Young and restless

Jayanti Roy

Colorful notions is a novel with a thin and flimsy plot. Three young adults, two boys and a girl called Ab, Sasha and Unns, (their shortened names) from Delhi, go on a road trip to make a documentary on 25 famous tourist spots across India.

Many individuals have taken such challenges in real life. Recently a young couple was in the news for going around the country with a goal to understand various Indian communities better and to try to improve any situation where they could intervene positively. The novel’s three characters are on a similar mission. This scenario could have led to many interesting situations given the diversity of India, but alas the story remains aimless.

It is neither about places, nor about relationships, or about the coming of age or any new realisations. Contrary to the book’s claim, it does not give the reader any entry into the inner recesses of the souls of these three persons bound together with a vow to travel 10,000 km across India.

So, instead of a vibrant tale pulsating with the kaleidoscopic designs of an ancient as well as modern nation what the reader gets is a poor account of mundane goings-on in the lives of these three individuals, with a love triangle love thrown in for good measure to supposedly ensnare the reader. However, descriptions of a brawl in Hyderabad, lovers’ silly tiffs, flirtation with your friend’s girlfriend, irresponsible rumour mongering at the Wagah Border, illegal entry into forbidden areas of Sunderbans, and a melodrama of a marriage proposal at a sacred and spiritual place like Vivekananda rock — all of it only puts you off, being stale, stereotypical and predictable.

Ab says, “As beautiful as the caves were on a personal level, it was nothing but a walk through the scorching heat. Staring at one sculpture after another under that blazing sun was too much after an hour. After a while, they started looking the same.” This is a portrayal about, guess what? The Ellora caves! It’s understandable that young people might not be enthused about ancient art works even though these are resplendent with the finest aesthetics, but then why have Ellora on your visiting list if you are not enthused by it?

Though the author has a flair for writing, and he has been able to catch the style and language that educated urban youth use nowadays yet right from the American spellings in the book title to the delinquencies of the characters, not much engages the reader.

Perhaps the book shows the importance that young people attach to non-tangibles whether it is the notion of the country, beauty, history or the culture. The story can also be taken as a correct portrayal of what is it that excites, stimulates and motivates our youth. If that really is the case then the author has been able to explore the empty, superficial, meaningless journeys many of our youth are undertaking.