetically best salary slip. That starts with her innocent falling in romance…she tempted for boss Rajeev Sir, who characterize himself fit for temporary overtures with newly found love. But dualism of Rajeev falls suddenly, and so trembles the fake notion their working relationship which grew in the course of juggling two difficult choices.

Kasturi, who is still left a human, naturally takes it as betrayal, found solace only in recluse until the antecedents truly narrated by her close affiliates, Ananya, Varu and once a rejected potential life partner, Pita ji {Coded humourously}. Moreover, two accidents draw the principal character, Kasturi more close to her ethical part, where she finds matches with Dr. Poorva, who performs like a true man in blood and flesh and selfless lover. Once sidelined owing to confusions, his action outwitted all the fake circumstances and gives deserving Kasturi another life, without any hitches. End of novel justifies the happenings around us in present time…peoples are betrayed but life never stops in going on…this emanates the approaching dialectism, anyway, it’s wisdom that finally determines the course!

There are no definite criteria to judge a piece of literature albeit few fundamental qualities as benchmark shall be acknowledged by all including the purists who mostly think in their own terms. These qualities, this novel offers:- uniformity in flair, persistence of plot with lucid narration and most notably its lively characters who never falls short in giving momentum to the whole theme of novel. Ruchita Mishra has entered the literary arena with a purposeful book, and her presence here will sure be energizing the wave of Indian English writing. She can be seen as a welcome continuance of new literary generation that felt and used the inferences out of surroundings, which gives story essential neutrality and also let a chance to proceed in seemingly natural way.

In Indian English writing by women’s, many big names are floating-both in the past and present. If Anita Desai and others led the way, Arundhati Roy, Jaishree Mishra, Radhika Jha and others hold that literary tradition; certainly Ruchita Mishra, Nayana Currimbhoy {Miss Timmins School for Girls} and many writers of this generation will take it to more advanced stage. In contemporary context, discipline of Social Sciences is lacking to address the new set of challenges emerging through the global merger of markets/greed and also to a large extant of culture as well. Particularly, a nation like India, which has mix fortune while converging with the tantrums of globalization unusually caught with the new formation/deformation in socio-economic life. THE (In}eligible Bachelors addressed a solid issue and succeeded too far, yet many grave problems of excessive market orientation are standing with urgency to get looked upon. That will be needed fair efforts in literary writing, hope Ruchita and other committed writers will explore other areas of life that is waiting for makeover!
Atul Kumar Thakur
September 12, 2011, Monday, New Delhi
Email: summertickets@gmail.com