UP 65

by Nikhil Sachan

लेखक, निखिल सचान के बारे में-

निखिल सचान नई वाली हिंदी के पोस्टर ब्वॉय हैं। IIT और IIM के छात्र होने के नाते इनकी शुरुआत हिंदी साहित्य के आउटसाइडर के रूप में हुई, लेकिन पहली किताब आते ही, ये आनन-फ़ानन ही, हिंदी साहित्य के नए रंग-रूट में सबसे चहेता चेहरा हो गए।

इनकी किताब ‘नमक स्वादानुसार’ और ‘ज़िंदगी आइसपाइस’ ने हज़ारों ऐसे लोगों को उँगली पकड़कर हिंदी की किताबों से जोड़ा जिन्होंने अपनी आख़िरी हिंदी किताब बोर्ड एग्ज़ाम पास करने के लिए उठाई थी, जिन्हें हिंदी बोरिंग और अनकूल लगती थी और जिन्हें पूरा भरोसा था कि हिंदी किताबें पढ़ पाना उनके बस की बात नहीं है।

वहीं निखिल ऐसे लोगों के बीच भी गहरी पैठ रखते हैं जो क्लासिक हिंदी लिटरेचर के शौक़ीन हैं, जो साहित्य की गहरी समझ रखते हैं और जिन्हें उसके मूलभूत स्वरूप से छेड़-छाड़ पसंद नहीं है। नतीज़तन, इनकी दोनों किताबें पिछले कुछ सालों की सबसे बड़ी हिंदी बेस्ट सेलर्स में से एक हैं और BBC, आज-तक जैसे मीडिया हाउसेज़ के अलावा क्रिटिक्स ने भी इन्हें 2013 और 2015 की सबसे बेहतरीन हिंदी किताबें क़रार दिया।

फ़िलहाल निखिल अपना पहला नॉवेल ‘यूपी 65’ लेकर हाजि़र हैं और मायानगरी मुंबई की शरण में हो लिए हैं।

**

उपन्यास की पृष्ठभूमि में आइआइटी बीएचयू (IIT BHU) और बनारस है, वहाँ की मस्ती है, बीएचयू के विद्यार्थी, अध्यापक और उनका औघड़पन है। समकालीन परिवेश में बुनी कथा एक इंजीनियर के इश्क़, शिक्षा-व्यवस्था से उसके मोहभंग और अपनी राह ख़ुद बनाने का ताना-बाना बुनती है। यह हिंदी में बिलकुल नये तेवर का उपन्यास है, जो आपको अपनी ज़िंदगी के सबसे सुंदर सालों में वापस ले जाएगा, आपको आपके भीतर के बनारस से मिलाएगा। इस उम्मीद में कि बनारस हम सबके भीतर बना रहे, हम अलमस्त, औघड़ रहें और बे-इंतहा हँस सकें।

Genres: Fiction, Indian Literature, India

160 pages, Paperback

Published August 14, 2017

About the author

It might sound convenient to call Nikhil an engineer from IIT BHU or perhaps a management - graduate from IIM - Kozhikode. However, these days he is the Head of Marketing of a firm by 'Occupation' and a writer by 'Choice'. His childhood was spent in Kanpur and presently he lives in Gurgaon (Call it an occupational hazard). He has lived a few chapters of his life in the city of lights and God's own country too.

Nikhil's first book, 'Namak Swadanusar' was widely appreciated by both critics and readers. Rated as 'Remarkable Hindi Book of 2013' by BBC and 'Best Literary Minds' by Infibeam, Namak Swadanusar has been the talk of the town since its release in August 2013. Sachan has been interviewed by nearly every newspaper for the success of his book and has also been on National Television, he has also been regularly sought after to represent Hindi literature at lit-fests, which is quite rare for a young Hindi author.

Currently, Nikhil is ready with his next book, 'Zindagi Aais Pais', another short story collection. Even before it hits the shelves, it has been ranked as one of the most anticipated Hindi books of this year.

Reviews

[Gorab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect Lad Lit!

Had to google the opposite of Chick lit, to realise that the term Lad lit preceded Chick lit!!

Coming to the book. Very funny and humerous take on college life - IIT BHU.
The conversations were hilarious! Different Indian accent helped the cause.

Loved the character of Kabadi the most!
Having read and loved a couple of short story collection by the same author, I was anticipating to read a full length Upanyaas. This kept me happy with small bursts of laughter throughout :)

Recommended for a quick and fast entertaining (and yet meaningless!) read.

Thank you Kindle Unlimited for having this in your catalogue!

[Sumit · Rating 2 out of 5]

It starts on a creepy note and goes on getting creepier and creepier till the last sentence. Where’s the novelty in this novel? Artists are supposed to be a heterogenous bunch of people. They must produce ideas that compliment, contradict and contest each other, thus truly mirroring life. Yet, for some reason in India, it looks like there’s a Ministry of Truth that dictates the line every person who wants to be called an artist needs to tow, and that’s precisely the reason art is so flat in India. This book feels like a third class novel written with a sole aim of finding a Bollywood producer to fund another crap, instead of truly genius ideas that are languishing in piles of dust. Novels have been reduced to movie scripts now, and people are fooled into believing that they are reading some sort of literature, when all they are reading is a Bhojpuri script that’s begging to be a film. No nuance, no subjectivity, no passion, and no imagination. The blurb on the front screams that the writer is an IITian, a qualification necessary to be a part of literary bandwagon in India, couldn’t be more ironical. The writer has relied on the most obvious experience of a university hostel and thrown in a bit of fashionable politics, allegiance to which is justified as a mark of erudition in India. I felt like I am watching a Bobby Deol movie with a new heroine who doesn’t know how to act, and thus this will be her last film, Bobby Deol however will continue to write, because he’s a man, and second because there are enough people who are ready to name their hair parlour after him. I follow Wilde’s wise counsel and put any didactic literature through a rigorous ember test, and boy do they crash! Where are the Michel Houellebecqs of India? These slothful writers in India need some tough counter narrative. We surely need a healthy opposition in our literature. As for two stars, it’s only because the writer has potential if he is willing to stir his slumbering imagination. And please don’t try to be Chetan Bhagat because we already have one, and that’s more than enough for an entire generation to be put through.

Now tell me if there’s anything more cliched then this: First day at the uni hostel; friendships made; virgin boy deflowered into drinking, cussing and swearing; boy meets girl; boy gets into trouble; girl supports and nurses him with dialogues creepier than KRK movies; boy finds courage to lecture his father because the boy was never allowed to pursue his dream; thus having truly come of age. Sounds familiar? I thought so.

[S.Ach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had I read this book on my own, I am pretty sure, I would have abandoned it after few pages, dismissing it as yet another "life in engineering-college hostel" book.
But, I listened to it on Audible instead, with the most engaging narration by Babla Kochhar.
5 stars to the narration. 1 star to the story.

[Saurabh Pandey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being an Allahabadi whose neighbouring city is Banaras; it has always been a privilege to visit Banaras almost every year. After reading Banaras talkies by Satya Vyas, I felt that I should read a couple of more books on the life of the city and I picked this book. This book is about students of IIT whose experience has been shared by the author who is also part of the college, the author has by reflecting numerous incidents which include our silly mistakes which we all do on entering the college, the way we became rebellious and changes which we try to bring into our personality and leave old habits and justify it in the name of our new city has given us a mirror to see ourselves. Incidents like writing only those answer which we know regardless of the question asked in the exam, not attending classes on random reason reasons are few more to mention. The author has beautifully presented small incidents and given us deep meaning which we all should imbibe in our lives. When the author says “there are only a few writers in Hindi literature but more critics” then his pain on the condition of Hindi as a form of literature is reflected. A must-read for anyone who wants to read about Banaras and IIT BHU per se.

[E.T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 A fun short novel on college life, again set in BHUIT like d famous "Banarasi Talkies" by Satya Vyas.

[Swati Agrawal · Rating 5 out of 5]

हिंदी में है तो review भी तो हिंदी में लिखना पड़ेगा न. इधर बीच काफी लेखक हैं जो हिंदी में कहानियां लिखते हैं, उपन्यास लिखते हैं.
लेकिन, इसमें कोई दो राय नहीं है कि निखिल सचान की बातें दिल को छु जातीं हैं. ये तीसरी किताब है उनकी और पहली बार हमने कोई किताब pre-order की. शायद इसलिए क्यूंकि निखिल सचान ये कोशिश नहीं करते कि ऐसा क्या लिखें कि bestseller हो जाये. वो ऐसा लिखते ही हैं कि bestseller हो जाती है.

बनारस से मेरा बस इतना नाता है की वहां से 100 किलोमीटर दूर मेरा घर है - UP50. और सारी train या plane बनारस से ही रही हमेशा. लेकिन इस किताब में हर एक चीज relatable है मेरे लिए. शायद इस वजह से क्यूंकि मेरी engineering भी UP से ही है - UP32. कोई character ऐसा नहीं था जो लगे की क्या बकवास कर रहा है ये. ऐसा लगा की अरे ऐसे ही तो करता था फलाने.

थोड़ा समय लगा पढ़ने में. लेकिन पढ़ने के बाद बहुत सारे दोस्तों की याद आ गयी. 10 साल हो गए engineering पास किये हुए लेकिन जो मासूमियत और ईमानदारी उन चार साल के relations में थी वो उसके बाद बहुत मुश्किल से होती है. कितनों को phone किया, message किया, और कुछ नहीं तो दिल से याद ही कर लिया. वो सारे लोग आज पूरी दुनिया में बिखरे हुए हैं.

बस निखिल सचान से इतना ही कहना है कि सर जी, थोड़ा और कुछ भी लिखिए न. मन नहीं भरता इतने से.

[Punit · Rating 1 out of 5]

नीलोत्पल मृणाल और सत्य व्यास को पढ़ने के बाद हिन्द युग्म प्रकाशन के लिए एक इज्जत बन गई और चूंकि ये उपन्यास बनारस पे आधारित थी इसलिए इसे उठाया लेकिन हाथ लगी बस निराशा। कहानी मे कोई दम नही, पात्रों के बीच बिना ओर छोर के गाली भरे संवाद दिखाता है कि बनारस के नाम पर जबरजस्ती गाली ठूस दी गई है। लेखक ने अपना पॉलिटिकल एजेंडा डाल के उसे भी चमकाने की कोशिश की है, जोकि औंधे मुँह गिरता दिखाई पड़ता है। एक उपन्यास लेखक को फ़ेसबुक/व्हाट्सएप्प के लेखकों जैसा बिना किसी रीसर्च के जो मन मे आये लिख देना शोभा नही देता। जैसे कि इन्होंने साफ़ तौर पे कह दिया कि RSS इन्टॉलरेंस फैला रही। इससे जाहिर होता है कि न इन्होंने कोई रिसर्च की RSS पे , ना जानना तक चाहा होगा कि RSS करती क्या है। जो सुना वो लिख दिया तो इस तरीक़े से आप फेसबुक पोस्ट लिखें, उपन्यास नही।

[Swati Dubey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book revolves around the life of a boy doing BTech in Varanasi.
How he got to experience the best and worst of his life in those four years, having been met with true friends for life, his love and several other cordial bonding.
Writer Nikhil Sachan has weaved the story in such a way that it will not bore you for a second, it will make you laugh, make you emotional at the same times. For a person like me, we belong to the same region I can totally relate to the circumstances set in the book.
It makes you fall in love with bananas and forced to have a deep desire to visit Banaras at least once in your lifetime.

.
A funny, emotional, inspiring, beautiful read. One should definitely go for it.

[Shubham srivastava · Rating 2 out of 5]

लोगों को हिन्दी का चेतन भगत भी नहीं बनना उसे गाली भी देनी है पर लिखना बिल्कुल उसके जैसे ही है | ऐसा कुछ भी नहीं था जो पहले नहीं पढ़ा है| अंत में जो संजीदगी है वो अकेले इस नॉवेल को संभालने का काम किया है |

[Shubham Bharti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nostalgia. Varanasi life. College life. Life values.

[Nitin Akarsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

￰￰यूपी 65 , निखिल सचान की हमारे द्वारा पढ़ी गयी दूसरी किताब है l इससे पहले जो पढ़ा था , वो थी " पापामैन " और पापामैन में उनकी लेखनी ने हमें काफी प्रभावित किया था l अब अचानक से ये किताब हमें उसके सामने कमजोर सी प्रतीत हुई l पहली परेशानी है की इसपे पहले भी लिखा जा चूका है और ब��़िया लिखा गया है , तो अगर आप उससे बेहतर नहीं लिख सकते तो उसके आसपास तो लिखना होगा l कुछ जगह किताब पढ़ने में अच्छी है l अगर आपने सत्य व्यास , नीलोत्पल मृणाल और चेतन भगत को नहीं पढ़ा है तो शायद ये किताब आपको अधिक अच्छी लगे l हमारे लिए ये किताब उस तरह से है जैसे श्रीदेवी की नगीना के बाद रेखा की शेषनाग को देखना l वैसे निखिल सचान की दूसरी किताबों को अब भी पढ़ना चाहूँगा l वो अच्छा लिख सकते हैं ये हमारा विश्वास है l

[Toonfactory · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like the book, especially because Hindi literature needs some light hearted books to attract new readers. Somehow UP65 fails to impress me. It could have been much more, sadly its not and it ends up being atypical hostel tale from BHU. I would prefer Banaras Talkies over this one any day, UP65 tries hard to be likeable by throwing every trick in the book - Pop Culture references, similes, banarasi dialect and what not but none of them sound convincing enough. The book is trying hard to be nostalgic and still be contemporary and that's where it stops impressing the reader. A small example will be in a popculture dialogue that is struggling between 90s and trying hard to be contemporary too by mentioning Atal Bihari Bajpayee, Narsimha Rao and Ranveer - Deepika in one line. I cannot imagine these four names in one line. Also, most of the times a funny line gets stretched into two to three similes back to back, definitely it needed an editor who could have chopped off the stretched humor and saved it.
I would have rated it two stars, but added one more only to appreciate the printing quality and dedication Hindi Yugm has for The New Hindi.

[Jyoti Tiwari (Pandey ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

बहुत दिन के बाद हिंदी में कुछ बेहतरीन पढ़ने को मिला। निखिल की अगली किताब की प्रतीक्षा रहेगी।

[Vaibhav Srivastav · Rating 5 out of 5]

For any one who has ever studied in an Engineering College, or any College and lived in a hostel life can relate to the Room number 16 mentioned in this room. When you read this book you get to revisit your friends, and as you sip tea while turning the pages (although be careful with the tea, the book is so hilarious there is bound to be spillage) you are reminded of long lazy afternoons spent in their company, doing nothing and still making it a task.

When you read this book you also look back at the foundations of the friendships formed during college days, and although Limbdi Corner has been replaced by a Whatsapp group the friendship endures.

This is Nikhil's first full length novel, and he has effortlessly transitioned from short stories to this. The words are breezy, and you are tempted to finish it in one go. It tells the story of chiefly five friends in one of the best Engineering College of the country and how getting in their changes their perception and their lifestyle. It is in many ways the story of a thousand such friendships across our country. You are bound to identify your friends in the characters that Nikhil has created.

At the end of the book Nikhil also tackles a rather serious subject (a slight digression from the plot but which never completely diverts the book) and how sometimes the smallest of our actions affect us gravely.

My only qualm is that the book at 160 pages is too small, you keep on wanting to read more about Shubhra, Prasad, Mohit, Pandey and Nishant, and about their continuing life in College. I am hoping Nikhil will write a sequel to UP 65 one day. I will wait.

[Avinash Jain · Rating 4 out of 5]

ई बनारस है महाराज!
कभी-कभी कहानियों में यूंँ होता है कि प्रकट पात्रों के इतर कुछ अप्रकट पात्र भी कहानी का अंग होते हैं और बहुत अभिन्न अंग होते हैं। जैसे "तुम्बाड़" फिल्म में 'बारिश', कहानी का एक अभिन्न-अप्रकट पात्र है वैसे ही, निखिल सचान, के यूपी65 में बनारस और IIT-BHU कहानी के अभिन्न पात्र हैं। वह कॉलेज, हॉस्टल, कमरा नंबर 16, बनारस के घाट, सब जैसे सजीव हो उठे हैं।
कुछ कहानियां ऐसी होती हैं जो आपको समय-यात्रा पर ले जाती हैं। यूपी 65 भी आपको कॉलेज के दिनों में टेलीपोर्ट कर देगी। और अगर आप कॉलेज में ही हैं तो उम्र के इस पड़ाव और जगह की कद्र बेहतर तरीके से करना सिखा देगी। कथानक (plot) के बारे में ज्यादा बात नहीं करूंगा, स्पाॅयलर निकल आयेंगे। कथा पर चर्चा करते हैं।
स्कूल के बाद जब आप कॉलेज लाइफ में पहुंचते हैं तो कई नए आयाम आपके सामने यकायक खुल जाते हैं। आप अपना कंफर्टज़ोन, दोस्त, घर छोड़कर वहां पहुंचते हैं तो साथ में ले चलते हैं कुछ पूर्वाग्रह, पूर्वानुमान और प्रश्न। प्रश्न जो हमें लगते हैं हमने सुलझा लिए हैं पर कॉलेज हमें उनको देखने का एक नया नज़रिया देता है। 'यूपी 65' का नायक निशांत भी अपने अभी तक के जीवन का जमा अनुभव, गठरी में बांँधकर, देश के सबसे प्रतिष्ठित संस्थानों में से एक, IIT-BHU पहुंँचता है। धीरे-धीरे यह गट्ठर कंधों से उतरता जाता है, कुछ जरूरी सामान छोड़कर। यहांँ उसे दोस्त मिलते हैं, कमरा नंबर 16 मिलता है, कबाड़ी मिलता है , प्रेम मिलता है, गंगा जी मिलती हैं और बनारस मिलता है। जीवन भर सफल रहने वाले, क्लास-टॉप करने वाले, निशांत को पहली बार असफलता मिलती है(समाज के मापदंड पर, जीवन के नहीं!)। और सफलता-असफलता को देखने का नया दृष्टिकोण भी मिलता है। हंँसी-मज़ाक, गटरमश्ती से शुरू हुआ सफर, प्रेम, दोस्ती, सफलता, असफलता से गुज़रते हुए नायक की, "कैथार्सिस" की यात्रा है- यूपी 65। बनारस, IIT-BHU निशांत को, निशांत बना देते हैं। यह उपन्यास इसी परिवर्तन की अद्भुत यात्रा है

[Smiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This book is solid entertainment dose for everyone out there. It beautifully captures so many elements of Indian lifestyl. I want to saver the sweet-sour taste of the Vanarasi, Allahabadi and Kanpuriya cultures represented in this book just like a chatpati bhokaal chaat in my mouth as long as I can. The discription of night's in a calming city like Banaras was breath taking and left me gasping for more. I so longingly want to visit Banaras after reading this story. Also I so desperately wish that to have a Banarasi friend. The one' liners still lingers in my mind. I'm not a 90s kid so some references in the story didn't made me nostalgic. The reference on the Indian parents naming their kids as rhyming words like Prasant, Nisant , Sushant and Sumit, Amit is heliriously true.
A must read that you won't regret reading "kaahe se ee Banaras hai maharaj." I highly highly recommend it.

[Avinash Shrivastava · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 बार खरीदी UP 65, जिसे दी वापस नहीं आई

यूपी 65 से जुड़ी एक व्यथा ही मेरा रिव्यू है। 5 बार खरीद चुका हूं, जिसे भी दी- आज तक वापस नहीं मिली। अबकी सोच रखा है बताना ही नहीं कि मेरे पास भी है। अब कंटेंट की बात, यूपी 65 को निखिल ने कितने मन से लिखा है, वो इसके पन्ने बयां करते हैं। बिना पलटे रहा ही नहीं जाता। बनारस आईआईटी के माहौल का जो खाका खींचा गया है, उससे गुजरात के दूरदराज इलाके में बैठा पाठक भी जुड़ सकता है और अंडमान का बाशिंदा भी। इस किताब को पढ़ने की योग्यता सिर्फ इतनी है- आपको बनारस, बनारसी लहज़ा समझ आता हो. अगर उसी रौ में बोल सकते हैं, तो विश्वास मानिए कुछ पंच आपकी ज़ुबान पर भी घर बना लेंगे। आप यूपी 65 को कई बार पढ़ सकते हैं, बोर नहीं होंगे। याद रखेंगे किरदारों को, कहानी को, बनारसी लहज़े को और पंच भी। शुक्रिया निखिल, नमक स्वादानुसार के बाद एक अच्छी पठनीय किताब के लिए।

[Sunny Chanchlani · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not so clever, not bold enough, neither impresses much nor disappoints, this book hangs somewhere in between of previously written novels on college life, specially, the ones having a set up of UP. Small amount of dialect used. I was expecting more as the writer is got a great hype in media, and he is one of the representative of cool new hindi.

There is a certain lacking of bond between friends in hostel, an unwanted character of Kabadi, and usual stuff we have seen in many web series or read in hundred of books. Though book is readable, one can read it in one sitting, language is easy, and keeps you moving.

One liners are impressive, character seems real. Though all effort put in this book are not leading anywhere, just kind of book you like to read and forget.

[Abhik · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the book is not for my age group someone recommended and I read it, honestly speaking I didn’t liked it much. After reading Banaras Talkies by Mr Satya Vyas it is hard to like any other book on banaras. Being a banarasi some things in the book are relatable but college life and BHU life in the book seemed very fake and boring not like banaras. I read the book and was promised that it would make me laugh but it hardly did so. After reading this book one thing is sure that my reading of books about banaras days are over.
But looking forward to read Mr Nikhil Sachan’s best work later some day Namak Swad Anusar.

[Saurabh Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Five Point Someone written in Hindi with a soul settled in banaras. The book follows the same template and over-exploited Indian college backdrop but Banaras adds certain depth to it.

Given my the families long history with the city and the university in banaras. I thoroughly enjoyed a lot of local slang. However, relax or fails to bring anything new. It's pretty much the same template so if you are looking okay to read about the time tested formula packed in a new bottle. It may be for you. If not then you may want to give it a pass. There are much better books available in Hindi. 3.5

[Rishabh Daal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A humorous narration of the life of BHU from a student point of view. The first half of the book was a really nice and humorous narration of different aspect of student life at BHU, I felt really connected to the part where it shows how your thinking, dreams, and perspectives changes in final years at college.
The best part was that I read the first half of the book in the same room as of Nishant ( Main character ) and the second half at LC.
On critic side, the conversation between Nishant and his girlfriend was not as per standard of other parts of the book.

[Atoorva · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is admirable for many reasons. It is honest , it is funny and despite all the humourous tones of narrative maintains a steady storyline with which many can relate. And yes it is brave new hindi writing which can break free from the pretensions of being 'great literature' . No it is not about Banaras - it is a story set in Banaras- IIT BHU to be more precise , and talks about the magic of growing up - coming of age and all the things that does not make sense ( and those which do ) when you are young and naive . Really enjoyed reading it....it took me back to my Univ days .

[Ravish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Acha niband likhe hain, mann se

Banaras ki hawa me hi kuch khaas hai. Satya vyas ke baad nikhil sachan ne bhi kamaal likha hai banaras aur BHU pe. Ghanist Dosti, ek preyasi aur zindagi ke kuch gudh sawalaat ke saath puri kitaab 2 sitting me complete ho jaati h. Sahi hi kaha hai, college apne liye bachpan ka wo mela sareekha tha jisme hum gum ho jaate hain aur bas wahi krte-dekhte h jo apne ko pasand aata hai. Bahut acha likhe hain Sachan ji! Aais pais bhi padha jaega ab.

[Vishal Jha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really amazing book, a joy to read.. This is the kind of book that you don't want to end. I have read quite a few English novels but never found as much humour as in this book, then there is a group of friends who are there to teach you everything that no one else will, and there is a cute love story where you just wish that both of them stay together always, and then there is the 'desiness' of Benaras...

It was great to read this book.
Aur Apni Bhaasa me padhne ka Mazaa hi kuch aur hai na..

[Abhishek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across UP 65 on Amazon while looking for a good Hindi book to read and it turned out to be amazing. It is mostly hilarious, yet emotional and deep at some places. There are many conversations in the book which strike a chord with you.
For people who enjoy reminiscing about college life, it would resonate a lot. Most readers will find a bit of themselves and their friends in its pages.

[Srinidhi Mishra · Rating 4 out of 5]

इस कहानी में बहुत सारी ऐसी बाते है , ऐसे लफ्ज है वो लहजा है जो बनारस इलाहाबाद और कानपुर के है वो शब्द है जो केवल यहीं कहे जाते है । वो गालिया हैं जो यहीं दी जाती है और कोई उनका बुरा नही मानता है। वो पारंपरिक ज्ञान जो केवल BHU के अंदर की चाय की दुकानों पे मिलता है ।

ये किताब फिर से आपके सिस्टम में BHU वाले फोल्डर पे F5 हिट कर देगी ।

हर हर महादेव

[Saahil Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refreshing, funny at most times. A bit slow in the end.

Its a good one time read. Feels so refreshing to read a hindi book again after so many years.
Gives you an insight of the magnificent Banaras, at most times it sounds a bit cliched but i guess that's how it is in real life too. Yet if you are someone who loves the dialect of UP, Bihar, etc, you will love this book.

[Manish Dhane · Rating 5 out of 5]

It starts as a story of an average introvert IIT student who has dreams to change the world by getting top scores in IIT and getting a good job, but his destiny was to change the world by evolving into someone else. The story starts in IIT BHU and gives readers an inside look of life of an IIT. It's a well written story with well defined characters as the characters grows the story moves on. I am not going to giveaway anything about characters and story here its a very quick read, Nikhil has done a great job explaining the dreams and hopes of a topper who become an average student in IIT.

[Anonymous · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crafted well. Gripping. Enticing. Relatable.

As a student and having spend most part of my higher education away from home among the folks who didn’t let me feel away drom home and who became a family later on, I could relate to the conversations and the demeanour of the characters. Crude to our own colloquial is a magnum opus from Sachin.

[Book · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started and finished this book because I am also from BHU, however after a few chapters, I became bored. This book has all of the stereotypical types of college stories. Nishant from Kanpur was admitted to IIT BHU and was assigned to the Rajputana Hostel, where he shared a room with Amit from Allahabad. I believe the writer neglected to portray BHU as it truly is, as well as Banaras.