Trying to Grow
Author: Firdaus Kanga
Publisher: Penguin Books India
Price: Rs 250
While it is always unadvisable to judge a work of fiction in light of the author’s personal circumstances, in case of Tryingto Grow, the semi-autobiographical strain only lends a sparkling reality to the work.
Brit Kotwal, the protagonist, is born with Osteogenesis imperfecta — commonly known as the brittle bones disease. While he struggles to come to terms with his apparent disability, he is also confronted with the problem of finding stability in his Parsi surroundings.
Kanga’s language is at once intense and bewitching. Brit may seem like a special case due to his physical deformity, but the emotional issues he battles with are common to all adolescents. The novel also explores the issue of sexuality and homosexuality with all the sensitivity that these deserve.
The story progresses with simplicity but captures you as an active participant of Brit’s growing up process. The idiosyncratic world of Parsis and Bombay described in Brit’s life only enhance the story. It is a vivid tale of struggle and survival, one that you must pick up this weekend.