Journey from Guwahati to Machhiwara – A Book Review

Posted on by Parul Thakur
On Author's request, posing with the book
On Author’s request, posing with the book

A book that is a collection of stories. Stories that are personal and are real life experiences. Experiences that were gathered over a period of 35 years of work life as a bank employee. This was the span during which the author moved from Guwahati to Macchiwara as part of his job. This itself sounds a piece of fiction to me. Well, it is not. This is the reason the book was penned.

5 Stories that I liked: The book is written in a simple language and narrated well. The stories took me on a trip down the memory lane when the author mentioned Nokia mobile handset 3310, the Tulsi-Mihir stories, the Govinda songs and many more such little things.

The book contains 20 stories and actually starts with the second one when the author lands in Guwahati for his first job as a 24-year-old. Once you start from that point, you cannot put the book down. The flow and the narration will make you read more. Rajiv Bakshi requested for my favorite stories and in no particular order, here they are:

Encounter with Wasps: This was a funny one. I do understand that this accident must have been so painful, but reading this story was fun. The way Rajiv was beaten by an Institute’s Director so that the wasps could be killed, added to the humor. An incident to remember and a story to tell.

The Indian Love Story: A tale of love between people from across nations. A story of family bonding, love and importance of staying together as one unit was the highlight for me. The poem in the end written by Doris’s children was heart warming.

The Samjhauta Express: The love between siblings and the ones who were separated by two countries – India and Pakistan. The love, the feelings expressed made this an emotional read and show how things are destined. Life throws up situations and we never know what will come next was the message for me in the story.

Husbands-Beware Do Not Shop: This one was sweet. It showed how husbands go over board to show their affection and how wives fail to realize this and instead criticize. Women are choosy about their clothes and preferences and this story kind of firmed that fact.

The Last Ride Together: We have made a lot of progress. Birth can be controlled and IVFs are possible but no one can escape death. This story was a reminder to live each day for we don’t know what lies ahead. I was sad the way the story ended as I wanted Jhas to stay with their DIL but I do understand that was a tough situation.

What could have been better: A bit more proof reading would have been good. The first chapter was a small poem so may be it could have been used in a story some where else instead of being the book’s Chapter 1. I like the way the second story started with Rajiv’s first job and that could have been the introduction to the book. This would have helped accommodate two more stories in the collection.

Tactical Details: Cover page, font size and quality of the book – thumbs up!

Overall Verdict: Here’s where I am going to deviate a bit and as a reader I am sure you will understand. This book is sort of dream project. A book which is a potpourri of memorable life experiences of 35 years and that is why I feel rating the book will not be a just thing to do. It’s a 5/5 to say that there is no age limit to fulfill dreams and in my mind that is more important that a rating.

The book is a simple weekend read and a quick one. Most of the stories will make you smile and if you are my age, these stories will take you back to the time you were growing up. The simple life of those days and some heart warming times with parents.

Book Details:  

Name:  Journey from Guwahati to Machhiwara

Author: Rajiv Bakshi

Genre: Memoirs

Publisher: Notion Press

Publication Year: 2015

Number of pages: 135

Price: 200 INR

Thank you Rajiv Bakshi for contacting me to review your book. I am glad that through our conversations and your book, I got to know you a bit. I am more impressed with you as a person than as a blogger. All the best ahead and here’s wishing you health and happiness. 

31 thoughts on “Journey from Guwahati to Machhiwara – A Book Review”

    2. I am first time Indian Author of Book on short stories : Journey from Guwahati to Machhiwara . I would love to see you grab a copy of my Book and then pose with the Book as Blogger Parul has done so smilingly . Book available on Amazon.com & Amazon.co.uk & Notion Press ( if you are in India )

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  2. I have a connection with Guwahati for I spent the first 9 years of my life there and I have many memories from that place. The title of this book interested me for this reason.

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    2. The Bespeckled Mom . I would love to see you reading my Book : Journey from Guwahati to Machhiwara . I have had two stints of posting in my Bank at Guwahati , Dibrugarh & Jorhat . I really want more people from NE read my Book . There are lot of my followers on Twitter from North East . Happy Reading Mam .

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      1. Well Rajiv Bakshi, I am not from North east. I am from North India and had lived in Guwahati because my father was posted there for 9 years. And yes I would like to read the book.

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    2. A writer from East !!! Thanks !!! If you don’t read my Book , who I am going to pester to read . Would love to see people from North East reading my Book on their Journey whether in train , by air or bus .

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    2. @ Soumya Prasad , I have some readers who finished this book in three hours with two coffee breaks . There are others who reading the Book only on Saturdays & Sunday’s . They don’t want to see the Book finished so early . I have read this Book minimum 100 times !!!!!

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  5. Stories from your own experiences make for some interesting reading. This books sounds like great fun. Thanks for sharing about it!

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  6. Hey Parul,

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  7. Pingback: Depression Versus Ego | rajivbakshi's Blog

    1. Thanks Mr Gaurav Pandey for liking my Book . I think you are from the same Bank from which I retired . It’s start of your first innings and for me it’s start of my second innings

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  9. Pingback: Review of Book : Journey from Guwahati to Machhiwara by Blogger Parul HappinessandFood  of Bangalore  Thanks Mam Parul  | Rajivbakshi's Blog
  10. Pingback: 11 reasons why I am in love with Rajiv Bakshi! – fairytalesofasimplegirl

  11. I have ordered a copy from Amazon. Likely to reach my village by 23rd. So Mr. Bakshi you have to wait for my comments. Has to be good though.
    My journey as a banker started in a place called Khan hain in 1978. My untold stories in due course InShaAllah.

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