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Pagalkhana
ज्ञान चतुर्वेदी का यह पाँचवाँ उपन्यास है। इसलिए उनके कथा-शिल्प या व्यंग्यकार के रूप में वह अपनी औपन्यासिक कृतियों को जो वाग-वैदग्ध्य, भाषिक, शाब्दिक तुर्शी, समाज और समय को देखने का एक आलोचनात्मक नज़रिया देते हैं, उसके बारे में अलग से कुछ कहने का कोई औचित्य नहीं है। हिन्दी के पाठक उनके 'नरक-यात्रा', 'बारामासी' और 'हम न मरब' जैसे उपन्यासों के आधार पर जानते हैं कि उन्होंने अपनी औपन्यासिक कृतियों में सिर्फ व्यंग्य का ठाठ खड़ा नहीं किया, न ही किसी भी $कीमत पर पाठक को हँसाकर अपना बनाने का प्रयास किया, उन्होंने व्यंग्य की नोक से अपने समाज और परिवेश के असल नाक-नक्श उकेरे।
इस उपन्यास में भी वे यही कर रहे हैं। जैसा कि उन्होंने भूमिका में विस्तार से स्पष्ट किया है यहाँ उन्होंने बाज़ार को लेकर एक विरा
इस उपन्यास में भी वे यही कर रहे हैं। जैसा कि उन्होंने भूमिका में विस्तार से स्पष्ट किया है यहाँ उन्होंने बाज़ार को लेकर एक विरा
271 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2018
21 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 16, 2020
एक स्टार, क्योंकि ज़ीरो या माइनस में नहीं दिया जा सकता. इतनी चिढ़ / खीझ और निराशा हाल फिलहाल में किसी भी किताब को पढ़कर नहीं हुई. मुश्किल से 10-15 पन्नों में समेटी जा सकने वाली दोयम सी कहानी को लगभग ढाई सौ पन्नों तक खींचा गया है. पूरी क़िताब में रेखांकित किये जा सकने वाला एक वाक्य भी नहीं. व्यंग्यकार के रूप में अच्छी तरह और सर्वमान्य तौर पर स्थापित हो जाने के बाद George Orwell की तरह एक Dystopian उपन्यास लिखने का बेहद हल्का और annoying प्रयास.
ढेर सारी लानत राजकमल प्रकाशन को भी. बड़े नाम के साथ कचरा छाप देना आदत बनते जा रही है.
कभी न पढ़ें. किसी को ये पढ़ने न बोलें. किसी को ये गिफ्ट में न दें और कोई दे तो उसकी समझदारी पर हमेशा शक करें और इसकी जगह हिन्दयुग्म या redgrab से प्रकाशित कोई चलताऊ उपन्यास ही पढ़ लें.
ढेर सारी लानत राजकमल प्रकाशन को भी. बड़े नाम के साथ कचरा छाप देना आदत बनते जा रही है.
कभी न पढ़ें. किसी को ये पढ़ने न बोलें. किसी को ये गिफ्ट में न दें और कोई दे तो उसकी समझदारी पर हमेशा शक करें और इसकी जगह हिन्दयुग्म या redgrab से प्रकाशित कोई चलताऊ उपन्यास ही पढ़ लें.
March 21, 2025
3.75 / 5
A Hindi review is followed by an English one:
पुस्तक इस बात की पड़ताल करती है कि कैसे बाजार अर्थव्यवस्था ने हमारे जीवन को पूरी तरह से अपनी चपेट में ले लिया है और खुद को बाजार से अलग करना कितना मुश्किल (असंभव ) है। लेखक ने इस विचार को व्यंग्यात्मक दृष्टि से खोजा है और लेखन ठीक प्रतीत होता है। यह एक बार पढ़ने के लिए अच्छा हो सकता है।
The book explores the way how market economy has engulfed our lives altogether and how difficult ( read impossible) it is to separate ourselves from the market. The author has explored this idea with a satirical point of view and the writing seems to be fine. It could be a good one-time read.
A Hindi review is followed by an English one:
पुस्तक इस बात की पड़ताल करती है कि कैसे बाजार अर्थव्यवस्था ने हमारे जीवन को पूरी तरह से अपनी चपेट में ले लिया है और खुद को बाजार से अलग करना कितना मुश्किल (असंभव ) है। लेखक ने इस विचार को व्यंग्यात्मक दृष्टि से खोजा है और लेखन ठीक प्रतीत होता है। यह एक बार पढ़ने के लिए अच्छा हो सकता है।
The book explores the way how market economy has engulfed our lives altogether and how difficult ( read impossible) it is to separate ourselves from the market. The author has explored this idea with a satirical point of view and the writing seems to be fine. It could be a good one-time read.
March 18, 2019
मेरे विचार में “बारामासी” अभी भी ज्ञान चतुर्वेदी जी का सर्वश्रेष्ट उपन्यास है। “पागलखाना” की जादुई दुनिया में वो जादू नहीं है।
May 2, 2025
"The Madhouse (Pagalkhana)" by Gyan Chaturvedi
brilliantly navigates the chaos and eccentricities of modern life, skillfully blending
humour
with sharp societal critique 🎭💭. Set in an unnamed yet vividly imagined town, the book acts as a mirror reflecting the political corruption, societal hypocrisies, and human absurdities that pervade our world 🏙️💥. Chaturvedi’s keen observations and
sharp wit
transform complex issues into a compelling narrative, ensuring that the story both entertains and provokes thought. The metaphor of the "madhouse" aptly encapsulates the irrational and chaotic world we live in, challenging readers to reflect on the fine line between sanity and madness 🤯🔍.
At the heart of the novel, the figures of the Bazaar and the Citizen symbolize the growing influence of consumerism and the individual's struggle within this environment 💸🛒. Chaturvedi critiques the materialism fueled by globalization, highlighting how it has overtaken deeper values in modern society. From the unchecked rise of e-commerce to the commodification of spirituality, the narrative reflects humanity’s obsession with possessions and status 💎📱. The book also delves into the ongoing issues of manual scavenging , corporate exploitation , and disillusionment with governance and justice, all while maintaining its biting humour and vivid realism. Chaturvedi’s focus on mental health and societal apathy exposes the emotional toll these issues have on individuals 💔, making it a poignant and relatable read. While the pacing occasionally falters, with some repetitive elements slowing the momentum, the novel remains an insightful and entertaining journey through the absurdities of modern life 🌍💬.
At the heart of the novel, the figures of the Bazaar and the Citizen symbolize the growing influence of consumerism and the individual's struggle within this environment 💸🛒. Chaturvedi critiques the materialism fueled by globalization, highlighting how it has overtaken deeper values in modern society. From the unchecked rise of e-commerce to the commodification of spirituality, the narrative reflects humanity’s obsession with possessions and status 💎📱. The book also delves into the ongoing issues of manual scavenging , corporate exploitation , and disillusionment with governance and justice, all while maintaining its biting humour and vivid realism. Chaturvedi’s focus on mental health and societal apathy exposes the emotional toll these issues have on individuals 💔, making it a poignant and relatable read. While the pacing occasionally falters, with some repetitive elements slowing the momentum, the novel remains an insightful and entertaining journey through the absurdities of modern life 🌍💬.
July 25, 2025
On the promise of 1991.
I made a try-hard attempt at writing a rhyme on the classic rat trapped with a cheese parable, but nope, y'all won't get to read that, haha! But the promise of 1991 was indeed cheese and Indians being the rats that we are –Trapped. Forever.
The free market forces arrived in India in 1991 and freed the Indian government from debt and the Indian citizens from critical thinking. Absurdism being the national sport of India, enters Gyan Chaturvedi, a Hindi novelist, satirizing the post 1991 India. There's not much left in the country, though, just The Bazaar (the market) and The Citizen. Just two characters. The Bazaar is not God, obviously, because it is superior even to Him. And The Citizen. The Citizen is someone who has lost his dreams, his memories have been abducted, she is digging a tunnel to escape, they are all crazies who are being taken to the Madhouse. The rebels are considered crazy by the actual crazies, The Bazaar having the last laugh, obviously. They're all the vignettes and manifestations of the same Citizen, the rat we pity in this story, the one we should pity in every story. We have a psychiatrist too, but do know that they're all minions of the Bazaar.
"𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨."
Translated from the Hindi by Punarvasu Joshi, this novel is highly allegorical and a satire at its best. Almost like a play, like a set-up, a sly one at that. Capitalism, too, is just that.
A tale of the crazed and the complicit, where the spineless collaborate with the greedy, making THE MADHOUSE by Gyan Chaturvedi a book that perfectly captures the collective lunacy of modern India.
A fun read.
Essential too.
I made a try-hard attempt at writing a rhyme on the classic rat trapped with a cheese parable, but nope, y'all won't get to read that, haha! But the promise of 1991 was indeed cheese and Indians being the rats that we are –Trapped. Forever.
The free market forces arrived in India in 1991 and freed the Indian government from debt and the Indian citizens from critical thinking. Absurdism being the national sport of India, enters Gyan Chaturvedi, a Hindi novelist, satirizing the post 1991 India. There's not much left in the country, though, just The Bazaar (the market) and The Citizen. Just two characters. The Bazaar is not God, obviously, because it is superior even to Him. And The Citizen. The Citizen is someone who has lost his dreams, his memories have been abducted, she is digging a tunnel to escape, they are all crazies who are being taken to the Madhouse. The rebels are considered crazy by the actual crazies, The Bazaar having the last laugh, obviously. They're all the vignettes and manifestations of the same Citizen, the rat we pity in this story, the one we should pity in every story. We have a psychiatrist too, but do know that they're all minions of the Bazaar.
"𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨."
Translated from the Hindi by Punarvasu Joshi, this novel is highly allegorical and a satire at its best. Almost like a play, like a set-up, a sly one at that. Capitalism, too, is just that.
A tale of the crazed and the complicit, where the spineless collaborate with the greedy, making THE MADHOUSE by Gyan Chaturvedi a book that perfectly captures the collective lunacy of modern India.
A fun read.
Essential too.
May 9, 2020
गज़ब ।
Want to read
July 20, 2024Reccomended by - Ankit Verma sir @bioshala
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews