Life after
sun set is quite different in small-towns from the metros and big towns. And
for a diverse nation of India, each small-town has unique identity of its own. Those
who lived in these towns but migrated to larger towns in later part of their
lives tell their experiences those small towns offered them. This book is an
anthology of ten essays by different authors. The small towns featured here are
Patna, Gaya, Aligarh, Shillong, Mc Leod Ganj, Bikaner, Ahmedabad, Siliguri,
Puducherry and Mananthavady. They cover the entire geography of India and each
essay observes the vivid culture and social practices these small towns are
made of. Some of them are light read and funny and few are dark and
terrorizing.
I enjoyed the
essay “Monsieur, Keen on Rajnikanth?”
which is set in Pondicherry. It is written by a Bengali author who relocates to
this small town and observes the cultural differences between Ashramiites and rest
of the residents spending their nights in the bars and the growing differences
between the economically high profile residents of Auroville and rest of the society.
Another essay “Bihari Nights” set in
Patna and the villages of Bihar was entertaining read too where-in author
interviews childhood friends of Bollywood actor, Manoj Bajpai. In the essay “The bigness of small towns” author
wonders about the prospects for a person choosing to be a full time writer. “Crossing Lines” is about the divide
between two religions in the town of Ahmedabad. “Seeking the spirit of night” explores how the town of Shillong came
into existence.
Authors of
all these essays had lived some part of their life in the towns they wrote
about but also elsewhere so they could clearly bring out the distinct qualities
these small towns possess. Since these authors have literary inclinations too,
these essays become long lasting as well. If you want to experience the
night tours across the small towns of India sitting at the comfort of your home,
get this book on your table.
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