There is an age old adage ’’All that glitters is not gold’’. Sudha Murthy’s book is based on this axiom vis-a-vis the charm for dollar nation in the minds of middle class Indians. Briefly put the plot is that the central character Gouramma is the mother of two sons and one daughter.Her elder daughter -in-law Vinuta is a teacher in school and hails from lower middle class family. Her younger daughter-in-law Jamuna comes from a super rich family which literally eats with a silver spoon. Jamuna is married to her younger son suresh who is settled in the United States.
Gouramma, blinded by the lustre of dollar and american life overlooks the good natured Vinuta and is overawed by her younger daughter - in - law Jamuna in whom she sees all the qualities. Eventually Gouramma gets a chance to visit America where she realises America is not what it seems.
Sudha Murthy has drawn a detailed picture of the life of Indians living in America.
The striking points are :
1) Indian wives as sole support systems of Indian men living in America.Hence wives have more freedom.
2)Indians want to earn dollars in U.S. but do not want their children to be influenced by the culture of that country.Hence kids are locked up in homes when parents leave for work.
3)Discrimination faced by Indians in some parts of America , like for instance where Gouramma takes a seat in the bus and the white lady sitting next to her gets up and goes to another seat.
This book may not interest those who have already lived before in America , but it is an eye opener for the millions who see America as a solution for all their problems.The end of the story is unique and I do not wish to reveal it here.
The book is a good read if u wish to be enlightened about certain aspects of the life of Indians living in America.