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The President Is Coming
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 24, 2020
Many years ago, Pal’s was the first ever Live Stand-Up Comedy show that I witnessed, much before the stand-up fever took over the country. I had in fact gone to watch a play, where his was the opening act. His set got over in 15 mins, and I was mighty disappointed that I would have to watch the play I actually paid for. He was funny, fresh and full of unabashed convictions.
I picked up the book a day after the show. But somehow never got to reading it for many years to come. And then one day, I just started reading it, and I was disappointed that it got over too fast. Once again, it’s funny, fresh and totally fantastic.
I picked up the book a day after the show. But somehow never got to reading it for many years to come. And then one day, I just started reading it, and I was disappointed that it got over too fast. Once again, it’s funny, fresh and totally fantastic.
October 1, 2012
This is a satire by Anuvab Pal on the behavior, thought process and general mentality of an average well educated Indian.
The then President of USA, George Bush is scheduled to visit India. He desires to shake hands with a young Indian who is smart and smart in his terms means, someone who speaks English. So starts off the find for a young Indian who will be lucky enough to shake hands with a President famed by killing lakhs of innocent people.
The media as usual gets ready to cover every moment of finding the smartest young Indian. One particular PR agency gets the deal and start the process. The interview and selection rounds are so bizarre and unrealistic and no where near the “being smart” test, but every person who is shortlisted is doing their best to get selected. And what are their reasons? Each person who is shortlisted has written a “Why should I be selected as the smartest young Indian for this cameo” and their reasons are that of a typical Indian.
1. To become famous
2. To be able to get back to USA and work
3. To be able to prove to everyone that they are the best
4. To be able to shake the hand of the greatest President.
Yes, an average Indian thinks that anything and everything that the media covers is worth being there because that makes you famous. And yes, that is why shows like Big Boss have aired five seasons till now and the sixth one is in progress. You ask a person who goes up to vote and they won;t even know whom they’re voting for. They hardly know the names, so looking at the background or credibility of a candidate before casting a vote is out of the question.
What goes on in this book, is a slightly exaggerated but it very rightly expresses the sentiment every literate Indian would have towards the current state of the country. This state is not because we are handicapped and do not have the resources to get ourselves to the top, it is because we are slaves..slaves of the USA from the mind. We ape the west, without thinking. Why do we only copy the fashion, the dating culture, the live-in culture and not the work culture? The social responsibility mentality of the people there? Why is it that people in our country do not have a mind of their own? Because they’ve killed their thought process and they accept everything that happens in the states, as their correct thought process.
When I started off with this book, every sentence, paragraph, chapter, scene made me laugh. As I went on that turned into a smirk then shame and then anger. If the people of a country are slaves thus, how will they ever progress?
The then President of USA, George Bush is scheduled to visit India. He desires to shake hands with a young Indian who is smart and smart in his terms means, someone who speaks English. So starts off the find for a young Indian who will be lucky enough to shake hands with a President famed by killing lakhs of innocent people.
The media as usual gets ready to cover every moment of finding the smartest young Indian. One particular PR agency gets the deal and start the process. The interview and selection rounds are so bizarre and unrealistic and no where near the “being smart” test, but every person who is shortlisted is doing their best to get selected. And what are their reasons? Each person who is shortlisted has written a “Why should I be selected as the smartest young Indian for this cameo” and their reasons are that of a typical Indian.
1. To become famous
2. To be able to get back to USA and work
3. To be able to prove to everyone that they are the best
4. To be able to shake the hand of the greatest President.
Yes, an average Indian thinks that anything and everything that the media covers is worth being there because that makes you famous. And yes, that is why shows like Big Boss have aired five seasons till now and the sixth one is in progress. You ask a person who goes up to vote and they won;t even know whom they’re voting for. They hardly know the names, so looking at the background or credibility of a candidate before casting a vote is out of the question.
What goes on in this book, is a slightly exaggerated but it very rightly expresses the sentiment every literate Indian would have towards the current state of the country. This state is not because we are handicapped and do not have the resources to get ourselves to the top, it is because we are slaves..slaves of the USA from the mind. We ape the west, without thinking. Why do we only copy the fashion, the dating culture, the live-in culture and not the work culture? The social responsibility mentality of the people there? Why is it that people in our country do not have a mind of their own? Because they’ve killed their thought process and they accept everything that happens in the states, as their correct thought process.
When I started off with this book, every sentence, paragraph, chapter, scene made me laugh. As I went on that turned into a smirk then shame and then anger. If the people of a country are slaves thus, how will they ever progress?
January 9, 2013
I am in a flight from Ahmedabad to Hyderabad, and fortunately unfortunately the only book I have in my bag is “The President is coming” by Anuvab Pal. I vaguely remember seeing the few glimpses of the movie based on this book featuring Konkona Sen Sharma, so I am already a little biased towards the book, as my favorite actress chose to act in a movie based on it. I decide to devote my flight duration to this book almost religiously. So here are few advantages about reading this book, one you will finish it in one hour thirty minutes that is how long the flight from Ahmedabad to Hyderabad takes, two because it absolutely fits and misfits as a book –because it is short lived in your memory, it does not have any life changing impact on the way you think and still it manages to tickle, titillate and twist your imagination in a sporadic manner and three most important of all it has a satire on almost everything a contemporary Indian intellect struggles with.
There is this idea of the “Other” we all have. Every Indian at the core of his head and heart has invested his time and energy, in forming an opinion about the west; irrespective of the fact the opinion is good or bad. This very much is the essence of what the novel is about, that none of us escape the influence of THE west. The novel is about the US President, George W. Bush’s visit to India in 2006. There needs to be chosen a young Indian to shake hands with the president. Six uniquely exaggerated versions of a typical young Indian compete for the opportunity of shaking President’s hand. So we have an IIM graduate, a software engineer, a brilliant novelist, a self-obsessed and overtly pampered entrepreneur of the fashion world, a person suffering from OCD about stock market and the last but not the least a person giving training for proper English accent. The book captures the irony and queerness of the contest conducted to choose the best amongst these six. The absolutely unnecessary tasks set for these six are extremely overwhelming at times....
For the full review, visit IndiaBookStore.
There is this idea of the “Other” we all have. Every Indian at the core of his head and heart has invested his time and energy, in forming an opinion about the west; irrespective of the fact the opinion is good or bad. This very much is the essence of what the novel is about, that none of us escape the influence of THE west. The novel is about the US President, George W. Bush’s visit to India in 2006. There needs to be chosen a young Indian to shake hands with the president. Six uniquely exaggerated versions of a typical young Indian compete for the opportunity of shaking President’s hand. So we have an IIM graduate, a software engineer, a brilliant novelist, a self-obsessed and overtly pampered entrepreneur of the fashion world, a person suffering from OCD about stock market and the last but not the least a person giving training for proper English accent. The book captures the irony and queerness of the contest conducted to choose the best amongst these six. The absolutely unnecessary tasks set for these six are extremely overwhelming at times....
For the full review, visit IndiaBookStore.
April 13, 2011
A satirical comedy dealing with a competition for the best young Indian who's eligible enough to shake George bush's hand.
The competition is conducted my a turmoiled PR company comprising the ruined Samantha Patel and her more intelligent assistant Ritu Johnson.
The contestants comprise of :
Ajay karlekar : a village emphasizing activist and Mba holder who also leaves behind racist remarks.
Rohit seth : A deport from America , starts the 'accent training' school for Indians to speak like 'Americans' and considers himself to be an American! Later dramatically changes to become an 'indian'
Archana Kapoor : A millionaire's spoilt daughter , hoping to promote her lipstick brand and get rid of her father's shadow by shaking hands with Bush.
Kapil Dev Dholakia : Stock obsessed entrepreneur , who thinks can money can win it ALL.
Maya Roy : Mysterious poet , who seems to hate bush and write books on unlucky midgets , later reveals an astonishing twist.
Ramesh S : Math obsessed Indian , who's apparently gay but disapproves it by trying to hit on girls.
The book is laced with humour and transports in a different perspective - the various mediums people communicate with each other.
Is more popular as a movie/play
The competition is conducted my a turmoiled PR company comprising the ruined Samantha Patel and her more intelligent assistant Ritu Johnson.
The contestants comprise of :
Ajay karlekar : a village emphasizing activist and Mba holder who also leaves behind racist remarks.
Rohit seth : A deport from America , starts the 'accent training' school for Indians to speak like 'Americans' and considers himself to be an American! Later dramatically changes to become an 'indian'
Archana Kapoor : A millionaire's spoilt daughter , hoping to promote her lipstick brand and get rid of her father's shadow by shaking hands with Bush.
Kapil Dev Dholakia : Stock obsessed entrepreneur , who thinks can money can win it ALL.
Maya Roy : Mysterious poet , who seems to hate bush and write books on unlucky midgets , later reveals an astonishing twist.
Ramesh S : Math obsessed Indian , who's apparently gay but disapproves it by trying to hit on girls.
The book is laced with humour and transports in a different perspective - the various mediums people communicate with each other.
Is more popular as a movie/play
March 13, 2013
I have read the book. I have seen the play. I have watched the movie. Now, you know... :)
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews