Old folks of the northern valley and other stories - Manoj Das

Another great collection of short stories by Manoj Das. There is subtle charm of witty authorship in most of the stories. The last story bulldozer is kind of a novelette. That has a bit of highs and lows. It may not seem very well connected on first instance. I will consider that one a bit out of place in the collection though.

The miracle and other stories - Manoj Das

Presented as a collection of short stories at different periods, the stories have a mix of strange human emotions, reactions and mysticism in them. The stories are not very much aligned to any realism per se but many of them depict the irrationalities of general human reaction or expression. If you have lived in rural India one could connect very easily to the stories. Manoj Das again all masterful story teller as he is has presented these dozen stories in remarkable simplicity.

Definitely recommended and a breeze read in couple of hours.

The Escapist - Manoj Das (2001)

Yet another remarkable work by Manoj Das, the blessed son of Goddess Saraswati. Needless to write a review. The book is highly acclaimed by many eminent authors and critics. In fact the Kindle edition about 20% of the book is marked for commentary, appreciation and how to read the novel etc. From a simple reader standpoint the book is not the easiest of read. The style kind of goes about a little all over initially till the plot thickens. The story goes around a poor man who tries to earn a simple livelihood and lands up being a godman not by choice but by circumstances. How he adheres to it for all the attributed false expectations and promises made to him. How he is being used wrongfully by certain people around him. The hope or person he tries to save he has no means of saving her. And situation forces him to lie moribund near a river. And he escapes again in life but this time into the reality of being a seeker. As a seeker in the follower of truth his road again meets with his past for him to realize all those factor which has met him history has not been in anyway what they should have been. There had been a lot of changes in life and some serving poetic justice but some not getting the end goal they deserved.

Overall, it made me feel the book makes everyone look like an escapist in some form.

Manoj Das - My Little India

Manoj Das is a bilingual author in Odia and English literature known for his comic sense of writing. This book is more of a travelogue of his several visits across various parts of India over years. Initially, serialized and published in "The Statesman". Each of the 49 chapters are in some sense independent stories or explanation of a specific place, stories associated to the place and also some modern realities of the place now. You can read the book in one go. Fairly easy read, yet thought provoking. Also states the deep understanding of the author of India.

Dramatic Decade, The Indira Gandhi Years - Pranab Mukherjee (2015)

The first of the series of books that Pranab Mukherjee has written. Pranab Mukherjee as usual has kept the controversial topics within check and elaborated on the facts. Reading the book will feel like Indira Gandhi's struggle to survival than a description of policies and life of the 70s. Overall a great book to recall the 70s but at the same time has little coverage on Pakistan war. However, political events like emergency has been covered in details.

Worthwhile reading.

Tales told by Mystics - Manoj Das (2008)

Manoj Das has been my favorite Indian author from childhood. We have grown reading his short stories as part of course curriculum and I am sure his stories must be inspiring the new generation as much it had us. The tales told by mystics is not an original collection of stories. There are about 100 stories which you would have heard, read or have been exposed to from various sources. Manoj Das has tried to compile this into one book of about 300 pages. There is never a low point in the book. You can pick up and read from any page you like. The stories are very short about 2-3 pages. So you can read in between your regular activities. Definitely, the philosophical parables in the list of stories are worthwhile. Not a new collection but the Manoj Das's language is impeccable and style has no parallels.

I thought I would leave fiction reading but writers like Manoj Das make it really hard. Thanks to him I am back to reading some of his fiction.

The Turbulent Years - 1980-1996 - Pranab Mukherjee (2015)

The book establishes Pranab Mukherjee as an accomplished writer. As a political influence and stalwart his contribution to Indian politics is remarkable for almost half a century. Yet the expressions of details in the book is based on only facts that's well known or verified from public sources. No additional disclosures which may be questioned have been made in this book. As an active state head he has established great balance on issues that he personally favors or issues not to his liking with remarkable astuteness. At no place one can question the integrity of expressions. Overall a great book that describes the upheavals of the the decade and half through eyes of a person who not only lived it but actively influenced it. 

Overall a great read.