Book Review : Milk Teeth By Amrita Mahale

Photo from Amazon India

Reading this book felt like a walk down the memory lane. It is a book that any Indian kids grew up in the 90s could relate to - the local eateries getting replaced by the international fast food chains, the long wait from booking an std call to the instant connection through mobile phones, the first dial up internet connection to the always available wifi connections, from handwritten letters to emails and many such unforgettable memories. But don’t mistook this book for painting a rosy picture with a heavy dose of nostalgia. It is far from that.

The main characters Ira and Kartik looked very familiar and their parents too. The worries, fears and the hypocrisy of the middle class is captured in its true essence. I haven't come across any other book that gives a nuanced tale of the class difference and privilege in an Indian context. It reminded me of Normal People By Sally Rooney. Considering the diverse culture of India, I would say Amrita's effort is really commendable.

Even though the story revolves around Ira and Kartik, I felt like the writer owed us a perspective from Kaiz, Ira's boyfriend. The communal fights, Kaiz fleeing to US and the spread of Saffron Army really made me want to have a clearer perspective from Kaiz. But I felt his storyline was cut short rather abruptly. This is one of the major problem I had with this book.

This is not an easy read in any way. As our country leans more and more to the right, this book is something that tries to confront our own demons and questions the validity of our own choices. As for me, I feel like Amrita Mahale has just shed her milk teeth with this one. I will be looking forward to more from her.