This post originally posted on Rita Reviews but I have been moving all those reviews over here in an effort to get them all together.
Never Mind Yaar by Khoty Mathur
Genres: Fiction

The coming of age of three young girls from different backgrounds in Mumbai, a city fraught with communal tensions. When long time friends Binaifer and Louella meet Shalini at Gyan Shakti College, gyan for knowledge and shakti for strength, a true friendship that transcends cultural and religious backgrounds is born. Louella is a Christian and Binaifer, a Parsi. Shalini is from a traditional Hindu family. She's been brought up to believe her parents and autocratic grandma will choose her life partner for her. On the very first day at college her eyes accidentally look into those of a young fellow student's and her heart is lost forever.

She knows she must resist as her family won't allow a match with a mere student. But she has two unlikely cupids to contend with. Binaifer (Binny) and Louella (Lou) think Bhagu, the young student, is perfect for Shali. The girls go through four years of college together, facing many challenges on the one hand but also the comfort and reassurance on the other, of growing up in the cultural, political and bewildering mosaic that is Mumbai. The author admits there's a message - that of the curse of communalism (or racism). But first, the book is about the light hearted years of college and true friendship between the girls. This is how it all begins: Dr. Naakwaa of Gyan Shakti College couldn't help smiling to himself as he looked at the sea of eager, animated young faces.

They all seemed to speak at once, or so it seemed to an old man like himself, their ceaseless chatter outdone only by sudden bursts of loud laughter. Even as they talked and laughed in their own groups, he saw their eyes covertly watching the others. An air of breathless expectancy hung about them, as if something momentous would sweep them up on a wing and fly them away to an unknown destination. Without exception, they all clamoured to go, even the ones standing at the periphery, hesitant and slightly lost though they appeared to be.

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Review

At Gyan Shalki College on the outskirts of Mumbai three girls from different ethnic backgrounds become firm friends. Their backgrounds are so different that they speak different languages at home. At Gyan Shalki they speak Mumbai’s lingua franca, English.

Shalini (Shali) is Hindu and has a marriage planned by her grandmother yet falls in love with Bhagu(a fellow student). Binaifer(Binny) is Parsi and along with Louella(Lou) who is Christian fall love with the idea of Shali’s love.Lou and Binny try very hard to bring Shali and Bhagu together.

The girls strive very hard to be simply Indian first then everything else(Hindu,Parsi,Christan,etc.) However how can they when there is generations of cultural divide. How can Shali be with Bhagu the man she loves when it goes against her grandmother’s wishes? How can her friendship with Binny and Lou help her? Journey with Shali,Binny and Lou as they find their own way this world. Maybe with a little guidance from their astute principle Dr. Naakwa they will realize their dreams.

“The changes that count most come from within” -Khoty Mathur

That single quote is the best review of Never Mind Yaar. When Khoty Mathur asked me to review her book I agreed and wasn’t sure if I was going to like it. Culturally it is something new and different for me but I’m an open-minded gal. Once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down. I have struggled with writing my review because I wasn’t sure how to put into words my feelings of this book.

First I learned a lot. Yaar which a term made popular by Bollywood means simply friend or pal. Second I didn’t know that there was such a cultural divide. Here is America we are first and foremost Americans then we are everything else.Khoty has written a beautiful story. While yes it does focus on Shali’ love life it is about far more than that. I dare anyone to read Never Mind Yaar and not come away with some insight. I can only say this: Khoty Mathur is as excellent a writer as Jane Austen or Charles Dickens. For me those are the greatest authors of all time and Khoty is now added to that list.

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