“The truth is I am fat, I have pimples on my face and all the boys make fun of me. In short, my life is hell,” Roli concludes, quite unsure about what she is blurting. It is certainly arduous for her, but this is the way the society has made her look at herself. In school, her residential complex, at functions, etc., she has been bulldozed by those icky comments over her looks and figure and has now got used to them.
‘I Am Big. So What?’ revolves around Roli, a Delhi-based girl, who appears to be confident and unabashed, but has her own moments of self-doubt. She is pellucidly unhappy about her body, has been shamed on that basis, and somewhere deep down feels terribly inferior. Yet, outdoor, she appears to be strong.
Author, Shuchi Singh Kalra, should be commended for having addressed the issue of body shaming – something that people from all walks of life witness and fall prey to – vigorously and fluently.
Out of the several melancholic instances of Roli’s life, most doleful is the one when she is made to feel low about her figure at a spa she goes for a massage. Time and again, life keeps punching her with several direful moments, but a brave Roli learns to cope up with them, which is something worth learning from.
And as they say, every cloud has a silver lining. After an acrimonious phase of insecurity and self-doubt, Roli eventually figures her way out of the mess only to emerge stronger on the other side of the dark tunnel and enjoy life to its fullest. As things slowly start falling in place, Roli overcomes the past and settles in life. All thanks to this one friend who turns out to be a messiah for her.
Thereafter, not only does she free herself from the discord but also shuts up the mouths that once brutally targeted her and thought not once before piercing her heart with their chintzy comments.
It is said appearances are deceptive, but terrible and suppressing remarks are, in fact, passed openly by some on the basis of ones appearance, without realizing that height, weight, looks, figure don’t matter and that, ideally, the focus must converge on the person’s credentials.
The author, Shuchi Singh Kalra
The concern that the author voices through this tale is undisputably humongous: if adults feel bitter on being mocked at, on the basis of their appearance, imagine what kids or teens go through on being judged and often bullied on such things that are unimportant.
‘I Am Big. So What?’ is a highly recommended book for all those who let others write the chapters of their life and trample upon their happiness. It is a brilliant romantic comedy that makes you grin as well as feel the protagonist’s agony. It is a book for those who battle with insecurities virtually everyday and of course, for those who presume outer beauty is all that matters.
Tags: Book review I Am Big. So What? Shuchi Singh Kalra
