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शाळा [Shala]
Mukund Joshi is fourteen and newly in love. He attends the same private tuitions as his classmate, Shirodkar, just for a glimpse of her, and follows her back home every day. Sadly, she has not a clue that he is pining away for her, because in their society, boys and girls don't interact freely, much less talk about love. When he's not negotiating the tricky alleys of love, Mukund sits around the school field or loafs about town with his close friends, Surya, Chitre and Phawdya, railing against the education system, and debating ideas such as discipline and Bohemianism. Set in a small Maharashtrian town during the Emergency of 1975, Shala is a heart-warming, nuanced novel about the adolescent struggles that are as tortuous in real time as they are amusing in retrospect.
303 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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February 17, 2012
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Summary –
“That day I realised the real fun of school. There are classrooms, benches, students and teachers. There are subjects – maths, geography and even civics. But I am not into any of these. I am free – like that white bird, sitting gaily on the back of a cow. I am sitting in school, but I have a separate school of my own. That school does not have classrooms, walls, black boards and teachers; but the lessons it teaches me are really beautiful.”
Review –
Shala is a beautiful novel that took me on a nostalgic journey back to my school days. It is about a group of friends and the story spans one year of their life – 9th standard, the best year of our school life. Set in the 70s during the emergency period in India, the story is narrated by the protagonist “Joshi”. It is a story of a bunch of friends around 14 years of age, just on the threshold of adolescence – a story of their school, friends, their “bhankas”, competitions, cricket matches, scout camps, those “butterflies in stomach” before exams, first love and their coming of age. Bokil has a lucid style and the book simply casts a spell that takes us straight back to our favourite bench in the classroom from where we can steal a glimpse of our first crush. The main story line revolves around Joshi’s first love and his attempts to catch her attention. Those were the days when “He talks to girls” was an adjective seeped in either derision or jealousy, mostly both. So Joshi has to be very discreet in his manoeuvres, not even letting his best friends in his secret. (I know this sounds ridiculous today but this was fairly the state of affairs in most schools even in metro cities till early 90s.)
On a different level, the book talks about love, infatuation, schooling system, discipline, those wonderful days when we wanted to be care free as birds but were caged by the system, society and their so called ethics and morals. It is about despair and loneliness of a young boy in love. It is also about inseparable friends who will soon step into a new, adult world waiting for them outside and may never see each other again. Bokil has captured the urban middle class and its outlook succinctly. What makes this book highly enjoyable is that this could well be your own story. We all have a “Joshi” hidden in us somewhere and Bokil through his perfect portrayal of the school, its atmosphere and different characters (I am sure you will identify most of them in your life) pokes the calm surface sending ripples that bring back the bitter-sweet memories of the good old days once again.
Summary –
“That day I realised the real fun of school. There are classrooms, benches, students and teachers. There are subjects – maths, geography and even civics. But I am not into any of these. I am free – like that white bird, sitting gaily on the back of a cow. I am sitting in school, but I have a separate school of my own. That school does not have classrooms, walls, black boards and teachers; but the lessons it teaches me are really beautiful.”
Review –
Shala is a beautiful novel that took me on a nostalgic journey back to my school days. It is about a group of friends and the story spans one year of their life – 9th standard, the best year of our school life. Set in the 70s during the emergency period in India, the story is narrated by the protagonist “Joshi”. It is a story of a bunch of friends around 14 years of age, just on the threshold of adolescence – a story of their school, friends, their “bhankas”, competitions, cricket matches, scout camps, those “butterflies in stomach” before exams, first love and their coming of age. Bokil has a lucid style and the book simply casts a spell that takes us straight back to our favourite bench in the classroom from where we can steal a glimpse of our first crush. The main story line revolves around Joshi’s first love and his attempts to catch her attention. Those were the days when “He talks to girls” was an adjective seeped in either derision or jealousy, mostly both. So Joshi has to be very discreet in his manoeuvres, not even letting his best friends in his secret. (I know this sounds ridiculous today but this was fairly the state of affairs in most schools even in metro cities till early 90s.)
On a different level, the book talks about love, infatuation, schooling system, discipline, those wonderful days when we wanted to be care free as birds but were caged by the system, society and their so called ethics and morals. It is about despair and loneliness of a young boy in love. It is also about inseparable friends who will soon step into a new, adult world waiting for them outside and may never see each other again. Bokil has captured the urban middle class and its outlook succinctly. What makes this book highly enjoyable is that this could well be your own story. We all have a “Joshi” hidden in us somewhere and Bokil through his perfect portrayal of the school, its atmosphere and different characters (I am sure you will identify most of them in your life) pokes the calm surface sending ripples that bring back the bitter-sweet memories of the good old days once again.
November 27, 2018
शाळा हा सर्वांच्या आठवणीत रमण्याचा विषय असतो. त्यातून जर ती गावाकडची असेल तर पाहायलाच नको. मिलिंद बोकीलांनी रंगवलेली शाळा ७०-८० च्या दशकात शाळेत गेलेल्या कुणालाही भुलवल्याशिवाय राहणार नाही. त्यातून निवडलेला काळ नववीचा. दहावीचं जहाल वर्ष सुरू होण्याच्या आधीचं शेवटचं शाळा उपभोगायचं वर्ष. ह्या परफेक्ट निवडीमुळे पुस्तक सहजच पकड घेतं.
शाळेतलं पहिलं प्रेम, शिक्षक-शिक्षकांच्या गमतीजमती हे सगळं ह्या पुस्तकात आहेच, पण ते वेगळं आहे कारण लेखकाने प्रथम पुरुषी लिहून त्या अडनिड्या वयातील मुलांचं भावविश्व ज्या बिनचूक पद्धतीने टिपलं आहे त्यामुळे.
हे पुस्तक एक अनुभव आहे आणि ७०-८० च्या दशकात शाळेत गेलेल्या प्रत्येकाने घ्यावा असाच!
शाळेतलं पहिलं प्रेम, शिक्षक-शिक्षकांच्या गमतीजमती हे सगळं ह्या पुस्तकात आहेच, पण ते वेगळं आहे कारण लेखकाने प्रथम पुरुषी लिहून त्या अडनिड्या वयातील मुलांचं भावविश्व ज्या बिनचूक पद्धतीने टिपलं आहे त्यामुळे.
हे पुस्तक एक अनुभव आहे आणि ७०-८० च्या दशकात शाळेत गेलेल्या प्रत्येकाने घ्यावा असाच!
October 22, 2012
Ever been to school? YES!.. Then this book is definitely going to set your heart racing at points and leave you wanting for more.You would actually start wishing for the protagonist's love story to meet a successful ending.
The setup unfolds in a small town with Mukund Joshi as the central character.Not only then you fall in love with the naive imagination of the kid but start remembering your own school days(Probably those who had done their schooling 'Marathi medium' can relate to it more).Mukund,Ambabai,Surya,Chitrya and Shirodkar...there are enough number of colorful characters in this voyage.Every character shapes up and end up contributing to 'Mukund and Shirodkar' Love story which subtly matches with the central theme of the book -'SHALA'.
About the Author,Milind Bokil,has done a great job depicting the 1975-76,Mid Emergency era and amalgamating a common man's life.So swiftly one feels like going along the flow.Kudos!! Mr. Bokil.
Finally I would love to quote Mukund - 'Shala sampliye,ata rahilay te fakta dahavi navach Bhayan warsha'.
The setup unfolds in a small town with Mukund Joshi as the central character.Not only then you fall in love with the naive imagination of the kid but start remembering your own school days(Probably those who had done their schooling 'Marathi medium' can relate to it more).Mukund,Ambabai,Surya,Chitrya and Shirodkar...there are enough number of colorful characters in this voyage.Every character shapes up and end up contributing to 'Mukund and Shirodkar' Love story which subtly matches with the central theme of the book -'SHALA'.
About the Author,Milind Bokil,has done a great job depicting the 1975-76,Mid Emergency era and amalgamating a common man's life.So swiftly one feels like going along the flow.Kudos!! Mr. Bokil.
Finally I would love to quote Mukund - 'Shala sampliye,ata rahilay te fakta dahavi navach Bhayan warsha'.
February 10, 2019
This heavy dosage of nostalgia by Milind Bokil is set in Sukhdev Namdev Warhadkar Madhyamik Vidyalaya- a school in a small town near Mumbai. The story of this novel focus on the students of ninth standard who are living the best days of their lives, the golden days of school. It is told through the perspective of Mukund Joshi who is newly in love with his classmate Shirodkar. The way the story is narrated is one of the plus points of the novel the writing style, language and setting are true according to the phase the lead characters are going through. But the biggest triumph of this book, I think is that the author successfully envokes the feeling of nostalgia of the school days and all the incidences in the novel seem like they are written by the author entering a teenager's psyche these two things are enough to keep the reader glued to the book. The characters are completely believable and more than that they are relatable. We have been or have seen Joshi, Surya, Chitre or any other character of the book. The pace of story was very good especially during the first half of the book.
The time period of the book is the time of emergency i.e 1975 and the world of Joshi and his friends is almost like a parallel world where the biggest problems of their lives is getting good marks in examination, to cope up with Bendre ma'am's peroid, and to impress their sweethearts. The world of Mukund Joshi and his school seems to be untouched from the dark times the nation is going through. But as the novel proceeds the effects of happenings of the "outer world" become evident on this world. The author narrates an emergency which is in our society through ages, an emergency which is has been there since time immemorial and may be there for time immemorial, an emergency where everyone should act in accordance to the rules and regulations of the emergency, an emergency which does not allow anyone to express his feelings, an emergency which makes you slave of a deteriorating and blind system. The most important thing about portraying emergency is that the author has not portrayed this through some big or groundbreaking incedent but he portrays it very subtly through the world he has built around his characters. The end was heartbreaking.
Although being a great read, the book has some shortcomings the most important of which I think was editing and repetition of events. There were parts especially in the second half which had nothing to add to the story other than delaying and decreasing the impact of the incident and dragging it. When it come to describing a particular location the author has nailed at it but that description comes again and again which was not needed at all it was enough to describe that location only once. There are events taking place in the school which were repeated way too much. Some of the incidents, which were few in the first half and a lot in the second, would have been edited out to provide better pace to the second half and to make it more crispier.
4 Stars.
The time period of the book is the time of emergency i.e 1975 and the world of Joshi and his friends is almost like a parallel world where the biggest problems of their lives is getting good marks in examination, to cope up with Bendre ma'am's peroid, and to impress their sweethearts. The world of Mukund Joshi and his school seems to be untouched from the dark times the nation is going through. But as the novel proceeds the effects of happenings of the "outer world" become evident on this world. The author narrates an emergency which is in our society through ages, an emergency which is has been there since time immemorial and may be there for time immemorial, an emergency where everyone should act in accordance to the rules and regulations of the emergency, an emergency which does not allow anyone to express his feelings, an emergency which makes you slave of a deteriorating and blind system. The most important thing about portraying emergency is that the author has not portrayed this through some big or groundbreaking incedent but he portrays it very subtly through the world he has built around his characters. The end was heartbreaking.
Although being a great read, the book has some shortcomings the most important of which I think was editing and repetition of events. There were parts especially in the second half which had nothing to add to the story other than delaying and decreasing the impact of the incident and dragging it. When it come to describing a particular location the author has nailed at it but that description comes again and again which was not needed at all it was enough to describe that location only once. There are events taking place in the school which were repeated way too much. Some of the incidents, which were few in the first half and a lot in the second, would have been edited out to provide better pace to the second half and to make it more crispier.
4 Stars.
March 17, 2017
अप्रतिम, खरंच शाळेत गेलेल्या प्रत्येकानं वाचावं असंच.
त्या दिवशी मला कळलं की शाळेची मजा कशात आहे ते.
वर्ग आहेत, बाकं आहेत,
पोरंपारी आहेत, सर आहेत, गणित आहे, भूगोल आहे, नागरिकशास्त्रसुद्धा;
पण आपण त्यात कशातच नाही.
आपण त्या गाईंच्या पाठीवर बसणाऱ्या पांढऱ्या पक्ष्यांसारखे मुक्त आहोत.
ह्यांच्या शाळेत बसलेलो असलो तरी आपल्या मनात एक वेगळीच शाळा भरते. खास एकटयाचीच.
त्या शाळेला वर्ग नाहीत, भिंती नाहीत, फळा नाही, शिक्षक नाहीत;
पण त्यातलं शिकणं फार सुंदर आहे.
त्या दिवशी मला कळलं की शाळेची मजा कशात आहे ते.
वर्ग आहेत, बाकं आहेत,
पोरंपारी आहेत, सर आहेत, गणित आहे, भूगोल आहे, नागरिकशास्त्रसुद्धा;
पण आपण त्यात कशातच नाही.
आपण त्या गाईंच्या पाठीवर बसणाऱ्या पांढऱ्या पक्ष्यांसारखे मुक्त आहोत.
ह्यांच्या शाळेत बसलेलो असलो तरी आपल्या मनात एक वेगळीच शाळा भरते. खास एकटयाचीच.
त्या शाळेला वर्ग नाहीत, भिंती नाहीत, फळा नाही, शिक्षक नाहीत;
पण त्यातलं शिकणं फार सुंदर आहे.
April 29, 2014
शाळेचे दिवस.....सगळ्यात सुंदर दिवस...सगळ्यांचे असेच असतात...फुलपाखरासारखे....
कोणालाही असेच वाटेल..की अरे..हे तर माझ्याबद्द्ल लिहले आहे...अप्रतिम... :-)
कोणालाही असेच वाटेल..की अरे..हे तर माझ्याबद्द्ल लिहले आहे...अप्रतिम... :-)
May 29, 2024
अनेक वर्षांपासून या पुस्तकाविषयी ऐकून होतो, पण वाचायचा योग आला नव्हता. या पुस्तकावर आधारित याच नावाचा एक मराठी चित्रपटही आला होता, तोही मी बघितला नव्हता.
आपल्याकडे दहावी बारावी इत्यादी इयत्तांचा मोठा बाऊ केला जातो. दहावीचा अभ्यास नववीतच सुरू करून मुलांना टेन्शन देण्याची पद्धत असते. अश्या या नववीच्या वर्षात घडणारी ही कथा. पुरेसं गाव उरलं नाही, पण मोठं शहरही म्हणता येणार नाही अश्या ठिकाणच्या शाळेतली ही गोष्ट. कथेचा नायक मुकुंद जोशी, त्याची आवडती मुलगी शिरोडकर, शाळेतले अनेक मित्र मैत्रिणी, शिक्षकवर्ग आणि घरातले आणि चाळीतले सोबती असे अनेक लोकं या कादंबरीत आहेत.
शाळेत घडणाऱ्या गमतीजमतींबरोबर मुकुंदच्या मनात असलेल्या भाव भावना आपल्या मनाचा ठाव घेतात. प्रथम पुरुषी निवेदनातून पुढे सरकणारी कथा आपल्याला त्या शाळेत, त्या माणसांत खिळवून ठेवते. Nostalgia जागा करते.
कथेला असलेली आणीबाणीची पार्श्वभूमी हे एक मोठं वैशिष्ट्य. मुकुंदच्या आयुष्यात त्याचे निर्णय त्याला न घेऊ देणारी शिक्षक, मित्र, पालक नावाची त्याला वाटत असलेली आणीबाणी हे एक सुंदर रूपक यामु��े जुळून आलंय असं मला वाटतं. त्यामुळेच सरकारी आणीबाणीविरोधात उठाव करणाऱ्या चाळीतल्या तरुणांविषयी मुकुंदला जवळीक वाटू लागते हे साहजिकच आलं.
एक नितांतसुंदर पण समंजस अनुभव देऊन ही कादंबरी संपते. मिलिंद बोकीलांचं मी वाचलेलं हे पहिलंच पुस्तक. इतर अजून पुस्तकं वाचण्याची इच्छा यामुळे जागी झाली आहे.
आपल्याकडे दहावी बारावी इत्यादी इयत्तांचा मोठा बाऊ केला जातो. दहावीचा अभ्यास नववीतच सुरू करून मुलांना टेन्शन देण्याची पद्धत असते. अश्या या नववीच्या वर्षात घडणारी ही कथा. पुरेसं गाव उरलं नाही, पण मोठं शहरही म्हणता येणार नाही अश्या ठिकाणच्या शाळेतली ही गोष्ट. कथेचा नायक मुकुंद जोशी, त्याची आवडती मुलगी शिरोडकर, शाळेतले अनेक मित्र मैत्रिणी, शिक्षकवर्ग आणि घरातले आणि चाळीतले सोबती असे अनेक लोकं या कादंबरीत आहेत.
शाळेत घडणाऱ्या गमतीजमतींबरोबर मुकुंदच्या मनात असलेल्या भाव भावना आपल्या मनाचा ठाव घेतात. प्रथम पुरुषी निवेदनातून पुढे सरकणारी कथा आपल्याला त्या शाळेत, त्या माणसांत खिळवून ठेवते. Nostalgia जागा करते.
कथेला असलेली आणीबाणीची पार्श्वभूमी हे एक मोठं वैशिष्ट्य. मुकुंदच्या आयुष्यात त्याचे निर्णय त्याला न घेऊ देणारी शिक्षक, मित्र, पालक नावाची त्याला वाटत असलेली आणीबाणी हे एक सुंदर रूपक यामु��े जुळून आलंय असं मला वाटतं. त्यामुळेच सरकारी आणीबाणीविरोधात उठाव करणाऱ्या चाळीतल्या तरुणांविषयी मुकुंदला जवळीक वाटू लागते हे साहजिकच आलं.
एक नितांतसुंदर पण समंजस अनुभव देऊन ही कादंबरी संपते. मिलिंद बोकीलांचं मी वाचलेलं हे पहिलंच पुस्तक. इतर अजून पुस्तकं वाचण्याची इच्छा यामुळे जागी झाली आहे.
December 19, 2017
शाळेत गेलेल्या प्रत्येकासाठी म्हणत मिलिंद बोकील यांनी अशी काही साहित्यकृती रेखाटली आहे कि एका बैठकीमध्ये पूर्ण करावी अशी हि कादंबरी.
बालपणी आपल्या अवतीभवती घडणाऱ्या गोष्टीच जणू काही लेखक सांगत आहे हि जाणीव न व्हावी तर नवल,बालपणीचे सुखद अनुभव,ते जुने मित्र आणि त्यांच्या सोबत घालविलेले वेळ,शाळेतील तास आणि शिक्षक,हळूहळू फुलत जाणारे प्रेम,चोरून लपून प्रेम करताना एक लागून राहणारी हुरहूर कुणी बघितले तर कसे याची.प्रत्येकाने नक्कीच वाचावे असे हे पुस्तक,आपल्या प्रत्येकाची एक शिरोडकर असतेच आणि प्रत्येक शिरोडकरचा एक जोशी सुद्धा असतो.शाळा जरी संपली तरी तिथे बांधून घेतलेली शिदोरी जन्मभर पुरेल याची खात्री असलेल्या सर्व वाचकांनी वाचावी अशी कादंबरी.
बालपणी आपल्या अवतीभवती घडणाऱ्या गोष्टीच जणू काही लेखक सांगत आहे हि जाणीव न व्हावी तर नवल,बालपणीचे सुखद अनुभव,ते जुने मित्र आणि त्यांच्या सोबत घालविलेले वेळ,शाळेतील तास आणि शिक्षक,हळूहळू फुलत जाणारे प्रेम,चोरून लपून प्रेम करताना एक लागून राहणारी हुरहूर कुणी बघितले तर कसे याची.प्रत्येकाने नक्कीच वाचावे असे हे पुस्तक,आपल्या प्रत्येकाची एक शिरोडकर असतेच आणि प्रत्येक शिरोडकरचा एक जोशी सुद्धा असतो.शाळा जरी संपली तरी तिथे बांधून घेतलेली शिदोरी जन्मभर पुरेल याची खात्री असलेल्या सर्व वाचकांनी वाचावी अशी कादंबरी.
January 22, 2017
beautiful novel. journey back to my school days.
"त्या दिवशी मला कळलं की
शाळेतली मजा कशात आहे ते.
वर्ग आहेत, बाकं आहेत,
पोरंपोरी आहेत, सर आहेत,
गणित आहे, भूगोल आहे,
नागरिकशास्त्रसुद्धा; पण
आपण त्यात कशातच नाही.
आपण त्या गाईंच्या पाठीवर
बसणार्या पांढर्या
पक्षासारखे मुक्त आहोत.
ह्यांच्या शाळेत बसलेलो
असलो तरी आपल्या मनात
एक वेगळीच शाळा भरते.
खास एकट्याचीच.
त्या शाळेला वर्ग नाहीत,
भिंती नाहीत, फळा नाही,
शिक्षक नाहीत;
पण त्यातलं शिकणं
फार सुंदर आहे.
"त्या दिवशी मला कळलं की
शाळेतली मजा कशात आहे ते.
वर्ग आहेत, बाकं आहेत,
पोरंपोरी आहेत, सर आहेत,
गणित आहे, भूगोल आहे,
नागरिकशास्त्रसुद्धा; पण
आपण त्यात कशातच नाही.
आपण त्या गाईंच्या पाठीवर
बसणार्या पांढर्या
पक्षासारखे मुक्त आहोत.
ह्यांच्या शाळेत बसलेलो
असलो तरी आपल्या मनात
एक वेगळीच शाळा भरते.
खास एकट्याचीच.
त्या शाळेला वर्ग नाहीत,
भिंती नाहीत, फळा नाही,
शिक्षक नाहीत;
पण त्यातलं शिकणं
फार सुंदर आहे.
Read
June 24, 2010Awesome book. Takes you back to school days. Although the end is tragic and a big disappointment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2012
एकच शब्द...अप्रतिम
July 15, 2012
really....its amazing book..!!! I really felt like again going back to school and have that life again...!!!!
November 9, 2022
Typical school life book. Nostalgic feeling.. a middle class marathi medium guy can easily relate and live those school moments again through this book. Loved it
August 6, 2022
समीक्षा लिहिण्या एवढा मोठा मी नाही, किंवा तेवढ माझ भाषेवर वर्चस्व पण नाही. पण मिलिंद बोकील यांच्या शाळा या कादंबरीवर बोलण्याची संधी मला कधीच सोडावीशी वाटत नाही. या पुस्तकात मुकुंद जोशी या किशोरवयीन मुलाच्या नजरेतून आपल्याला त्याची शाळा व त्या शाळेत घडणाऱ्या गोष्टीत दिसतात. यात त्याच पहिल प्रेम, शाळा, शाळेतील धिंगाणा, पालक ,आजूबाजूला चालणारी प्रकरणे या सर्व गोष्टी पाहायला मिळतात. या कथेत बरीच छोटी छोटी कथानक आहेत, लेखकाने सुंदरपणे या धाग्यांची गुंफण घातली आहे. नुकत्याच वयात आलेल्या मुलांचा वात्रटपणा असो किंवा या वयातील मुलांना समजून घेणारी/ न घेणारी मोठी मंडळी अश्या बऱ्याच गोष्टी लेखकाने सहजपणे मांडल्या आहेत.
पण या कथेतील मुख्य कथानक म्हणजे मुकुंद जोशी आणि त्याची "क्रश" शिरोडकर यांची गोष्ट. इथे प्रेमात पडणे, वर्गात style मारणे, शिकवणी नंतर जाऊन भेटने, पुस्तकांची अदलाबदल करायच्या निमीत्ताने गप्पा मारणे अश्या बऱ्याच गोष्टी अचूकपणे दाखवलेल्या आहेत. म्हणून बऱ्याच वेळा आपण शाळेचे दिवस पुन्हा जगतो आहेत कि काय अशी भावना निर्माण होते. लेखकाने याचा काळात घडणाऱ्या अनेक बऱ्या वाईट घडणाऱ्या गोष्टींना पण उजाळा दिला आहे.
ज्या वयावरील मुलांवर हे पुस्तक आधारित आहे त्याच वयात हे पुस्तक वाचल्यामुळे हे पुस्तक जरा जास्तच भावल. ते मी अधाश्यासारखा दोन दिवसात वाचुन काढल. नंतर अनेकवेळा वाचल. त्यावर एक चित्रपटही आला, तो पुस्तकाला न्याय देणारा नव्हता पण कथा चांगली असल्यामुळे आवडला. आपल्याकडे "Coming of Age" या प्रकारात म्हणजे किशोरवयीन मुलांच्या आयुष्यवर असलेल्या चित्रपटांची किंवा पुस्तकांची कमी नाही. पण शाळा या पुस्तकातील विश्व जरा जास्तच जवळच वाटतं, कारण
या पुस्तकात येणारे अनुभव timeless आहेत. कथा जरी १९७५ मधली असली तरी अजूनही आपलीशी वाटते, जणू या सर्व घटना आपल्यासोबत घडून गेल्या असा वाटतं.
यातच मला मिलिंद बोकील यांचा यश वाटतं, अगदी कोणीपण हे पुस्तक हातात घेतल्यावर त्याला कुठला तरी असा भाग सापडेल जो खूप relatable वाटेल.
तुम्ही जर नशीबवान असाल तर सगळी कथा म्हणजे तुमच्या किशोरीवयीन "self" चे हे मनोगत वाटेल.
पण या कथेतील मुख्य कथानक म्हणजे मुकुंद जोशी आणि त्याची "क्रश" शिरोडकर यांची गोष्ट. इथे प्रेमात पडणे, वर्गात style मारणे, शिकवणी नंतर जाऊन भेटने, पुस्तकांची अदलाबदल करायच्या निमीत्ताने गप्पा मारणे अश्या बऱ्याच गोष्टी अचूकपणे दाखवलेल्या आहेत. म्हणून बऱ्याच वेळा आपण शाळेचे दिवस पुन्हा जगतो आहेत कि काय अशी भावना निर्माण होते. लेखकाने याचा काळात घडणाऱ्या अनेक बऱ्या वाईट घडणाऱ्या गोष्टींना पण उजाळा दिला आहे.
ज्या वयावरील मुलांवर हे पुस्तक आधारित आहे त्याच वयात हे पुस्तक वाचल्यामुळे हे पुस्तक जरा जास्तच भावल. ते मी अधाश्यासारखा दोन दिवसात वाचुन काढल. नंतर अनेकवेळा वाचल. त्यावर एक चित्रपटही आला, तो पुस्तकाला न्याय देणारा नव्हता पण कथा चांगली असल्यामुळे आवडला. आपल्याकडे "Coming of Age" या प्रकारात म्हणजे किशोरवयीन मुलांच्या आयुष्यवर असलेल्या चित्रपटांची किंवा पुस्तकांची कमी नाही. पण शाळा या पुस्तकातील विश्व जरा जास्तच जवळच वाटतं, कारण
या पुस्तकात येणारे अनुभव timeless आहेत. कथा जरी १९७५ मधली असली तरी अजूनही आपलीशी वाटते, जणू या सर्व घटना आपल्यासोबत घडून गेल्या असा वाटतं.
यातच मला मिलिंद बोकील यांचा यश वाटतं, अगदी कोणीपण हे पुस्तक हातात घेतल्यावर त्याला कुठला तरी असा भाग सापडेल जो खूप relatable वाटेल.
तुम्ही जर नशीबवान असाल तर सगळी कथा म्हणजे तुमच्या किशोरीवयीन "self" चे हे मनोगत वाटेल.
April 22, 2013
Just one word.... Truely Nostalgic. This book took me to my school days. All mischief, feelings, amateur crush in school, tension of exam, books, classes, Middle class family, friendship, values, teenager things etc etc. Must must read for everybody as everyone has gone to school and undoubtedly, is missing all the fun we had in school.
Kudos to the author who through his writing makes the school live in your imagination It keeps you entertained all the time. Its enjoyed a lot as it connects to your heart wherein you have so many nostalgic moments, you embrace them from time to time.
Looking forward to watch national award winning movie based on this book.
yes, I experience my Shaala again through this. :)
Kudos to the author who through his writing makes the school live in your imagination It keeps you entertained all the time. Its enjoyed a lot as it connects to your heart wherein you have so many nostalgic moments, you embrace them from time to time.
Looking forward to watch national award winning movie based on this book.
yes, I experience my Shaala again through this. :)
June 1, 2018
I wish I could give 'Shala' six stars because this is easily the best novel I will read this year, and of that I am bloody certain. Where generally books take me 2-3 days to read, this one took the better part of a month to enjoy and finish, but what a ride it was! Joshi, Surya, Phawdya, Chitre and Shirodkar - these aren't just names. They are heartfelt characters whose memories and antics will be hard to forget.
I have never agreed with a blurb more: Set in the suburbs of Mumbai during the Emergency in 1975, this book is a heartwarming novel about adolescent struggles that are as torturous in real time as they are amusing in retrospect.
I have never agreed with a blurb more: Set in the suburbs of Mumbai during the Emergency in 1975, this book is a heartwarming novel about adolescent struggles that are as torturous in real time as they are amusing in retrospect.
September 20, 2013
1st thing 1st... this book reminds me of my school days. Being brought up in marathi medium school with same kind of friends and environment brings all memories come alive. This book involves a group friends with a macho man, an einstein, a street smart and mukund, who falls in love with his classmate, and their love story blossoms for a while. But i wish this story had a positive ending. Nevertheless a good book to read.
August 22, 2025
A good & different story, Milindji has painted a nice picture of a boy in ix standard of the school which is his world, he has friends from the school, his teachers, his parents & his first love, somewhere each one of us has been through this memorable experience so we stick to the book like a gum, Mukund Joshi narrates the story from his point of view, you can easily relate almost all characters in your actual school life. Fantabulous novel & a must read
March 5, 2016
This book was on my bucket list for quite some time...
One word: Nostalgic...
You relive your school days through the story which unfolds in this book...
Once you start reading, you simply can't put this book down... You can relate to each and every character... Characters which probably were present in your school life... It certainly brought back some good memories...
One should read this book to revisit their school days... Highly recommended...
One word: Nostalgic...
You relive your school days through the story which unfolds in this book...
Once you start reading, you simply can't put this book down... You can relate to each and every character... Characters which probably were present in your school life... It certainly brought back some good memories...
One should read this book to revisit their school days... Highly recommended...
October 14, 2020
When I was reading this book I was totally into that. I was reading continuously and finished these 300 pages in 2-3 days. So it's an interesting book about a young boy and his school, his crush, his friends, his family etc. The actual story is not very interesting and I can just tell you this story in few seconds. That's it! But here comes the author's skill. He has written this book so well, that you just can't put it down.
January 16, 2015
Different subject...but still anyone would relate to it..
The writing is simple... The story takes a grip on you and it is very hard to keep the book away for more that 10 minutes.. finished it in a single read...
Gives a clear picture of the India at the time when the urban transition was taking place...
The writing is simple... The story takes a grip on you and it is very hard to keep the book away for more that 10 minutes.. finished it in a single read...
Gives a clear picture of the India at the time when the urban transition was taking place...
June 25, 2013
Well, well well. Its a book one should read, at least I believe, when you just pass out from the school. I found it much better than movie 'Shala'. Of course, a movie has its own limitation.
Well, If you are late in reading the book, Let me tell you, one can never be too late to read this book. A page turner, filled with fun.
Definitely for all those who have been to 'school'!
Well, If you are late in reading the book, Let me tell you, one can never be too late to read this book. A page turner, filled with fun.
Definitely for all those who have been to 'school'!
January 4, 2019
If any book has ever inspired me to write my own then this is the one. I could not put this down until it was finished. And when it was finished it left a deep impression on my mind. I will never forget any of the characters of the book. I wish to read many of such books in my lifetime. I would recommend to read this book in Marathi if you can. Its 100 must read books before you die.
January 7, 2018
Where did you sit in school? Last benches? Then this book is must read for you. :)
December 4, 2015
Read it during my college days. Loved it to bits
May 9, 2017
Mi adhi cinema pahila ani nantar pustak wachle. itkya wela pustak wachle. faar bhari ahe.
September 23, 2017
Outstanding book. It takes you to your childhood days. much more exciting than watching a movie ,which failed to capture emotions compared to this book. all time favorite.
March 3, 2018
शाळा ही 9 वी. पर्यंतच असते. 10 वी म्हणजे फक्त परीक्षा असते.
August 17, 2018
Mast
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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