Sideways on a Scooter：Life and Love in India

WhentwentysomethingreporterMirandaKennedyleavesherjobinNewYorkCityandtravelstoIndiawithnoemploymentprospects,shelongstoimmerseherselfintheturmoilandexcitementofarapidlydevelopingcountry.WhatshequicklylearnsinDelhiaboutrentinganapartmentasasinglewoman—it’snexttoimpossible—andtheproperwayforwomeninIndiatoridescooters—perchedsideways—areearlysignsthatlifehereislessWesternizedthanshe’dcountedon.LivinginDelhiformorethanfiveyears,andfindingacitypulsingwithpossibilityandhope,Kennedyexperiencesfriendships,loveaffairs,andlossesthatopenawindowontotheopaqueworldofIndianpoliticsandculture—andalterherownattitudesabouteverythingfromfoodandclothestomarriageandfamily.Alongtheway,KennedyisdrawnintothelivesofseveralIndianwomen,includinghercharismaticfriendGeeta—aself-described“moderngirl”whoattemptstosqueezeherselfintothetraditionalroleofwifeandmother;Radha,aproudBrahminwidowwhodeniesherselfsimplepleasuresinordertolivebyhigh-casteHinduprinciples;andParvati,whodefiantlychain-smokesanddrinkswhiskey,yetfeelscompelledtokeepherboyfriendasecretfromherfamily.Inherefforttounderstandthehopesanddreamsthatmotivatehernewfriends,KennedypeelsbackIndia’sglobalizedimageasalandofcallcentersandfast-foodchainsandfindsanancientplacewhere,inmanyways,women’sliveshavescarcelychangedforcenturies.Incisive,witty,andwrittenwithakeeneyeforthelushvibrancyofthecountrythatKennedycomestolove,SidewaysonaScooterisbotharemarkablememoirandaculturalrevelation.