Return to Jammu

by V. Raghunathan

Balan, growing up in the small cantonment towns of Jammu and Ambala in the 1960s, is the son of a junior army officer. His is a packed life, with tough schoolmasters, homework and games with playmates to keep him busy. And, above it all, is the strange species called adults, who have a curious understanding of life. The story follows Balan s struggles as he grows up and enrols at IIM Ahmedabad. He is certain one of his fellow students is his childhood friend. But she is not who he thinks she is she says so herself. Balan, though, is not convinced and returns to a changed Jammu to find out the truth. Return to Jammu is a story of growing up, with its heartache of losing close friends and a childhood sweetheart, and eventually making one s way in the world. Evocative in its warmth of R.K. Narayan s Swami and Friends, it reveals a new side to bestselling author V. Raghunathan.

352 pages, Paperback

Published March 25, 2018

Reviews

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just for a moment I had to forget the book was written by one of professors I most feared in the Institute. A man who seemed every bit as scary as he makes himself out to be in the cameo he cast himself in. And then the beauty of the book took over.
Nostalgia for a simpler, more beautiful time. When the canals were deeper, the buildings more imposing, and picnics all over the country were similar. A time and a life where a ‘Madrasi’ boy spoke perfect Punjabi, when small townships were cosmopolitan places, and you made shadow erasers by boiling pencil shavings in milk.
Nostalgia too when he goes to IIMA as a PGP1. The ragging, the buildings, the classrooms, the mess.
The story is nice too, but when you are in a nostalgic trip do you even take it in? And after that delightful romp, you are left with questions- on the meaning of life, random variables, the reality of the Valley, and of why we let us canals literally go down the drain.

[Binita Thakker · Rating 1 out of 5]

It seems this book is a pointless narrative of the authors childhood. It has its moments when the magic of childhood comes through but there is no real plot or storyline. I found myself asking more than once what is the point of all of this. Sorry to have wasted my time on this one.

[Shri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story upto a certain point was fascinating, outlining the magic of an innocent and free childhood. However, the ending of the story felt incomplete and helpless. After a certain part, the story didn't have a charm anymore.

[Niyanta · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a really breezy read..I loved every bit of it