Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

अपनी अपनी बीमारी

Rate this book
Apni Apni Beemari is a collection of short stories by Harishankar Parsai. The stories are satires on Indian political and social climate of 1960s and 70s.

133 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

181 people are currently reading
915 people want to read

About the author

Harishankar Parsai

87 books234 followers
Harishankar Parsai (हरिशंकर परसाई) was one of the greatest hindi satire writer. Despite holding a MA degree in English, he never wrote in this language. Started his career as a teacher, he later quit it to become a full time writer and started a literature magazine "Vasudha"(it was later closed because of financial difficulties).

He was famous for his blunt and pinching style of writing which included allegorical as well as realist approach. He was funny enough to make you laugh but serious enough to prick your conscience. There would be hardly any dimension of life left which has not appeared in his satires. He received Sahitya Academy Award(biggest literature award in India) for his book "Viklaang Sraddha ka Daur". He has penned down some novels also.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
319 (56%)
4 stars
180 (31%)
3 stars
49 (8%)
2 stars
7 (1%)
1 star
12 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
Profile Image for Kirti Upreti.
230 reviews139 followers
August 26, 2020
'चप्पल भिगा के मारना' बोलचाल की हिंदी में लोकप्रिय कहावत है। और व्यक्तिगत तौर पर कहूं तो अभिव्यक्ति की अनेकों शैलियों में ये मुझे सबसे अधिक प्रिय है। पर मुझ जैसे साधारण जीव और परसाई जी में सबसे बड़ा अंतर भी यहीं दिखाई देता है।

परसाई जी घोर classy लेखक हैं - भीगी चप्पल नहीं मारते। पर classy होने के साथ उनमें एक अखंड सरलता भी है इसलिए उनकी class की पहचान कोई Manolo Blahnik की चरण पादुकाएं भी नहीं।

वो तो अपने शब्दों को खड़ाऊं की तरह पहन के चलते हैं। खड़ाऊं को धारण करके उसमें दो कदम चलना ही अपने आप में एक चुनौती है। और लकड़ी के बने होने से खड़ाऊं में एक विशिष्ट पवित्रता भी बनी रहती है।

उसी शब्द रूपी खड़ाऊं को नारियल तेल लगा कर परसाई जी वज्र बना देते हैं और दे देते है सीधा आपके दिमाग पे। इस कुठाराघात से साधारण व्यक्ति का offend होना लाजमी है।

पर मेरा मानना है कि इस वज्रपात को भी हमें अपना सौभाग्य समझना चाहिए। ये आघात और पीड़ा एक आशादायक प्रमाण है कि आपके पास अभी भी एक स्वचालित दिमाग है जो कि लाख जतन के बाद भी सच सुनने और समझने की शक्ति रखता है।
Profile Image for Ravi Prakash.
Author 57 books78 followers
September 7, 2018
विगत दिनों परसाई जी का व्यंग्य संकलन, "अपनी-अपनी बीमारी" पढ़ने का सौभाग्य प्राप्त हुआ। पुस्तक 1976 में प्रकाशित हुई थी। तबसे लेकर आजतक कितना बदलाव आया है- राजनीति में, समाज मे, धर्म मे? यह संकलन तो यही इंगित करता है कि बदलाव न के बराबर हुआ है। जिंदगी उसी ढर्रे पर है। उनके व्यंग्य-बाणों का निशाना आज भी उपरोक्त विषयों के संदर्भ में सटीक लगता है।
.
लगता है लग्न-मुहूर्त देखकर संकलित किया था, शुभ-शुभ इक्कीस पाठ है जो बीसवीं सदी का पाखण्ड तो उजागर ही करते हैं, साथ-साथ इक्कीसवीं सदी की इस बीमारी के लिए भी कारगर है।
Profile Image for Kushal Srivastava.
159 reviews31 followers
September 18, 2011
Harishankar Parsai was an amazing writer. His stories often 5 pages long and written in first person narrative. His portrayal of the political climate of the 1960s-70s India and the prevalent corruption in India was magical. It's amazing to read his books and know that the country and society has hardly moved an inch forward for the last 40 years or so when these books were written by him. Corruption and the fragmented society live on in India. Like they have done for 1000s of years.
249 reviews4 followers
September 14, 2021
This is one of the best satirical book I have read. The stories are a good take on politics , people , Writers , greed, respect and other aspects of life .
Parsai ji writes at one place "daya ki bhi apni sharte hoti hai" to stress the fact that there are limits we could help somebody.

His take on forced spiritual awakening is also a good one where he writes "satya ki khoj kai logo ke liye aiyaashi hai ! Ye gareeb aadmi ke hasiyat se Bahar hai"

His take on fake intellectualism and idealism could be seen in today's time also.

Overall a good book with very short stories to entertain and teach !! Looking forward to read more of his books
Profile Image for Sahil.
41 reviews3 followers
May 26, 2020
A truly wonderful and subversive text. Published in 1976 but even more relevant now than ever. The issues are same, the political situation is worse, the rural India is forgotten under the garb of neo-liberal India.
And to read this at this time gives you the impression of how rotten electoral politics is.
While utterly delightful and entertaining but raises some serious inquiries about judiciary, constitution, its validity to the people and the people handling both.
While constant vigilance and state's use of technology has put a limit to the dissenting voices but Parsai makes you feel how things were all the same way back then. The political establishment is a garb under which interests of select few are maintained and masses are subjected to issues which keep them brawling within themselves.
96 reviews45 followers
November 17, 2015
This book, awesome. People who love to read Hindi(and humour, of course!) should definitely read it. It is refreshing, and I'm in love with Parsai's style of writing. So much he brings to notice, and how! My favorites- Purana khiladi, Ramkatha Kshepak, Prem ki biradari, Ghutan ke pandrah minute, Baaraat ki waapasi, and the titular one among others I'm not able to recall.

Qualifies as a favorite!
Profile Image for Durgesh Deep.
40 reviews16 followers
April 13, 2020
This is an amazing book. Harishankar Parsai has described various problems of our society wonderfully through his satires. I had lots of laugh-out-loud moments while reading this book.
Profile Image for Payal Sachdeva.
173 reviews22 followers
January 17, 2022
This book is inundated with tongue in cheek humour .. a must read !
Profile Image for Pallavi Shukla.
188 reviews3 followers
August 22, 2025
This is a great satirical book mocking parts of life, such as politics, society culture and human morality. While it was published in 1976, the issues it address are strangely still haunting us, showing the impact of the deep-rooted problems faced by the Indian society. The book illuminates the hardships of rural India that get obscured amidst the buzz and hype surrounding fast urbanization and neo-liberal policies. It shows how electoral politics can be a greatly flawed process, which is more about acquiring power than serving the people in the community. The timely commentary in the book also offers to prompt us to critically reflect on our societies and politics!

Reading these stories, it felt very contemporary, it felt as if nothing has changed. Those same issues of corruption, tyranny and human selfishness still exist in our world today. I’m wistfully reminded some issues can be timeless!

But this book is cool because it’s not just satire. Some stories, such as “Baaraat ki Waapsi” are of course funny, and others, such as “Aana na Aana Ramkumar”, are honest portraits of a writer’s life, where a writer is in queue for payment!

This kind of writing is like a tonic in a world where insults masquerade as humor. It demonstrates how a comic’s sly wit, keen insights can speak wisely, making readers chuckle and think seriously!

I recommend this to anyone who is in search of a snarky, witty analysis with a dose of scorn! It’s a wonderful mixture of humor and satire that will keep you entertained!

There is no deed, the Satire, and enat sounding society. In today's over-opinionated world, this rare art form has apparently been lost, so should be treasured even more!
Profile Image for Anu.
47 reviews16 followers
March 26, 2021
Parsai has always been known more as a satirist but Apni Apni Bimari (अपनी अपनी बीमारी ) tells that he is more than that.

The book shows his futuristic and perceptive views towards the contemporary issues plaguing society. Indeed the stories give a comical angle to the problems of date, inclusive of but not restricted to the treatment of women, exploitation of epics, ignorance of women towards their own issues, which have given the satire its backbone. One such hilarious account is the author's upfront attack on the police department, bureaucracy, politics, and courts in Inspector Matadeen Chand Par (इंस्पेक्टर मातादीन चाँद पर).

An interesting fact about the book is that it is not entirely a satire. For instance, Baaraat ki Waapsi (बारात की वापसी) is a story that is naturally humourous while Aana na Aana Ramkumar ka (आना न आना रामकुमार का) is an honest account of a writer waiting to get paid.

As an overview, the book should not be given a miss. These stories shake human thoughts while keeping the humour alive.
Profile Image for Saurabh Pandey.
168 reviews8 followers
October 24, 2020
This was the second book by the author which I was reading and of course, I just loved this collection of short stories where he has used his power of sarcasm in such a beautiful manner that I believe everyone will love his creation.
This is a must-read for anyone who is interested in reading the author's work in the form of short stories.
Profile Image for Vijay Gupta.
6 reviews
May 27, 2016
If it's satire, it can't get better than Harishankar Parsai ji. Love what he has written.
Profile Image for Manoj (BooksPoetryandMore).
21 reviews1 follower
December 4, 2020
अपनी अपनी बीमारी छोटी-छोटी व्यंग रचनाओं का संग्रह है। हर एक कहानी एक धारदार व्यंग के माध्यम से हमारे और हमारे आस पास के समाज की Hypocricy को सामने रखती है। उनका व्यंग महज हंसी मज़ाक न बनकर अपने पाठकों को आइना भी दिखता है। किताब के बारे में लिखने से बेहतर, किताब के कुछ अंश यहाँ लिखता हूँ , जिसे पढ़कर आप किताब और उनके लेखन के बारे में ज्यादा जान पाएंगे।

”जो देश का काम करता है, उसे थोड़ी बदतमीज़ी का हक़ है। देश सेवा थोड़ी बदतमीज़ी के बिना शोभा नहीं देती। थोड़ी बेवकूफी भी मिली हो, तो और चमक जाती है। “

एक कहानी “रामकथा क्षेपक” है जिसमे वो बताते हैं कि कैसे दिवाली पर सब लोग दीप जलाते हैं रामचंद्र जी के वापस लौटने पर। पर वह यह नहीं समझ पाते कि क्यों इस दिन व्यापारी खाता- बही बदलकर उसे लाल कपडे में बांधते हैं। इस पर उन्होंने जो व्यंग लिखा है वो शायद आज के लिखना संभव ही नहीं।

उनका लिखा कुछ और जो उनके धारदार व्यंग को दर्शाता है –

”घोषणाएं की जाती थी कि यह चुनाव धर्मयुद्ध है; कौरव-पांडव संग्राम है। धृतराष्ट्र चौंककर संजय से कहते हैं – ये लोग अभी भी हमारी लड़ाई लड़ रहे हैं। ये अपनी लड़ाई कब लड़ेंगे ? संजय कहते हैं – इन्हे दूसरो की लड़ाई में उलझे रहना ही सिखाया गया है। ये दुसरे की लड़ाई लड़ते-लड़ते ही मर जाते हैं।”

”बीमारी को स्वास्थ्य मान लेने वाला मैं अकेला नहीं हूँ। पूरे समाज बीमारी को स्वास्थ्य को मान लेते हैं। जाती-भेद एक बीमारी है। मगर हमारे यहाँ कितने लोग हैं जो इसे समाज के स्वास्थ्य की निशानी समझते हैं ? गोरों का रंग-दंभ एक बीमरी है। मगर अफ्रीका के गोरे इसे स्वास्थ्य का लक्षण मानते हैं और बीमारी को गर्व से ढो रहे हैं। मुझे भी बचपन में परिवार ने ब्राह्मणपन की बीमारी लगा दी थी , पर मैंने जल्द ही इसका इलाज कर लिया। ”
Profile Image for Maahireads .
36 reviews4 followers
January 7, 2023
बेहतरीन व्यंग! मज़ा आ गया। 😍😍
हरिशंकर परसाई जी अपने व्यंगात्मक लेखन के लिए जाने जाते हैं और ये मेरी उनकी लिखी हुई पहली किताब है। बचपन में जब नई कक्षा की किताबें घर आया करती थी तो मैं स्कूल शुरू होने से पहले ही हिंदी और इंग्लिश की किताबों की सब कहानियां पढ़ डालती थी (जानती हूं आप में से भी कई लोग ऐसा करते होंगे)। तब परिचय हुआ था हिंदी के कुछ बेहतरीन साहित्यकारों से।
ये अकाउंट शुरू करते समय सोचा था कि हिंदी साहित्य को भी पढ़ेंगे पर तब से अब तक हो नहीं पाया। इस साल ही सही। अब आप यहां इंग्लिश और हिंदी दोनों भाषाओं की किताबें देखेंगे।
बात करें इस किताब की तो ऐसा है कि ये छोटी छोटी कहानियों में बटी है। हर कहानी एकदम सरल व्यंग में है। मिडिल क्लास के हर इंसान को मजा आ जाए ऐसी। हर कहानी अपने आप में सटीक और धारदार। सबको लपेटा गया है इसमें। कभी कभी तो लगेगा कि आप भी लपेटे में आ गए और आपको पता भी नहीं चला।😂

हालांकि ये सिर्फ satire नहीं है। काफी कुछ है। माइथोलॉजी, पॉलिटिक्स, लेखक जीवन के कुछ सच जो एकदम सरल और मज़ेदार तरीके से लिखे हैं इन्होंने। 😂
मैं तो fan हो गई भाईसाब।❤️
Profile Image for Dinesh Kumar.
20 reviews
August 15, 2023
If any of new readers are familiar with dry humour of “Flop Show” by Jaspal Bhatti, he/she will definitely going to like this one. All aspects of society, whether be it women empowerment, caste related matters, corruption in the offices and even spiritual text books are not spared. The observations are precise and anyone can relate to them. Some are more like of mental self dialogue with other characters are also having fair share in the conversation, those one can be easily converted into good short plays as well. A funny and comical relief and each small story of 4-5 pages can be enjoyed as it is different from typical and regular long/heavy novels.

“Apni apni bimari” is title of one of the 20+ short stories in the book.
Profile Image for Sumit Banerjee.
61 reviews1 follower
November 18, 2020
Satire is a lost art. An art to say very incisive things with a smile on your face. An art lost in the time of very strong unmalleable opinions.

Parsai ji has taken the society to the cleaners. And he hasn't left anybody. Not that he had a dearth of topics to write on. From politicians to politics to unwanted guests to the society to the intellectuals to the bureaucracy; everyone has been on the crosshairs of his pen in the collection. And when he has not found anyone worthy, he has put himself under the microscope.

A strong recommendation for anyone who wants that subtle flavor of contempt rolled in doses of humor.
Profile Image for Soma.
15 reviews2 followers
April 17, 2023
I picked up this collection of short stories based on recommendation in a book club. A brilliant collection, full of satire on prevailing India of 60-70s. All stories are gems, written with a dry self deprecating humour and are fun to read. Parsai challenges you to think out of the box, challenges the limits society has put on everything and the end result is an unabashed fun ride. With every story, I wondered what has changed between then and now, and the answer came with painful realization, zilch. We are still plagued by the rampant corruption, power and insatiable human greed. Highly recommend this collection to everyone who can read and understand Hindi. It's a classic.
Profile Image for Ashish Rohilla.
14 reviews1 follower
May 11, 2022
Apni apni bimari ka yaha safal ilaaj hota h. Nasha sa h iss chutile vyang me, ek baar aadat lag gayi, aap to gaye fir miya. Ek ek sabd aur vaakyo ko Parsai ji ne chun kar use kia h. Vaidhanik chetawani: aap is kitaab ko padh kar has has k mar sakte h. Is pustak ko dekh kar padh kar wo bachpan ka ghadi detergent ka advertisement yaad aata h, pahle istemaal kare fir Vishwas kare. Muskurayiye aap Parsai ji k fan banne wale hai.
Profile Image for Jatin Malik.
20 reviews
November 6, 2025
It’s a collection of 21 stories and essays by Harishankar Parsai, where sharp humour meets biting satire. The wit keeps you laughing often, but each laugh is quickly followed by a moment of deep, thought-provoking reflection.

My favourites are - Apni-apni bimari, samay katnewale, buddhiwadi, prem ki biradri, ghutan k 15 minute, baarat ki vapsi, inspector matdeen chand par, sadhna ka faujdaari anth.
Profile Image for Poojan Bhatt.
28 reviews1 follower
April 6, 2025
Good satirical humour - funny and thought provoking punchlines - in a world where you see everyday insulting as the only way comedy is served , such literature restores your faith as to how subtle humour just by the virtue of detailed observations can leave a huge impact and give a lot to think for to the audience while engaging them with pockets of laughter.
Profile Image for Dev Shani.
67 reviews
April 12, 2025
अपनी अपनी बीमारी....
1976 में प्रकाशित ये हास्य व्यंग पुस्तक सामाजिक भेदभाव उच्च नीच राजनैतिक मानवीय भाव के अलवा पौराणिक कथाओ से पिरोता मानो आज की भारत की बात कह रहा हो
महाभारत और रामायण से उठये प्रसांग तो काबिले तारीफ हैँ
मुख्य व्यंग -
पुराना खिलाडी
इंस्पेक्टर मातादीन चाँद पर
असुविधाभोगी
आचार्य एक्सटेंशन और बगीचा
कम से कम पढ़े और खुद समझें
Profile Image for Harshita Pandey.
43 reviews
May 8, 2021
बहुत शानदार किताब है। हर कहानी अपने आप में सटीक और धारदार। सब को लपेटा गया है इसमें, पढ़ते पढ़ते जाने कितनी जगह लगेगा कि तुम भी लपेटे में आ गए। चतुराई और हास्य से बुना गया जाल। जादुई यथार्थवाद की भी भरपूर झलकियाँ मिलेंगी इसमें।
Profile Image for Alokita.
135 reviews7 followers
July 15, 2023
Really enjoyed every piece of sarcastic wit that the author displayed in his writing. The ironic thing even in this aspect was the fact that several sarcastic comments are still valid even today. I have highlighted those sections in kindle.
Profile Image for Vaibhav Vds.
24 reviews
March 24, 2019
Satire king at his best...

Excellent read but there were few satires that were repeat from Parsai's another works. Overall, this is an excellent compilation of apt satires.
Profile Image for Geetansh Vivek.
18 reviews19 followers
September 18, 2019
Another political satire of Harishankar Parsai, which inspires you to keep turning the page.
Author 16 books1 follower
October 14, 2020
परसाई जी के क्या कहने

वैसे तो एक किताब में एक से बढ़कर एक लाजवाब व्यंग्य है लेकिन इंस्पेक्टर मातादीन चाँद पर लाखों में एक है।
Profile Image for Punit.
72 reviews2 followers
January 31, 2021
छोटे-छोटे टुकड़ों में अद्भुत व्यंग लेखन। इनकी रचनाएँ वो चरितार्थ करतीं हैं अंग्रेजी में जिसे कहते हैं 'रीड बिटवीन लाइन्स'।
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.