Some things have changed. Some things never will – not in this lifetime. I look at my face in the mirror of the guesthouse of my alma mater and try to discover the changes. I’ve just stepped out of the shower and am buttoning the black Polo shirt that has always been my favourite. The faded pair of Levis and black blazer complete the look. I shave and dab on some cologne. Like the scouts will tell you, ‘Be prepared’. Then I comb my hair and, looking at the strands of silver that have appeared of late around my sideburns, wonder idly if any girl would still find me attractive. After all, at age thirty five the girls on the MIJ campus will probably find me too old, unless I meet one of those who find older men sexy because they have grey sideburns.
The book is being launched for the media to give them a sneak peak ahead of the others. It is going to be a small event. So I just thought of inviting all of you to join me on this very very special moment. Besides the media it is important to have some friends to share the special moment. Right?
Pramita Bose of The Asian Age asked me about my favorite books. That's a tough question. It is a bit like asking which one is your favorite movie or favorite city to live in. The answer to most of these questions changes or gets updated frequently. The latest book that one falls in love with often features in a list like this. Some books remain eternal favorites. They linger on. They haunt me. On a lonely evening those phrases and dilemmas set me thinking. Viktor Frankl's book Man's Search for Meaning is one such awesome book. Spike Milligan certainly remains a benchmark when it comes to writing humor. Here is Pramita's take on the dicussion...
Don't judge a book by its cover. When a book lies among a hundred others on the shelf, it is the cover that first catches the eye. Thereafter the seduction of the reader is unabashed. through great graphics or visuals, maybe through an interesting title or through a controversial quote or a celeb author's photo or endorsement, the cover tries to get you to cough up the money and take the book home.
Antara Bose of The Telegraph says, "XLRI alumnus Abhijit Bhaduri is ready with his second book that will hit the stores sometime in September. Abhijit’s first book Mediocre But Arrogant (2005) was a bestseller and he may hit the jackpot again with Married But Available (2008)."
Q: What is it about the B-schools that makes it a good backdrop for a story?A: An author must write about things that have a ring of authenticity. I went to a B-School and the story is therefore set in a surrounding that I am familiar with. The dilemmas of B School life make for an interesting combination for B-Schools.
Married But Available follows the life of the protagonist Abbey through the first ten years of his life as a Human Resources professional. The first ten years are arguably the most action packed years of one's life when most people get raises, get their promotions or change jobs, some get married, have kids, get divorced, fall in love and out of it and confront existential dilemmas. This novel looks at the first ten years of Abbey's professional life after his MBA.
Is this story autobiographical? Is there someone called Rascal Rusty? Did you actually live in the Railway Colony of SP Marg, New Delhi? Why did you choose Jamshedpur as the city in which to base the Business School in? Who does Abbey love - is it Keya, Priya or Ayesha? If you want to ask some more questions, just go ahead and add them to the comment section below and I will answer them. - Abhijit Bhaduri
Sometimes one stumbles across an old review or list while surfing. Here's what I saw from The Hindu newspaper. This is really 27th August 2005. So pretty much just after the launch of Mediocre But Arrogant, it featured in The Hindu newspaper's bestseller list. This is precious.