Ritu Weds Chandni

I’ve been wanting to read Ritu Weds Chandni ever since I saw posts by Yali Books two years ago. It seemed like such an important book – a picture book about two women getting married!

When I started reading it, however, I did so without reading the blurb. The book opens with little Ayesha getting ready to dance at her cousin’s baraat. She seems so happy; her family seems so happy. I wondered … Would this be a simplistic story glossing over homophobia? Would Ayesha just be a bystander enjoying a wedding?

But I was not disappointed. I loved the book, and I smiled as little Ayesha learns what it is to be an ally, saving her Ritu Didi’s wedding.

There were so many little things that I could not help noticing about the book. Lots of writers spend ages thinking of names for their characters–I know I do! Names have so many connotations, and I love that the characters here have nature-names. Ritu: season; Chandni: moonlight; Ayesha: alive. Perfect!

Author Ameya Narvankar’s note at the end of the book charmed me too: To change society’s mind, we need to appeal to people’s hearts. To do this, we need more people to hear our stories.
Yes, and yes, and yes!

As I finished the book, I wished I could read more. Just like Kamla Bhasin’s Rainbow Boys and Rainbow Girls, a companion book for Ritu Weds Chandni would be lovely. Ritu and Chandni lead their own baraat; I would LOVE a story about two grooms at a mehendi ceremony too! We need more stories!