Vivek Tujeja’s book demonstrates how unprepared our society is to deal with the inborn multi- faceted nature of our kids. He tries to tell the tale of a young man who, at the age of eight, discovers a mystery that even the oldest member of his wider family would find difficult to deal with. The secret was buried deep in his heart but revealed by his caprices. People see differences as flaws that must be constantly frustrated. As a result, the child develops a negative self-image and distrusts his instincts.
Tejuja’s book deals sensitively with romance, heartbreak, achievement, disappointment, loss, and benefit. Each relatively short chapter is a story in and of itself, encompassing one of the author’s personal experiences. And it’s all conveyed with a calmness of tone that can only be achieved after a sense of closure with the past.
The self-explanatory note in the title appears all throughout the book. He captures the essence of all LGBTQI+ children, and to a certain level, all minority kids, when he describes the uncertainty, fear, and despair he felt as a child, as well as the joy he felt when he discovered the boldness and independence to be himself.
So Now You Know depicts how a child whose essence was inappropriate to society endured even after being a target of hatred and irrational fear both at home and outside of the home.
Tejuja captures some tender moments of clarity in contrast to his child self’s startling rejection from his family. Like the time he was chastised by an uncle for quoting Maharani, the devious transgender pimp in Sadak (1991).
The child in Tejuja was delighted to see Maharani, who had been desperately searching for portrayals of various gender identities in modern media. Despite being a negative, devious personality, she was influential and funny, which spoke to the befuddled eight-year-old.
Tejuja asserts that others honestly believed “what he was” before he finally understood he was unique. Whereas school bullies were outspoken about their suspicions or certainty about his character, his family did the same with understanding looks and stealthy recommendations.
Throughout it all, the boy remained perplexed, unsure of what was wrong with him.
What is it if this isn’t a conspiracy?
The author also mentions another common rite of passage for LGBTQI persons: being taken to a psychiatrist once they eventually figure out what makes them unique and muster the confidence to speak to their parents. Surprisingly, Tejuja handles this in a neutral, forgiving, and humorous manner.The novel would have been “unfinished” if there had been no stories about “gay sexploits.”
Tejuja pulls it off in a manner that’s both innocent and disturbing. This section of the book is essential reading for Indians because, despite having invented the Kama Sutra, we still failed to comprehend sex and sexual expression. This book is also the story about a boy who enjoyed reading and grew up to pursue a career in the publishing industry.
He ended up writing a heartfelt book. The final chapter feels like a poem, and the ending, remarkably, begins a whole new creative flow in the audience.
