Neti Neti - A book review

Book: Neti Neti

Author: Anjum Hasan

Rating: 2.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⚡️

In Hinduism, and in particular Jnana Yoga and Advaita Vedanta, neti neti is a Sanskrit expression which means "not this, not this", or "neither this, nor that". 

Neti neti as in Not this, Not this are words from an everlasting puzzle. There comes a phase in life where you start wondering as to what do you want. You jump from one thing to another, not able to find that ‘something’ we are searching for! 

Neti Neti is based in two cities - a stark contrast  - Shillong and Bangalore. Anyone and anywhere, who moves from a small town to a big town has suffered from the dilemma. The nostalgia of the home town calls you and when you go back you realise it wasn't even that great. Time changes everything. 

The sepia shades of memory add sweet nostalgia to life. Past seems better than the future. You tell yourself don’t fall into the trap, move on. Create more memories! You seek the answers. When will this end? Will it end at the last page? But that's not true. You are trapped in a vicious cycle of time that goes on and on. You have no option but to make peace with the past and not reject your present. The reality is 'this is it'. 

Although the best thing about the book is the love of books. The various books and characters we all have all heard of. We may not have read them but these books are part of classics even from a vernacular Indian point of view. It makes me wonder what kind of books become classics. 

The three books which are most talked about are the protagonist’s favorite books. The books she keeps are a reference for life - 

Swami and friends

Swami Vivekananda

Madame Bovary

What an interesting mix, with no relation or similarities. There is Shakespeare's Hamlet which is protagonist’s father’s reference book. For him there is always a quote from Hamlet which is apt for every situation in your life. There is a mention of Little Women and Jane Eyre. For me all these references were beautiful. 

The God of Rock - Bob Dylan has been discussed umpteen times. But if you write a book on youth living in the hill stations of India, you can't do that without mentioning Bob Dylan and the craziness of Rock. 

In short, Neti Neti wanders about the hills and the big cities just like we do. Wandering around in search of that ever alluding happiness. Anjum Hasan is a wonderful writer and does justice to a very simple urban story with her strong writing. 

The length and breadth of the book with a weak story line, may not be everyone's cup of tea. The initial built up especially takes too long.  There were moments when I almost said Not this - Neti Neti!