Amreekandesi - Masters of America

Excerpt

Akhil Arora, a young, dorky engineer in Delhi, can’t wait to get away from home and prove to his folks that he can be on his own. Meanwhile in a small town in Punjab, Jaspreet Singh, aka Jassi, is busy dreaming of a life straight out of American Pie. As fate would have it, they end up as roommates in Florida. But the two boys are poles apart in their perspectives and expectations of America. While Akhil is fiercely patriotic and hopes to come back to India in a few years, Jassi finds his Indian identity an uncomfortable burden and looks forward to finding an American girl with whom he can live happily ever after.

Laced with funny anecdotes and witty insights, Amreekandesi chronicles the quintessential immigrant experience, highlighting the clash of cultures, the search for identity, and the quest for survival in a foreign land.

Author

Atulya Mahajan is an Indian author and is the creator of the Indian satire blog amreekandesi.com. Professionally a technologist in an investment bank, Atulya Mahajan went to the US in 2004 to complete his Master's degree. He worked there for five years and then returned to India. He started his blog while studying in the US and used it as a platform to share his experiences of people living in a foreign land. Besides this blog, Mahajan also works with the Crest Edition of The Times of India as a columnist and writes occasional humor.

Characters

Akhil

He dreams big and strives hard to make his parents proud. He loves India and never goes out of ways. He is disciplined and new found freedom has little influence over him. He is a dedicated lover and an ardent learner. He is friendly and at the same time, never goes beyond his limit. He is comfortable with his identity as Indian and never once aspires to transform into an American at heart.

Jassi

He is a stark opposite to Akhil. His only goal in life is to land in America and the only dream in life is girls! He comes to America because he feels uncomfortable with his Indian identity. He desires for a much cleaner and disciplined nation like America. For him studies are secondary. His primary objective is always girls and more girls.

What I think...

I am a person who strongly believes that places, people and circumstances can influence a person up to a limit. Beyond that it is always a person’s choice.

And this book only re-emphasises this belief I carry!

Akhil remain Akhil. His new found freedom has little influence. In fact, it helps him become a better person. On the other hand, Jassi sees the same dream, of Pamela, both in India and in America. However, a few experiences teach some important lessons to him.

The beauty of this book is the characters and the simplicity of their nature. Kedar, Sundar, Dilpreet, Buffallo brothers, Devika, Aparna, Pooja, Priyank, Victoria and, the hero Akhil’ heroine - Nanditha.

There are multiple characters and this is unavoidable on account of the college theme. Yet each one of them are memorable. All of them are unique and carry their shades of grey.

The parents of Akhil and Nanditha come across as the clichéd Bollywood parents who know only yell or cry. But, towards the end, they evolve as any of our parents; a kind of parents who care only for the happiness of their children.

The cover-page of this book is interesting and grabs the attention of the readers. It bubbles with life and implicitly conveys what this book has in store for us.

Between, I noticed something. The author went to US in 2004 and so does the characters. That’s brought a smile in my face. Writers are always comfortable to talk about their era and relive their past life through their characters. I am not complaining. It’s just an observation!

But...

The Devdas phase of Akhil is too dramatized. Akhil comes across as an intelligent, pragmatic and rational throughout the book except during this phase.

Should you read it?

You have to, dude.

Because the flow of the narrative is impeccable! I didn’t realize the passage of time at all. It is an easy read and is full of positivity. You feel young and happy.

Characters like Akhil and Jassi are rare. And I believe that they should be befriended!

Rating

3.5/5

Thank you

This book review is a part of "THE READERS COSMOS BOOK REVIEW PROGRAM". To get free books log on to thereaderscosmos.blogspot.com.

PS
Dear author,

Waiting for the next book!!!

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