For someone, who has written strong women-oriented TV series such as Astitva, Jyoti, Veera, Buddha and Balika Vadhu, it is quite obvious that Gajra Kottary would pen a clutter-breaking Girls Don’t Cry. The book, which tells the stories of three women — Amala, her mother Disha and maternal grandmother Veera naaniji, is like a breath of fresh air. It talks about their struggles to breathe and survive in a man’s world.
Amala, 26-year-old, chooses to live her dream and moves to Mumbai to work in an advertising firm. She never has an easy life, because of her strained relationship with her live-in partner and her mother. And, then she learns about her grandfather’s demise and leaves for Jalandhar for his funeral. The cold vibes exchanged between Amala and her mother, grow stronger during her stay.
Amala is constantly reminded of the image of her mum in a compromising situation with another man after she separated from her dad. However, things take a different turn when Amala spends some time with Veera naaniji, who divulges many family secrets and a few untold stories of Disha’s life. The fact that the men she had admired all her life actually had ugly sides, breaks Amala’s heart. This is the moment when the daughter reunites with the mother and the bitterness fades away.
The book is a profound reflection on the bond of friendship and love between mothers and daughters, and also what it takes to face the truths that can break you forever. From issues like narrow-mindedness to possessiveness in men, Girls Don’t Cry takes you on a real journey of what women go through in India. Whether it is Amala or her mother Disha, or grandmother, they have all suffered because of patriarchy.
While these narratives are quite relevant in our society, their treatment in the book is a little lop-sided. The book attempts to show strong women, but ends up portraying them as victims, propagating the message that ‘all men are evil’. More balanced male characters would have given the story some heft. Too much of crying, sobbing and kissing makes it a little amateur too. On the whole though, the book is meant for those who enjoy women-centric stories.
Name: Girls Don’t Cry
Author: Gajra Kottary
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 280
Price: Rs. 399
