Book Review
Friends and Five Seasons Vol 1 by Madhukant Acharya is a feel-good book that will trigger your inner emotions and give you good vibes.
Its interesting plot with detailed history, economics, and social issues of the pre-Independent India will keep you hooked till the last page.
Inspired by True Events and Stories, the book shows us the other side of pre-Independent India.
It puts light on the role of upper-class Indians in the Independence of India. How educated Indians, made an impact on the farmers and laborers and inspired them to make a change.
Three friends with three different personalities embark on a journey full of experiences.
The book talks about deep topics with a pinch of humor which will entertain as well as educate you at the same time.
What I liked about this book is the fact that all the events take place in a proper sequence.
Also, every event is covered in so much detail that you will unintentionally become a part of the book. Everything feels real!
The book is also considered as the first novel in English with Maithil lead characters who are both local and global in stature hailing from North Bihar.
Being born in Patna and brought up in Munger, Bihar. Maithil community has played an important role in my life.
I can relate to each and everything happening in the story. It was like listing to a bedtime story from my father.
This book is a historic traveler's bible. If you love history and live for traveling, then this is the book you must not skip.
You can take this book along with you on your road trips or outstation visits. Its 342 pages will motivate you to keep exploring the world and absorb more than what you see, feel, and hear.
The mention of Patna (where I was born), Jamalpur Railway Station (where I have been 16 years), Doranda Ranchi (where my wife studied), and Mumbai (where I had my best school trip), excited me the most.
The little details of each place touched me personally. On the other hand, the characterization is at its best and the language used in the book is simple and easy to understand.
I would love to see it converted into a TV series in the future. Overall, Friends and Five Seasons Vol 1 is a MUST READ! So, go ahead and buy this book from Amazon now.
RATING: 4.5/5
AUTHOR: Madhukant Acharya
PUBLISHER: Notion Press
GENRE: Contemporary Fiction
PAGES: 342
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Rupen, Dinkar, and Ajit passed out from an English medium school in 1921 and recalled their outstanding teachers Charles Benedict, Colonel Irwin Manley, Julie Thomas, Gyan Shastri, Suman Sahay and others.
Standing on the threshold of adulthood, they joined college and did what they always wanted to do - they revolted against the British flag and dumped it into the Ganges as a non-violent act of defiance.
As a result, they were pitted against Principal Andrews who was determined to teach them a lesson that would make an example out of the three; but they were ably defended by Professor Saran who believed in using his brains to secure a pardon for his students.
In such a tense atmosphere, Radha comes into Rupen's life and so does Julie, who defends Ajit.
Meanwhile, Dinkar fearlessly faces the authorities. Sensing the popular mood in the country, the three friends undertake a journey of discovery of India and start writing articles supported by a former newspaper editor.
Despite huge odds, they cruise into their careers. Rupen joins a small newspaper group rejecting a lucrative offer from a leading paper.
Ajit takes up the practice of law. Dinkar joins the King's service. In this situation, they make a pact that not too far into the future their careers will merge in the city of their school days and that they will share a common destiny. But how this would happen, none of them knew..
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Madhukant Acharya was educated in some of the best schools and colleges in India and was adjudged the best student in his class. Soon after he joined the corporate world, working with eminent multinational companies and rose from a management trainee to the company's board position in a short span of twenty years and was awarded 'Marketing Man of the Year' from the President of India. He has widely travelled in India and abroad and continues to be an avid reader. The author leads an active social life with friends and family and is a popular member of premier clubs. His interests involve being a fitness enthusiast and doing social and charitable work in rural areas. Many of his friends call him 'people happy'.
Settled in Mumbai for nearly forty years with wife Kalpana, his children pursue careers in the US and Mumbai being doctors, engineers, and MBAs. The idea of writing a novel motivated him some years ago after professional retirement when he rescheduled his priorities and lifestyle to devote the required time to create his debut novel Friends and five seasons in two volumes - Rupen's Early Years and Publishing hero Rupen.
INTERVIEW:
Q. Characterise yourself in one word.
Structured
Q. Please describe what the story/book is in one sentence.
Three men and two women forge a lifelong friendship that makes them a winning group consisting of a brilliant newsman, sharp legal eagle, able administrator, educationist, and agrarian manager. Together they achieve the seemingly impossible
Q. Briefly what led up to the book? What were you writing (and getting published if applicable) before breaking out with the book?
Without a doubt, I would say my keen observation of exceptional newsmen, legal luminaries, forthright administrators, educationists and homemakers who are integral to the plot of my imagined story. My book ’Friends and Five Seasons’ deals with one of the most exciting periods of India’s evolution from 1920 to 1970.
I was writing essays and articles from time to time but decided to write a novel one evening when I was relaxing in my study having returned from a holiday. Thereafter it became a passion to write and publish ‘Friends and Five Season’ in two volumes.
Q. What has been your biggest achievement?
My biggest achievement has been my success against all odds in my chosen fields spanning a lifetime that is performing well beyond the call of duty.
Q. Looking back, what did you do right that helped you break-in?
I changed my lifestyle and priorities to focus on writing which was fulfilling to the core requiring an effort but never stressful. A dream realized.
Q. Did you have a platform in place? On this topic what are you doing to build a platform and gain readership?
I had no platform but explored possibilities to first find a publisher. Amazon gave me a lead to find one. I tried to make my book visible through various ways like a successful book launch, digital advertising on Amazon, Facebook and personal contacts.
Q. Favourite book.
Inferno by Dan Brown
Q. Something personal about you people may be surprised to know.
I am intrepid and organized in most things I do. People tend to see me primarily as fun-loving, independent and optimistic.
Q. Future of Salismania through your eyes.
The future of Saismania.com is bright because it offers a need-based platform for first-time authors like me to reach out to readers and achieve some success.
WHAT TO READ: Friends and Five Seasons: Rupen's early years ( Vol 1 )