Jun 22, 2004 05:04 PM
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(Updated Jun 22, 2004 05:04 PM)
English, August is not everyones cup of tea, it also is not a book that can be praised for its storyline, because I didnt find one, but it is a book about the life of a son of governor of bengal, who finds himself where he thinks he is not supposed to be. The book is ripe with wry humor, delectable anecdotes, and mostly imaginary comical situations by august, the protagonist.
The book must be read because of the situation it offers, one in which the youngsters of today may find themselves in, the dilemmas which are faced in our college life, and if, god forbid we are stuck at a place like madna, then what our lives could consist of. Not really cool to look forward to, believe me. the book also makes a mockery of the political situation in india, specially in the IAS circles. with false pretences, prides, show-offs and rituals that really dont make sense.
During his training agastya finds problems to which there are no solutions, at hand. he lands up in perfect isolation, half self-imposed, and half inevitable. His addiction to marijuana provides a relief, and so he tends to lean towards spirituality too. in fact, the questions he asks of himself, like what is his karma? tend to evoke a sympathetic chord.
But the book shows how lost august is, which actually presents a quite depressing picture, which I think is not suitable to be portrayed, when he finally ends the novel by doing nothing, it seems that he is escaping from his own duties. this tends to evoke a feeling of incompleteness after you finish this piece, as if more is supposed to come. The novel really doesnt end.
Even then it is light reading, and presents a picture of rural india from a urban point of view, the pathos of tribals, and the molestation in unknown regions of india, of forests, tribals, and our own self. this novel may appear quite frivolous but makes you think deeper when you actually close it. it is quite stimulating, mentally.
