Bubble wrap by Kalyani Rao

INRTODUCTION

BUBBLE WRAP

AUTHOR:KALYANI RAO

PUBLISHER: HARLEQUIN INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED

PAGES:250

ABOUT THE BOOK:Twelve-year-old Krishna Singh has been married off to Shyam Singh of Rokhagadh, Rajasthan. Before the wedding, Krishna's grandmother gives her a box filled with exquisite jewellery, telling her to sell it in times of trouble, but otherwise to hide it from her parents and in-laws. Accompanied by Gudiya, the fifteen-year-old widow of her cousin, Krishna realizes that her cold marital home is a far cry from the loving one she left behind. The world outside has modernized and is beamed via television into her home. But she is not allowed to go to school, instead a female tutor comes home to teach her. A dubious father-in-law, a husband away at boarding school and a mousey mother-in-law clearly show Krishna what is a woman's place in this family. An unfortunate incident leads Krishna and Gudiya headlong into a series of events that change their lives forever. As they deal with one situation after another, the girls discover each other and learn much about the world they live in. Bubble Wrap is a story about their fight for survival against impossible odds in a shallow male-dominated society. Told through the eyes of an innocent girl married off too young, Bubble Wrap is a passionate tale woven against the backdrop of small town Rajasthan, where, amid modern trappings, there are families that live out antique traditions and outmoded beliefs.

MY REFLECTION:  The Novel has come like a slap across the Indian society, were the education of girl child is neglected and the lives of many women in our country are unfortunate. The  novel reminds me of the  movie 'Dor' Directed by nagesh kuknoor featuring Aisha takiya and Gul panag as lead roles. This movie too is situated in Rajasthan and throughs light on how the women in rural areas are dominated by the patriarchic society.

The protagonist of the novel, Krishna singh who  is just 12 years old  will be married to a guy form Rajasthan, which by the norms of an Urban lifestyle, is  senseless (which is still practised in remote places of India). She is a cute little child ,naive and gullible who doesn't know anything about marriage and feels happy about it. Another protagonist Gudiya is sent with her ,as she is a widow to her cousin , which is a bad omen to the family. The author has portrayed the  evil practises in  Indian culture which still haunt some remote places of India, like Rajasthan even now. 

And soon they reach their In-laws house , they both encounter the dark reality, the atrocities of the male dominated family, Which are narrated in a very heartening way ,which make the readers feel empathy for the two girls.

What happens next stands as the crux of the novel which takes many a twists,allowing the readers to get into the shoes of the  girls and look at the dark reality of the world through their eyes. 

This book should be read by everyone who care for the  well-being of society , especially people who are keen towards the education of girl child and the equality of  women in the society.   

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Bubble Wrap is Kalyani Rao's first novel. She is an avid traveler who is passionate about writing. She believes that travelling has broadened her horizons and that it has taught her the most important lessons that she ever learned in her life. She idolizes Haruki Murakami. She is also a businesswoman and owns and manages a theme-based travel company.

ISBN-10: 9351064654

ISBN-13: 978-9351064657