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Gurgaon Diaries
Modern-day Gurgaon was Guru Dronacharya’s village, a gift from the Pandavas and Kauravas for training them in military arts. While the legends of the mythical village are woven around the warrior mystic, the Millennium City, as it stands today, owes its rapid growth to globalization, outsourcing and the BPO boom.
From swanky malls and skyscrapers to pot-hole-ridden roads where gleaming Mercs vie for space with rickety rickshaws; from voluptuous North Indian aunties and brawny local men to rotund Bengali mashimas; from designer stores and Starbucks coffee to roadside vans peddling chole bhature; Drona’s village is riddled with contradictions, both hilarious and poignant, irreverent and bittersweet. Gurgaon Diaries is a humorous peek at the workings of this modern-day village and how the Millennium City is a paradox in itself.
From swanky malls and skyscrapers to pot-hole-ridden roads where gleaming Mercs vie for space with rickety rickshaws; from voluptuous North Indian aunties and brawny local men to rotund Bengali mashimas; from designer stores and Starbucks coffee to roadside vans peddling chole bhature; Drona’s village is riddled with contradictions, both hilarious and poignant, irreverent and bittersweet. Gurgaon Diaries is a humorous peek at the workings of this modern-day village and how the Millennium City is a paradox in itself.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2018
About the author
Debeshi Gooptu
32 books17 followersAuthor of six novels and innumerable short stories. Writes an urban blog on life in Gurgaon.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 18, 2018
Many small incidents which takes place in our day to day life often escapes our mind with the passing day.The incidents are paradigm of the changing social,cultural and economic atmosphere around us.
The author had moved to the still developing then Gurgaon now Gurugram after her marriage.She closely observed the morphosis of the city and its people during the last few decades. The writer penned down her experiences of surviving in the millennium city which is outgrowing its capacity.The book is divided into three sections -Life, Work and Play which contain short stories with some eye-catching titles like Kids off the Menu, On a Sausage and a Prayer,Nip Tuck and a shot in the Butt,Chicken Is the New Black and many others.The satirical comedy highlighted the influence of immigrants, invasion of the foreign culture,serious safety issues,lack of basic amenities and blind followers of fashion fads.
Narrated in a simple direct language,the prose has been kept crisp.I fell in love with the sarcasm dripping writing which often pointed out the hollowness of the so called modern society, the intruder in the personal space,the Invisible Work Force and the clothed modesty in water.The flow of the stories is great.
Being a non-resident Bengali I could closely relate to the first few chapters.I too have faced situation like the girl in On a Sausage and a Prayer.Its sad that the mentality hardly changes with the urbanization.Decorating the house walls with elite institute's degrees and fat pay job does hardly makes a difference if the mentality is held back with medieval age norms.Buying the right fish is a serious business in a Bengali household. Morning Darjeeling Tea is a incurable habit of many bengalis. I could not agree more with the author's bittersweet experiences facing sometimes nosey and loud mouthed natives.The sad fate of Lucky in Its's a Dog's life seems like across the street truth which I am witnessing daily although this undernourished Lucky is not abandoned till date.
I often found myself in splits.The hilarious stories will tickle your funny bone.Its not just about a place, the similar fate is shared by many developed and developing cities.I will recommend the book to every reader who is in a dire need of escape from the boring chorus of daily life.
The author had moved to the still developing then Gurgaon now Gurugram after her marriage.She closely observed the morphosis of the city and its people during the last few decades. The writer penned down her experiences of surviving in the millennium city which is outgrowing its capacity.The book is divided into three sections -Life, Work and Play which contain short stories with some eye-catching titles like Kids off the Menu, On a Sausage and a Prayer,Nip Tuck and a shot in the Butt,Chicken Is the New Black and many others.The satirical comedy highlighted the influence of immigrants, invasion of the foreign culture,serious safety issues,lack of basic amenities and blind followers of fashion fads.
Narrated in a simple direct language,the prose has been kept crisp.I fell in love with the sarcasm dripping writing which often pointed out the hollowness of the so called modern society, the intruder in the personal space,the Invisible Work Force and the clothed modesty in water.The flow of the stories is great.
Being a non-resident Bengali I could closely relate to the first few chapters.I too have faced situation like the girl in On a Sausage and a Prayer.Its sad that the mentality hardly changes with the urbanization.Decorating the house walls with elite institute's degrees and fat pay job does hardly makes a difference if the mentality is held back with medieval age norms.Buying the right fish is a serious business in a Bengali household. Morning Darjeeling Tea is a incurable habit of many bengalis. I could not agree more with the author's bittersweet experiences facing sometimes nosey and loud mouthed natives.The sad fate of Lucky in Its's a Dog's life seems like across the street truth which I am witnessing daily although this undernourished Lucky is not abandoned till date.
I often found myself in splits.The hilarious stories will tickle your funny bone.Its not just about a place, the similar fate is shared by many developed and developing cities.I will recommend the book to every reader who is in a dire need of escape from the boring chorus of daily life.
March 9, 2018
Dear Reader,
I remember my first and only visit to Gurgaon. On our trip to Delhi last year we went to DLF Mall in Gurgaon. When I began searching for food, I found nothing that will quench my hunger under Rs. 500. For an 18 year old from Kolkata who has never spent more than Rs. 100 at a restaurant, who earns her living by part time working at 2 different jobs, that was a big deal. Eventually I settled for Tea at Rs. 170 ( in Kolkata tea costs 5rs per small cup) and marked Gurgaon as "EXPENSIVE". A day for me in Gurgaon increased my BP,, I couldn't help but wonder how the author, who herself is a Bengali was holding up for 2 decades in Gurgaon! However in Debeshi Gooptu's book I found so many shades of Gurgaon, that if I ever happen to be to Gurgaon anytime soon, I will look out for them.

First of all, this is the very first book in Indian Literature which delighted me only with its comic and witty and seldom sarcastic writing style! All the while I read the book I just couldn't stop updating my social media with all the laughs I had! Gurgaon Diaries is a collection of little shorts of Gooptu's life in Gurgaon, but I related to it on an entirely different level being Bengali. There are continuous reference to Bengali's living outside Bengal and their daily struggles, beginning from their festivals to fish preference. Gooptu's book captures the small moments of life and magnifies them to a larger scale. It surprises me how beautiful the stories are, some dealing with little events of life like crowded lines at the superstore, to the little uncomfortabilities (that's not even a word) created by tiny creatures like Wasps ; to grave issues like the unsafe condition of the country even for little girls and the struggles of a woman who works from home.

Debeshi, take my bow! Your book has entered my list of Favourite Books of 2018. And I bet, dear reader, it will be yours too. Why don't you grab a copy here ?

There are about 60 entries in the Gurgaon Diaries, of which I haven't read about 10. Why, you may ask? I can't bear to know that I have finished reading this amazing book that I love so much and I cant return to it for something new. I sincerely hope the author comes out with another book ASAP. Guess who will be pre-ordering it?
I remember my first and only visit to Gurgaon. On our trip to Delhi last year we went to DLF Mall in Gurgaon. When I began searching for food, I found nothing that will quench my hunger under Rs. 500. For an 18 year old from Kolkata who has never spent more than Rs. 100 at a restaurant, who earns her living by part time working at 2 different jobs, that was a big deal. Eventually I settled for Tea at Rs. 170 ( in Kolkata tea costs 5rs per small cup) and marked Gurgaon as "EXPENSIVE". A day for me in Gurgaon increased my BP,, I couldn't help but wonder how the author, who herself is a Bengali was holding up for 2 decades in Gurgaon! However in Debeshi Gooptu's book I found so many shades of Gurgaon, that if I ever happen to be to Gurgaon anytime soon, I will look out for them.

First of all, this is the very first book in Indian Literature which delighted me only with its comic and witty and seldom sarcastic writing style! All the while I read the book I just couldn't stop updating my social media with all the laughs I had! Gurgaon Diaries is a collection of little shorts of Gooptu's life in Gurgaon, but I related to it on an entirely different level being Bengali. There are continuous reference to Bengali's living outside Bengal and their daily struggles, beginning from their festivals to fish preference. Gooptu's book captures the small moments of life and magnifies them to a larger scale. It surprises me how beautiful the stories are, some dealing with little events of life like crowded lines at the superstore, to the little uncomfortabilities (that's not even a word) created by tiny creatures like Wasps ; to grave issues like the unsafe condition of the country even for little girls and the struggles of a woman who works from home.

Debeshi, take my bow! Your book has entered my list of Favourite Books of 2018. And I bet, dear reader, it will be yours too. Why don't you grab a copy here ?

There are about 60 entries in the Gurgaon Diaries, of which I haven't read about 10. Why, you may ask? I can't bear to know that I have finished reading this amazing book that I love so much and I cant return to it for something new. I sincerely hope the author comes out with another book ASAP. Guess who will be pre-ordering it?
December 10, 2018
Perfect example of a light-hearted book. Even mundane stories were interesting because of the author's witty and hilarious writing style. Highly recommend.
October 6, 2018
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I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Gurgaon Diaries by Debeshi Goptu is a collection of short stories revolving around the modern day Gurgaon (recently re-named to Gurugram). It's the author's firsthand account of her life while living in the "Millennium City". The book is divided into three main parts—Life, Work and Play. Each story noted down in the book resembles the part it belongs to. Needless to say, my favorite part was Play.
Before I started reading the book, I had no clue that Gurgaon was the village the Pandavas gifted to Dronacharya. So well, now you know something else about one of the busiest cities in India. (laughs)
First of all, this book is written in the form of short stories. But these shorts resemble blog posts, or journals a lot. This was a huge bonus when I sat down to read the book because it added a personal effect to the stories. And for someone like me, who has only been to the city once or twice, and maybe sometimes in passing, it made the experience a lot better. The book was filled with Bengali references, which sort of did not make sense to me since I've never been to Bengal either, but it was still a nice experience reading. A lot many times, the book gave references to issues faced by Bengalis who lived outside of Bengal, and how that made the experience harder for them.
However, despite all the wittiness that it has, and all the sarcasm in store for us in the book, what I didn't like was how there was barely any story in which the author/narrator had an easy life. I understand that the whole point of such stories is to rant about the difficulties, but c'mon, the people of Gurgaon can't be that bad all the time, can they? I haven't been there, but I know enough of Haryana and Delhi to know that this is probably not true. This was one of the reasons why the book was a huge turn-off for me. Another reason was that after a while, I sort of started to predict what the chapters would be about, based on their titles. This is something else that I don't like, because I like the suspense to be there. Hence, it's possible that the book was just not for me
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Gurgaon Diaries by Debeshi Goptu is a collection of short stories revolving around the modern day Gurgaon (recently re-named to Gurugram). It's the author's firsthand account of her life while living in the "Millennium City". The book is divided into three main parts—Life, Work and Play. Each story noted down in the book resembles the part it belongs to. Needless to say, my favorite part was Play.
Before I started reading the book, I had no clue that Gurgaon was the village the Pandavas gifted to Dronacharya. So well, now you know something else about one of the busiest cities in India. (laughs)
First of all, this book is written in the form of short stories. But these shorts resemble blog posts, or journals a lot. This was a huge bonus when I sat down to read the book because it added a personal effect to the stories. And for someone like me, who has only been to the city once or twice, and maybe sometimes in passing, it made the experience a lot better. The book was filled with Bengali references, which sort of did not make sense to me since I've never been to Bengal either, but it was still a nice experience reading. A lot many times, the book gave references to issues faced by Bengalis who lived outside of Bengal, and how that made the experience harder for them.
However, despite all the wittiness that it has, and all the sarcasm in store for us in the book, what I didn't like was how there was barely any story in which the author/narrator had an easy life. I understand that the whole point of such stories is to rant about the difficulties, but c'mon, the people of Gurgaon can't be that bad all the time, can they? I haven't been there, but I know enough of Haryana and Delhi to know that this is probably not true. This was one of the reasons why the book was a huge turn-off for me. Another reason was that after a while, I sort of started to predict what the chapters would be about, based on their titles. This is something else that I don't like, because I like the suspense to be there. Hence, it's possible that the book was just not for me
June 4, 2018
Read the full review on my blog: https://www.nayanbasu.com/2018/08/boo...
April 4, 2018
Overall Verdict:- Simple, funny, overdramatized sprinkled with good sense of humor
A Malgudi days like cover, an abstract description of Gurugram/Gurgaon in its colophon, a need to read a different genre book (I had been reading modified Indian mythological fiction for way too long) and a friends recommendation for the same was all that was needed read “Gurugram Diaries...”.
“Gurugram diaries” is a diary of wimpy aunty who (like most of us) has a problem with everything and resorts to humor and hypocricy to engage us with her 19 years of (probably true) life experiences to keep us entertained.
Take any Indian city that suddenly goes on a development spree (in this case Gurgaon) bringing its own set of problems due to the sudden urbanization. To that add a gym-hating, Gaurakshak fearing, foodie aunty with a not-so-good Hindi who is being driven to the walls by her obnoxious neighbours and a society that wants to give a convenient desi flavour to western cuture (a one devoid of its politeness and responsibility I might add) and wants her to be a part of it inspite of her tremendous dislike in some cases. The familiar confusion and frustration of adjusting with all of this and an occasional delight of finding the known amongst the unknown are all explored with excellent use of witty jibes throughout the book.
The book is written in first person narrative. The chapters are short, sweet and non-related. The book is mostly written in a light vein but there are some dark parts which feel forced, misplaced and disconnected. There were a lot of favourite relatable moments especially from “Horrors of Halloween” and “Mind Your Language” to name a few.
The author truly proves to be a master in dark humor, using simple language to engross us with the familiar experiences and outbursts that we encounter every now and then.
For Debeshi Gooptu’s engrossing, simple, but well written humorous banter, my overall rating would be 4/5.
A Malgudi days like cover, an abstract description of Gurugram/Gurgaon in its colophon, a need to read a different genre book (I had been reading modified Indian mythological fiction for way too long) and a friends recommendation for the same was all that was needed read “Gurugram Diaries...”.
“Gurugram diaries” is a diary of wimpy aunty who (like most of us) has a problem with everything and resorts to humor and hypocricy to engage us with her 19 years of (probably true) life experiences to keep us entertained.
Take any Indian city that suddenly goes on a development spree (in this case Gurgaon) bringing its own set of problems due to the sudden urbanization. To that add a gym-hating, Gaurakshak fearing, foodie aunty with a not-so-good Hindi who is being driven to the walls by her obnoxious neighbours and a society that wants to give a convenient desi flavour to western cuture (a one devoid of its politeness and responsibility I might add) and wants her to be a part of it inspite of her tremendous dislike in some cases. The familiar confusion and frustration of adjusting with all of this and an occasional delight of finding the known amongst the unknown are all explored with excellent use of witty jibes throughout the book.
The book is written in first person narrative. The chapters are short, sweet and non-related. The book is mostly written in a light vein but there are some dark parts which feel forced, misplaced and disconnected. There were a lot of favourite relatable moments especially from “Horrors of Halloween” and “Mind Your Language” to name a few.
The author truly proves to be a master in dark humor, using simple language to engross us with the familiar experiences and outbursts that we encounter every now and then.
For Debeshi Gooptu’s engrossing, simple, but well written humorous banter, my overall rating would be 4/5.
March 8, 2019
This is a simple collection of short blog post- like pieces that describe the author's life in Gurgaon ever since she moved there from Kolkata 19 years ago. The author shares a slice of her life in every short piece, be it her views on the fitness boom in the Millenium city, the lavish parties that she looks upon with disdain or the increasing tribe of entrepreneurs there. Although I haven't lived in Gurgaon, I've visited the place and I did feel the malls were ostentatious. She captures the trends and fads the place has seen through a practical and sensible lens. One can't help but snigger along with her when she talks about certain things like the residents' inability to string two sentences together but their desperate need to keep up with the Joneses. A light, enjoyable read.
February 8, 2018
This was the second novel that I have read in the last few months with a non-linear storyline. One can literally open any random page, & start reading- and most importantly, start guffawing. I won’t get into many details, lest I give the fun away.
The author is a Bengali, brought up in Kolkata, and living in Gurgaon, oh sorry, Gurugram, for the last couple of decades. She had moved to a village that had the outward appearance of a city of the new Millenium and the book is a hilarious, often sarcastic take on her experiences of living in and quite literally, surviving India’s very own Singapore.
She has catalogued her various experiences under three different sections:
1. Life
2. Work
3. Play
The author hasn’t spared anything from her needle-like sharp commentary- contrasting the outer shine of Gurugram with the reality of potholed & dusty roads, monsoon floods, rise in crimes and an equal rise in the economic inequality: on one hand, one has people like her neighbours, The Chopras, who owned (yes, past tense) an Audi and then there’s the poor rickshawallah Naseeruddin, who would struggle to earn even Rs 200 a day.
She also pokes fun at people’s increasing need to show-off in front of their peers: from something as irrelevant as making bizarre excuses when taking certain modes of transport like a rickshaw, to one’s obsession to ape the West and look more ‘phoren’ & hence, fanciful by “doing coffee”, speaking with a ‘twang’ and signing up for the fitness fad.
The satire is everywhere, every page is dripping with humour, irrespective of when she is talking about the general lack of awareness of personal space, Gurugram’s non-existent infrastructure, weird religious beliefs, the revered cow, the earthquake factor, modern work-wears, the sudden increase in the number of start-up founders, her relationship with wasps and maids who always turn out to be Bengali, a Bengali’s special relationship with their fish-mongers, and the list goes on & on.
Being a Bengali, it’s always a treat to read anything written by a fellow Bengali, especially when one doesn’t refrain from making fun of their own people. The author makes a very pertinent point-
“So when I meet a new person for the first time, the ice-breaker always is
‘Are you a Bengali? My maid is also a Bengali!‘ or
‘I know some Bengali, I’ve learnt it from my maid.’ Oblivious to the murderous look on my face, they go on, coyly testing on me the phrases they have learnt.
‘Boshun, ashun,….machh‘ and the mother of all phrases
‘Aami tumake bhalobashee,‘ with a giggle. To that all I want to say is ‘Listen, I will smash your face with my wrist quite cheerfully if I hear that phrase one more time.”
And seriously, I CANNOT AGREE MORE. .
To be honest, I really cannot have enough of the lucid, easy and relatable writing, it’s quite clear that all the stories have been inspired by real-life incidents, and the chapters have been also been named with much ingenuity: “Nip Tuck and a Shot in the Butt”, “Nightmare on Selfie Street”, “Irritable Bowel Syndrome”, “Twang, Bang, Thank You, Ma’am”, to name just a few of my favourites.
So, do I recommend this book? HELL YES.
Take a break from the monotonous daily routine and have a hearty laughter over a cup of Darjeeling cha (tea) and this book.
The author is a Bengali, brought up in Kolkata, and living in Gurgaon, oh sorry, Gurugram, for the last couple of decades. She had moved to a village that had the outward appearance of a city of the new Millenium and the book is a hilarious, often sarcastic take on her experiences of living in and quite literally, surviving India’s very own Singapore.
She has catalogued her various experiences under three different sections:
1. Life
2. Work
3. Play
The author hasn’t spared anything from her needle-like sharp commentary- contrasting the outer shine of Gurugram with the reality of potholed & dusty roads, monsoon floods, rise in crimes and an equal rise in the economic inequality: on one hand, one has people like her neighbours, The Chopras, who owned (yes, past tense) an Audi and then there’s the poor rickshawallah Naseeruddin, who would struggle to earn even Rs 200 a day.
She also pokes fun at people’s increasing need to show-off in front of their peers: from something as irrelevant as making bizarre excuses when taking certain modes of transport like a rickshaw, to one’s obsession to ape the West and look more ‘phoren’ & hence, fanciful by “doing coffee”, speaking with a ‘twang’ and signing up for the fitness fad.
The satire is everywhere, every page is dripping with humour, irrespective of when she is talking about the general lack of awareness of personal space, Gurugram’s non-existent infrastructure, weird religious beliefs, the revered cow, the earthquake factor, modern work-wears, the sudden increase in the number of start-up founders, her relationship with wasps and maids who always turn out to be Bengali, a Bengali’s special relationship with their fish-mongers, and the list goes on & on.
Being a Bengali, it’s always a treat to read anything written by a fellow Bengali, especially when one doesn’t refrain from making fun of their own people. The author makes a very pertinent point-
“So when I meet a new person for the first time, the ice-breaker always is
‘Are you a Bengali? My maid is also a Bengali!‘ or
‘I know some Bengali, I’ve learnt it from my maid.’ Oblivious to the murderous look on my face, they go on, coyly testing on me the phrases they have learnt.
‘Boshun, ashun,….machh‘ and the mother of all phrases
‘Aami tumake bhalobashee,‘ with a giggle. To that all I want to say is ‘Listen, I will smash your face with my wrist quite cheerfully if I hear that phrase one more time.”
And seriously, I CANNOT AGREE MORE. .
To be honest, I really cannot have enough of the lucid, easy and relatable writing, it’s quite clear that all the stories have been inspired by real-life incidents, and the chapters have been also been named with much ingenuity: “Nip Tuck and a Shot in the Butt”, “Nightmare on Selfie Street”, “Irritable Bowel Syndrome”, “Twang, Bang, Thank You, Ma’am”, to name just a few of my favourites.
So, do I recommend this book? HELL YES.
Take a break from the monotonous daily routine and have a hearty laughter over a cup of Darjeeling cha (tea) and this book.
April 30, 2018
As published on
The Reading Owl
Gurgaon Diaries is a hilarious set of anecdotes from 19 years of author’s life which she has spent in Drona’s village, Gurugram. She muses about the changes this city has undergone over the years and how it’s inhabitants have morphed from simple Haryanvi minds to a phony accented tribe. I’ll not wait until the end to say this is one of my favorite reads and I highly recommend it.
Here are 10 reasons why you should read this book:
1. If you’ve lived in Gurgaon, you’ll relate to every single story because you’ve experienced it yourself and sometimes you’ve been on the perpetrator side as well.
2. From pothole-ridden roads to disastrous dog birthday party, from death ride in Gurgaon auto rickshaws to brats throwing tantrums, you’ll find everything in here. And you’ll be nodding your head along.
3. The writing style is clear and conversational. I found it a quick read. This also helped with my reading targets. It is a perfect read for that summer day when you find yourself unable to move your lazy bum.
4. It is a laugh riot. These are everyday experiences that Debeshi has captured but they are still hilarious. Almost like stand up comedy on paper, only cleaner. Every page is dripping with wit and satire, and as a reader, I wanted to lap it all up.
5. I found in Debeshi my twin in thoughts and actions. She is as annoyed of kids as I am, is miles away from the health nuts(both living and eatable), hates wasting cake on birthdays, and has a fear of needles. Maybe you’ll find a kindred soul as well.
6. You’ll learn some parenting tips on the way. I love how she maintains an open channel of communication with her daughter.
7. And perhaps some lessons on treating maids and nannies better.
8. And some on maintaining decorum at the gym.
9. You’ll find some exciting gossip in there. I found myself giggling all the time while reading the juicy bits.
10. Jokes apart, Debeshi has done an amazing job in removing the haze from this smog covered city and in capturing the contrast that is synonymous with Gurgaon. Swanky malls reachable only through flooded roads, the rich who shy away from spending 50 bucks on parking their expensive cars, and people who care better for their dogs than their kids. There are more in there. You’ve to read it to know what I am talking about.
Hope you’ll pick this up.
Gurgaon Diaries is a hilarious set of anecdotes from 19 years of author’s life which she has spent in Drona’s village, Gurugram. She muses about the changes this city has undergone over the years and how it’s inhabitants have morphed from simple Haryanvi minds to a phony accented tribe. I’ll not wait until the end to say this is one of my favorite reads and I highly recommend it.
Here are 10 reasons why you should read this book:
1. If you’ve lived in Gurgaon, you’ll relate to every single story because you’ve experienced it yourself and sometimes you’ve been on the perpetrator side as well.
2. From pothole-ridden roads to disastrous dog birthday party, from death ride in Gurgaon auto rickshaws to brats throwing tantrums, you’ll find everything in here. And you’ll be nodding your head along.
3. The writing style is clear and conversational. I found it a quick read. This also helped with my reading targets. It is a perfect read for that summer day when you find yourself unable to move your lazy bum.
4. It is a laugh riot. These are everyday experiences that Debeshi has captured but they are still hilarious. Almost like stand up comedy on paper, only cleaner. Every page is dripping with wit and satire, and as a reader, I wanted to lap it all up.
5. I found in Debeshi my twin in thoughts and actions. She is as annoyed of kids as I am, is miles away from the health nuts(both living and eatable), hates wasting cake on birthdays, and has a fear of needles. Maybe you’ll find a kindred soul as well.
6. You’ll learn some parenting tips on the way. I love how she maintains an open channel of communication with her daughter.
7. And perhaps some lessons on treating maids and nannies better.
8. And some on maintaining decorum at the gym.
9. You’ll find some exciting gossip in there. I found myself giggling all the time while reading the juicy bits.
10. Jokes apart, Debeshi has done an amazing job in removing the haze from this smog covered city and in capturing the contrast that is synonymous with Gurgaon. Swanky malls reachable only through flooded roads, the rich who shy away from spending 50 bucks on parking their expensive cars, and people who care better for their dogs than their kids. There are more in there. You’ve to read it to know what I am talking about.
Hope you’ll pick this up.
February 12, 2018
Gooptu’s two decade long journey has been filled with some amusing incidences and some accidental encounters with local people which had left a sour taste and through this book, she doesn’t leave any stone unturned in ranting about those events. The millennium city which shows off its rapid globalization also manages to offer spaces for damaged roads, street food vendors and rickety rickshaws. Quite a contradictory situation. On one side, globalization has left it’s effects but on the other side, looks like globalization hasn’t been able to reach every dark corner. Gurgaon or Gurugram?
Humour, satire and exaggeration has been prominently used in the book. The comical presentation of the characters, the satirical narration and the author’s comedic writing style made the book a treat. The word flow is smooth and even though there’s no such sophisticated use of words, the language really felt nice while reading. It didn’t sound amateurish at all. The stories are short and it didn’t took me much time to complete the book.
Read the full review on my blog : https://poesyinchrysalis.wordpress.co...
Humour, satire and exaggeration has been prominently used in the book. The comical presentation of the characters, the satirical narration and the author’s comedic writing style made the book a treat. The word flow is smooth and even though there’s no such sophisticated use of words, the language really felt nice while reading. It didn’t sound amateurish at all. The stories are short and it didn’t took me much time to complete the book.
Read the full review on my blog : https://poesyinchrysalis.wordpress.co...
October 30, 2018
Just finished reading GurgaonDiaries by Debeshi Gooptu {a wonderful storyteller}! A collection of {mostly} funny+insightful+thought provoking tales.
Also, learned a Japanese phrase --- 'Yoi Desu', which means 'It's Good!'
So, Yoi Desu, guys! ☺
If you are looking for a funny/witty/quick/thoughtful read, go for it!
Also, learned a Japanese phrase --- 'Yoi Desu', which means 'It's Good!'
So, Yoi Desu, guys! ☺
If you are looking for a funny/witty/quick/thoughtful read, go for it!
June 30, 2021
urgaon Diaries is a hilarious look at a Bengali’s experience of living and working in Gurgaon. “Lost in Translation” is the best of the lot and made me burst into laughter. Months after reading the book, I am still laughing!
Being Bengali myself, I can relate to many of the situations Debeshi wittily describes – grappling with Hindi, hunting for good-quality fish and meat, trying to figure out various accents, and rolling one’s eyes at the gaudy display of one’s wealth in the form of flashy outfits and cars.
Debeshi’s stories about her househelps are both tragic and funny. “Freedom Calling” still pains my heart and makes me think how privileged I am.
A recurring character in the stories is Debeshi’s neighbor, Mrs. Chopra – loud, brash, judgmental, overbearing, and forever trying to keep up with the Joneses. Debeshi describes her conversations with Mrs. Chopra with just the right amount of sarcasm and readers can see both the irony and humor in the situations.
She turns mundane visits to the grocery stores, malls, restaurants, gyms, and beauty salons into entertaining and amusing stories.
I read Gurgaon Diaries in March but I couldn’t write my review because my family and I fell sick with COVID-19. Also, I had too much to say. Today, I’ve attempted to explore the brilliance of this book without giving away the good bits.
I’m reading Gurgaon Diaries again because it is a comfort read. There’s no pressure to finish the book to get the satisfaction I crave. Instead, I can savor each story in my own time, laugh at the funny ones endlessly, or muse over the thought-proving and tragic ones.
There’s a sequel to this book that is available on the Juggernaut app. I’ve subscribed to the app to read it but I wish it could be printed in paperback form. Debeshi’s stories come alive on paper!
Being Bengali myself, I can relate to many of the situations Debeshi wittily describes – grappling with Hindi, hunting for good-quality fish and meat, trying to figure out various accents, and rolling one’s eyes at the gaudy display of one’s wealth in the form of flashy outfits and cars.
Debeshi’s stories about her househelps are both tragic and funny. “Freedom Calling” still pains my heart and makes me think how privileged I am.
A recurring character in the stories is Debeshi’s neighbor, Mrs. Chopra – loud, brash, judgmental, overbearing, and forever trying to keep up with the Joneses. Debeshi describes her conversations with Mrs. Chopra with just the right amount of sarcasm and readers can see both the irony and humor in the situations.
She turns mundane visits to the grocery stores, malls, restaurants, gyms, and beauty salons into entertaining and amusing stories.
I read Gurgaon Diaries in March but I couldn’t write my review because my family and I fell sick with COVID-19. Also, I had too much to say. Today, I’ve attempted to explore the brilliance of this book without giving away the good bits.
I’m reading Gurgaon Diaries again because it is a comfort read. There’s no pressure to finish the book to get the satisfaction I crave. Instead, I can savor each story in my own time, laugh at the funny ones endlessly, or muse over the thought-proving and tragic ones.
There’s a sequel to this book that is available on the Juggernaut app. I’ve subscribed to the app to read it but I wish it could be printed in paperback form. Debeshi’s stories come alive on paper!
December 3, 2018
So I started this book with an underlying expectation that it may be one of the several other run of the mill books on trivialising Gurgaon and its nuances. However this book turned out to be extremely funny and very highly honest. Books like these are fun reads because they dont hide behind the veils of wordplay. They just find humor in exact situation without altering the reality much. Loved this light fun read and recommend to anyone who knows Gurgaon as it is.
July 13, 2021
This book is written in Debeshi Gooptu's unique voice. Her sense of humor and eye for detail makes every incident spring to life. I laughed a lot as I could relate to many of the stories. Gurgaon Diaries is quite entertaining!
March 26, 2018
The author begins with a lovely introduction chronicling the history of Gurgaon from as far back as the Mahabharata. She describes how she first saw it upon moving here nearly two decades ago, having left the city of her birthplace, Kolkata (I believe it had still not been renamed from Calcutta back then), behind. Land, roads, infrastructure, people, and the language – it was all the hallmark of North India’s very own village bordering the grand capital.
Then came the boom in property and while builders and real estate agents seemed to take over the landscape to raise the skyline, there was an influx of people from all over the country who came in hordes for better opportunities. The village was taking over.
Unfortunately, this village wasn’t prepared to handle the rapid development and urbanization. Infrastructure was severely lacking. Gurgaon was unable to keep up. Soon enough, the success story developed large cracks, much like its potholed roads come monsoon season.
Nonetheless, the city has continued to grow and Gooptu has captured the nuances of her experience through the years in a short story / essay format.
The book is divided into three sections – Life, Work, and Play. True to their name, the stories in each category describe her various adventures of living in Gurgaon. Some are humourous, while others evoke anger, and then there are those that completely appall you.
The wonderful thing about the book is how, within the backdrop of development, it is a study in Gurgaon’s Sociology. Changes in values, culture, morals, ethics – life in Gurgaon and the people here are shown as the mishmash they are. As the author still learns to come to terms with this development of an entirely different kind, you – whether you are a resident, or visitor – can’t help but marvel at it.
For complete review, visit aquamarineflavours.wordpress.com.
Then came the boom in property and while builders and real estate agents seemed to take over the landscape to raise the skyline, there was an influx of people from all over the country who came in hordes for better opportunities. The village was taking over.
Unfortunately, this village wasn’t prepared to handle the rapid development and urbanization. Infrastructure was severely lacking. Gurgaon was unable to keep up. Soon enough, the success story developed large cracks, much like its potholed roads come monsoon season.
Nonetheless, the city has continued to grow and Gooptu has captured the nuances of her experience through the years in a short story / essay format.
The book is divided into three sections – Life, Work, and Play. True to their name, the stories in each category describe her various adventures of living in Gurgaon. Some are humourous, while others evoke anger, and then there are those that completely appall you.
The wonderful thing about the book is how, within the backdrop of development, it is a study in Gurgaon’s Sociology. Changes in values, culture, morals, ethics – life in Gurgaon and the people here are shown as the mishmash they are. As the author still learns to come to terms with this development of an entirely different kind, you – whether you are a resident, or visitor – can’t help but marvel at it.
For complete review, visit aquamarineflavours.wordpress.com.
August 19, 2018
Good writing - but is Gurgaon all bad?
19 years in Gurgaon. All articles smirking at Gurgaon and it's inhabitants. Not one good experience to write home about. Beyond a point it becomes predictable, and stops becoming a witty diary. Read about three fourths and then had to move on. Could really have been better
19 years in Gurgaon. All articles smirking at Gurgaon and it's inhabitants. Not one good experience to write home about. Beyond a point it becomes predictable, and stops becoming a witty diary. Read about three fourths and then had to move on. Could really have been better
January 27, 2018
Gurgaon Diaries is a collection of short stories centric to the modern day Gurgaon or Gurugram that we know of . It’s an authors account and her experience in living in Gurgaon for twenty years , the journey of Gurgaon to Gurugram. Prior to this book I had no clue that Gurgaon was Guru Dronacharya’s village which surprised me. The book is laid out in three broad sections –
1. Life
2. Work
3. Play
The stories take you into the lives of the people living in Gurgaon : their experiences , daily life , work and enjoyment. The struggles of living in a city with monkey’s menace , a work from home professional , the obsession towards the foreign culture and malfunctioning lifts. The writing is lucid and relateable since I live in New Delhi and often travel to Gurugram for work. I loved the titles of the various stories under the sections – Fishy Business , Brawn and Beautiful , Parking Games , Gurugram Gyming to name a few. The author often compares it to Kolkata , which is her native city which made the book all the more interesting for me.
I adore the cover of the book which perfectly portrays the hustle bustle of Gurgaon – it’s swanky malls , skyscrapers and Starbucks of course.
For me , this would be one read that I can go back to and re-read anyday!
Recommended.
1. Life
2. Work
3. Play
The stories take you into the lives of the people living in Gurgaon : their experiences , daily life , work and enjoyment. The struggles of living in a city with monkey’s menace , a work from home professional , the obsession towards the foreign culture and malfunctioning lifts. The writing is lucid and relateable since I live in New Delhi and often travel to Gurugram for work. I loved the titles of the various stories under the sections – Fishy Business , Brawn and Beautiful , Parking Games , Gurugram Gyming to name a few. The author often compares it to Kolkata , which is her native city which made the book all the more interesting for me.
I adore the cover of the book which perfectly portrays the hustle bustle of Gurgaon – it’s swanky malls , skyscrapers and Starbucks of course.
For me , this would be one read that I can go back to and re-read anyday!
Recommended.
April 20, 2018
This book is a collection of blog posts by the author, chronicling almost 2 decades worth of experiences in Gurgaon. It starts with an abridged history of Gurugram and then moves on to various anecdotes. Most of them are short, funny and relatable. Some are scary. They are separated into life, work and play. Many of the stories have a few recurring characters and some are even linked.
It's quite interesting to note that the author went from Kolkata, arguably the oldest city in India, to its newest. That contrast is bought out when she compares the two cities.
I think the author does herself a disservice by calling the stories specific to Gurgaon. I am sure it's relatable to denizens of other metros as well.
A fun, timepass read.
Edit: this book is now a comfort read
It's quite interesting to note that the author went from Kolkata, arguably the oldest city in India, to its newest. That contrast is bought out when she compares the two cities.
I think the author does herself a disservice by calling the stories specific to Gurgaon. I am sure it's relatable to denizens of other metros as well.
A fun, timepass read.
Edit: this book is now a comfort read
February 26, 2018
An interesting read about stories in the burgeoning city of Gurgaon, or rather Gurugram.
October 30, 2018
Gurgaon Diaries by Debeshi Gooptu is an amazing book where the author presents before her readers some of the incidents she experienced in Gurgaon. The sarcasm and humour in each and every account of hers is something that I absolutely loved about this book.
When I read this book, it was as good as I expected it to be. I could not stop myself from laughing while reading the anecdotes about different people and situations in Gurgaon.
The book is divided into three major sections - Life, Work and Play. Each of these sections contain a number of short sketches on incidents which the author experienced in Gurgaon. Another aspect which I really enjoyed while reading the book is, we can start reading the book from any random chapter and totally enjoy reading. The satirical and comic elements made the book all the more interesting. I have already read this book twice, and not for once did I feel bored. It never failed to amuse me. The short and crisp narration, lucid language and the satire, all these qualities captivate the readers.
If you are looking for something sarcastic and funny, this book is for you. Almost everyone will enjoy reading this book.
Read the full review on my blog: https://exploringthebookishworld.blogspot.com/2018/10/book-review-43-gurgaon-diaries-by.html
When I read this book, it was as good as I expected it to be. I could not stop myself from laughing while reading the anecdotes about different people and situations in Gurgaon.
The book is divided into three major sections - Life, Work and Play. Each of these sections contain a number of short sketches on incidents which the author experienced in Gurgaon. Another aspect which I really enjoyed while reading the book is, we can start reading the book from any random chapter and totally enjoy reading. The satirical and comic elements made the book all the more interesting. I have already read this book twice, and not for once did I feel bored. It never failed to amuse me. The short and crisp narration, lucid language and the satire, all these qualities captivate the readers.
If you are looking for something sarcastic and funny, this book is for you. Almost everyone will enjoy reading this book.
Read the full review on my blog: https://exploringthebookishworld.blogspot.com/2018/10/book-review-43-gurgaon-diaries-by.html
November 9, 2020
Week 45 Book 76
Gurgaon Diaries by Debeshi Gooptu
Rating: 4/5
Finally read this fantastically written book. The author chronicles her adventures in Gurgaon aka Gurugram over the past 20 years she has been there. In GD you will meet a variety of characters, with bizarre lifestyles and attitudes, and the complex culture of the millennium city. The writing style is impeccable, suitable garnished with tongue in cheek humour. Personal anedotes, mostly witty, sometimes touching, make this a relatable and enjoyable read. Most importantly, it strengthened my resolve to steer clear of the place! 😛 Highly recommended, a perfect read for any time of the day or year, any situation or mood.
Gurgaon Diaries by Debeshi Gooptu
Rating: 4/5
Finally read this fantastically written book. The author chronicles her adventures in Gurgaon aka Gurugram over the past 20 years she has been there. In GD you will meet a variety of characters, with bizarre lifestyles and attitudes, and the complex culture of the millennium city. The writing style is impeccable, suitable garnished with tongue in cheek humour. Personal anedotes, mostly witty, sometimes touching, make this a relatable and enjoyable read. Most importantly, it strengthened my resolve to steer clear of the place! 😛 Highly recommended, a perfect read for any time of the day or year, any situation or mood.
July 4, 2019
I shifted to Gurgaon 25 years back, 5 years before the author of this book did and so identify with the development pains, the warts behind the fancy malls and life in general in the millennium city.
I like the humorous way in which the author has written about great observations of the citizens living and facing problems yet enjoying the cosmopolitan party atmosphere.
The chapters are short so never get boring. Can be ready at random as written like a blog.
For Gurgaon citizens I recommend reading the Work section first followed by Okay and finally the 40 chapters of the first section.
I like the humorous way in which the author has written about great observations of the citizens living and facing problems yet enjoying the cosmopolitan party atmosphere.
The chapters are short so never get boring. Can be ready at random as written like a blog.
For Gurgaon citizens I recommend reading the Work section first followed by Okay and finally the 40 chapters of the first section.
January 18, 2019
It’s a really nice, witty, smooth read esp if you like reading blogs. But the issue with blogs is that there is no character building or characters so it gets monotonous if you try to read it in one go. I also wish the content was clubbed better.
October 2, 2018
Very, very mediocre.
February 3, 2024
A collection of short chapters written in the form of blogs about the author's experience and view of the happening city of Gurgaon. For residents of the city it's a nice reminder of what we face.
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