And so our sense of freedom is only a rehearsal. We were lucky to have parents who felt blessed in having children and were willing to take all the responsibilities that came with it. “We had been given the freedom to choose how we want to live and behave. One of Anuja’s diary entries touches upon her aunt’s thoughts on their generation being transitional. Everyone has a inner psychiatrist within them that emerges with some home-made mottos and a few lines from a Jagjit Singh ghazal or a Tukaram quote, and finally the ever popular phrase: Whatever happens, happens for the best. There is a hilarious passage that talks about how domestic counselling happens in a Maharashtrian family. Kundalkar’s observations on life are sharp and witty. It appears as if Tanay and PG had a deeper connection than the one PG had with Anuja. making a break from the rest of the world and demanding equality makes them no different from the Establishment. But in his heart, Tanay knows that fighting for independent newspapers, pubs, theatres and the like. He takes PG along to secret meetings with other homosexuals where they plan a movement for their rights. For most of the day we would do as we liked.” “Men who don’t have the old to look after or the young to raise.

“What do two men who decide to live together do?” he ponders. Tanay dreams of living with PG, of being in a stable, monogamous relationship. The homosexuality angle is dealt with simply. Her love is no different from Tanay’s in its intensity.įor a book that was originally written in 2006, Cobalt Blue is ahead of its time. She doesn’t like the world of her mother’s religion and the cowardice of her father. She is the one who approaches the PG and asks him out. She suddenly takes off on treks and trips and volunteers with environmental organisations. Her monologue comprises entries in a diary that her psychiatrist tells her to maintain. It takes the form of depression and crying bouts. In contrast, Anuja’s mourning is more visible. In short, broken sentences, he conveys his feelings of loss, longing and betrayal. He can’t share his grief, so it consumes him. When PG leaves, all he has of him are a few stray photos, clothes.a museum of broken things. He spends most of his days, and nights, with him.

A quiet child, with a funny walk, his life changes when PG steps into it.

Tanay is the non-favoured son in the Pune-based Joshi family. Most of you know comes through Tanay’s narrative. There’s a lot you learn about the guest and yet, a lot you don’t know. The only thing that is known about his family is that his father was a consultant with the Indian embassy in Paris and that his uncle molested him when he was a child.

Cobalt Blue by Sachin Kundalkar