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No Onions Nor Garlic
by Srividya Natarajan
Talking too much may not always be a bad thing.
I was recommended this book by a friend and since with the exception of Samit Basu, I’m very skeptical of Indian writers, this one also met with a lot of hesitation. It made multiple journeys from the shelves to my basket until finally it reached the cash counter, where in a moment of munificence (to the author, of course) I decided to pick it up. And boy was I about to be blown away!
"No Onions Nor Garlic" is a novel poking fun at practically every aspect of the orthodox Tamil Hindu Brahmin society. You think of it, and it has been ridiculed. The story kicks off with an interestingly skewed version of Shakespeare’s "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" staged for the Chennai University by Professor Ram, a megalomaniac par excellence. His drama is a piece of ‘art’ extolling the virtues of Hinduism and how it needs to be restored to its old glory days. But little does the reader know that this drama is only a front. Professor Ram’s true intent is to get rid of the reservations policy that is destroying the sanctity of Chennai University and Hinduism. He uses his student Sundar, a boy who played a ‘fairy’ in his play. In an ironical quirk of fate, Sundar is in love with Jiva, a dalit (lower caste) girl from his college while he is engaged to be married to Professor Ram’s Canada-return daughter.
A fair amount of increasingly outrageous twists and turns keep readers engrossed in the book. Its language can best be described as loud, in your face and hilarious. Natarajan tears into every ludicrous societal practice she can think of with gusto and leaves a highly bemused reader trying to wipe tears of mirth away from his eyes in the wake.
Let me warn you though; your knowledge of Brahmins and the Hindu culture needs to be top-notch for you to understand many references in the book, like for example, how a Brahmin is supposed to ‘twice-born.’ If you don’t understand a reference, google it. Believe me, it will only make the book that much more enjoyable.
"No Onions Nor Garlic" is one of those brilliant books that employ slapstick comedy without making it sound crass. Also, it has an impressive inventory of choice cuss words thrown in on almost every other page. Be sure to pick those up and use them against your enemies, and sometimes your friends.
So if you enjoy rolling on the floor with laughter and can stomach the hidden criticisms implied by the author with a pinch of salt, this one's for you.
Title: No Onions Nor Garlic
Author: Srividya Natarajan
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 9780143099611
Review written by: Anuya Jakatdar
Reviewer's Rating:8
Reader's Rating: 0
Reader's Votes: 0
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