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Essential Items
It is the Dreadful Summer of the 2020 Pandemic, and India is in Lockdown.
A British climber stranded in the Himalayan border town of Munsiyari forms a bond with his host's seven-year-old grandson. Two funeral workers at a Benaras ghat try to work their way out of the dwindling business of cremations. A domestic worker, sent on paid leave, grapples with the shifting landscape for people on the margins of an urban metropolis. Hundreds of returning migrant workers turn up unannounced at the gates of an erstwhile Rajbari in Kolkata in the wake of a devastating cyclone.
In Essential Items, Udayan Mukherjee examines oft overlooked human attributes—resilience, faith, endurance—put to test by a pandemic-forced lockdown. Written in stark, minimalist prose, these poignant but darkly funny stories expose deep cracks in our societal structures, papered over by the myth of growing prosperity.
A British climber stranded in the Himalayan border town of Munsiyari forms a bond with his host's seven-year-old grandson. Two funeral workers at a Benaras ghat try to work their way out of the dwindling business of cremations. A domestic worker, sent on paid leave, grapples with the shifting landscape for people on the margins of an urban metropolis. Hundreds of returning migrant workers turn up unannounced at the gates of an erstwhile Rajbari in Kolkata in the wake of a devastating cyclone.
In Essential Items, Udayan Mukherjee examines oft overlooked human attributes—resilience, faith, endurance—put to test by a pandemic-forced lockdown. Written in stark, minimalist prose, these poignant but darkly funny stories expose deep cracks in our societal structures, papered over by the myth of growing prosperity.
- GenresFictionShort Stories
272 pages, Paperback
Published October 18, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 17 reviews
February 7, 2021
The first detected case of the coronavirus in India was reported on January 30th, 2020. Over the next two months, the number of cases had risen to five hundred, and—in an effort to stem the spread of the virus—on March 24th, the central government announced an immediate lockdown. What ensued, of course, we all know. A year down the line, it’s obvious that the repercussions of that lockdown will take a long time to die down. And some of them, perhaps, will haunt us for the rest of our lives.
How the lockdown has affected us, how differences in social status and privilege have been made even more stark because of it: all of this, and more, is highlighted in Udayan Mukherjee’s collection of lockdown-related short stories, Essential Items and Other Tales from a Land in Lockdown.
This is a set of ten short stories, each about people living through the lockdown. In the Essential Items of the book’s title, an elderly couple is visited by a young volunteer who fetches their medicines and groceries. In another story of an a person confined to home because of the lockdown, the writer Varun of The Stroll finds, to his disadvantage, that while going out for a walk may be a refreshing change, it comes with its own perils.
There are others, the lockdown changing their lives in its own way. The migrant labourer returning to his village in Kumaon. The chawl-dwelling couple, struggling to manage their finances on a suddenly depleted income. A resourceful dom, burning bodies by the ghats, and realizing that this too could be used to make a profit. And the privileged: the people who still entertain, in The Party, and over their drinks in the comfortable cocoons of their homes, try to absolve themselves of the guilt of being well-off.
Mukherjee is a fine storyteller, and his stories mostly manage to stay away from the predictable. For one, his characters are a very varied lot, and therefore the situations they find themselves in differ widely. For some, like the British climber stuck in Munsiyari, the lockdown is a mild inconvenience; for others, like Raja Babu, scion of a once-royal family in Bengal, Cyclone Amphan brings an opportunity to revive a half-remembered spirit of noblesse oblige (and some plain and simple humanity).
Most of all, these stories show a deep understanding of human nature. The people here are beautifully nuanced, and very real. There are those whose generosity surfaces in times of trouble, and there are those who seek to take advantage of the situation. There are hypocrites, and there are those who try to hold a mirror up to that hypocrisy. There are those who put themselves at risk to do good, and there are those who greedily accept that goodwill without any real gratitude.
Only one character in all these stories actually suffers from Covid-19, and that too is shown only briefly. An interesting reflection, perhaps, of the way the lockdown has affected us. It’s not just the disease, it’s the lockdown that has turned our lives upside-down.
Someday, perhaps, this lockdown will be history. But books like Essential Items will remain as a fitting memory of these trying times.
(From my review for The New Indian Express: https://www.newindianexpress.com/life...)
How the lockdown has affected us, how differences in social status and privilege have been made even more stark because of it: all of this, and more, is highlighted in Udayan Mukherjee’s collection of lockdown-related short stories, Essential Items and Other Tales from a Land in Lockdown.
This is a set of ten short stories, each about people living through the lockdown. In the Essential Items of the book’s title, an elderly couple is visited by a young volunteer who fetches their medicines and groceries. In another story of an a person confined to home because of the lockdown, the writer Varun of The Stroll finds, to his disadvantage, that while going out for a walk may be a refreshing change, it comes with its own perils.
There are others, the lockdown changing their lives in its own way. The migrant labourer returning to his village in Kumaon. The chawl-dwelling couple, struggling to manage their finances on a suddenly depleted income. A resourceful dom, burning bodies by the ghats, and realizing that this too could be used to make a profit. And the privileged: the people who still entertain, in The Party, and over their drinks in the comfortable cocoons of their homes, try to absolve themselves of the guilt of being well-off.
Mukherjee is a fine storyteller, and his stories mostly manage to stay away from the predictable. For one, his characters are a very varied lot, and therefore the situations they find themselves in differ widely. For some, like the British climber stuck in Munsiyari, the lockdown is a mild inconvenience; for others, like Raja Babu, scion of a once-royal family in Bengal, Cyclone Amphan brings an opportunity to revive a half-remembered spirit of noblesse oblige (and some plain and simple humanity).
Most of all, these stories show a deep understanding of human nature. The people here are beautifully nuanced, and very real. There are those whose generosity surfaces in times of trouble, and there are those who seek to take advantage of the situation. There are hypocrites, and there are those who try to hold a mirror up to that hypocrisy. There are those who put themselves at risk to do good, and there are those who greedily accept that goodwill without any real gratitude.
Only one character in all these stories actually suffers from Covid-19, and that too is shown only briefly. An interesting reflection, perhaps, of the way the lockdown has affected us. It’s not just the disease, it’s the lockdown that has turned our lives upside-down.
Someday, perhaps, this lockdown will be history. But books like Essential Items will remain as a fitting memory of these trying times.
(From my review for The New Indian Express: https://www.newindianexpress.com/life...)
November 6, 2020
Amassing essential items during lockdown has brought up a lot of essential feelings we kept under wraps for years. Mukherjee's latest collection of stories explore these emotions by an intimate portrayal of characters who are flawed and vulnerable, and under the spell of a situation that is bringing a different side of various relationships they are a part of.
.
In 'Shelter from the Storm', an affluent family in Kolkata, hailing from the time of Kings and Zamindars, provides residence and food to migrant workers. 'Essential People' talks about the relationships we didn't care to feel responsible for, coming back to us in a renewed way. 'Border Town' explores the friendship between a Britisher and a local boy in the hills in India, an unusual yet melancholic bond.
.
The stories explore multiple facets of different relationships, the emotions- raw and exposed. Crafting complex emotions with precision is one of Udayan Mukherjee's strong points, the second being his flair for understanding human relationships and the easy manner with with he combines the two.
.
If you have read 'Dark Circles' by the author, you would know what I am talking about. If you haven't, I recommend you grab a copy asap. I am always mesmerized by Udayan Mukherjee's writing and 'Essential Items' was no exception.
.
In 'Shelter from the Storm', an affluent family in Kolkata, hailing from the time of Kings and Zamindars, provides residence and food to migrant workers. 'Essential People' talks about the relationships we didn't care to feel responsible for, coming back to us in a renewed way. 'Border Town' explores the friendship between a Britisher and a local boy in the hills in India, an unusual yet melancholic bond.
.
The stories explore multiple facets of different relationships, the emotions- raw and exposed. Crafting complex emotions with precision is one of Udayan Mukherjee's strong points, the second being his flair for understanding human relationships and the easy manner with with he combines the two.
.
If you have read 'Dark Circles' by the author, you would know what I am talking about. If you haven't, I recommend you grab a copy asap. I am always mesmerized by Udayan Mukherjee's writing and 'Essential Items' was no exception.
November 3, 2020
• r e v i e w •
.
I read Dark Circles by Udayan Mukherjee last year and was surprised by the emotions it managed to invoke within me. He makes it easier for readers to connect with his stories either through his easy use of language or by the relatability of the stories. His newest work Essential Items is written in similar lines, focusing on the ongoing pandemic situation. The past eight months haven't been easy and while most of us are managing to work from the comfort of our homes, we often forget that there are other sets of people who are barely managing to survive. This book of short stories covers a wide range of people, from the senior citizens to the migrant workers to the privileged ones. It was a breezy read and makes one think about how fragile and volatile the world has become.
.
The first story speaks of the cycle of life through two men who work in crematory ghats. The shrewdness with which they are forced to adapt to the pandemic in order to make more money than usual before the ghats are closed may sound unfair but seems valid once we think about it. As I read along, Udayan speaks of thousands of migrant workers who weren't allowed to go back to their villages and once they did, they often felt unwanted while their neighbours and friends maintained their distance. Most of the workers weren't paid either as their bosses kept the funds to guarantee their return. He refers to the privileged ones who aren't much affected by the pandemic and of senior citizens who have to rely on online portals or volunteers to seek help. I wouldn't want to delve too much into the varieties of stories but my favourite of all is most definitely Essential Items and Shelter From The Storm.
.
The stories aren't all gloomy and dark. Amidst crisis, as it so happens, there are white knights who strive to assist others and when I read such stories, they made me smile. Humans and their incessant ability to adapt to any given situation, their empathy and understanding ability are so crisply written in this book. Amidst this inconvenient situation that we have been living in, one must be kinder to others for they may be carrying an invisible burden. This book of ten stories was extremely effortless to read all the while making one think about how much our lives have changed this year. We take things and people for granted only to realise later that almost nothing is permanent. Essential Items may not be a critical read but it does serve its purpose in making one feel that they aren't alone during this dire time.
.
Rating : 4.2/5.
.
I read Dark Circles by Udayan Mukherjee last year and was surprised by the emotions it managed to invoke within me. He makes it easier for readers to connect with his stories either through his easy use of language or by the relatability of the stories. His newest work Essential Items is written in similar lines, focusing on the ongoing pandemic situation. The past eight months haven't been easy and while most of us are managing to work from the comfort of our homes, we often forget that there are other sets of people who are barely managing to survive. This book of short stories covers a wide range of people, from the senior citizens to the migrant workers to the privileged ones. It was a breezy read and makes one think about how fragile and volatile the world has become.
.
The first story speaks of the cycle of life through two men who work in crematory ghats. The shrewdness with which they are forced to adapt to the pandemic in order to make more money than usual before the ghats are closed may sound unfair but seems valid once we think about it. As I read along, Udayan speaks of thousands of migrant workers who weren't allowed to go back to their villages and once they did, they often felt unwanted while their neighbours and friends maintained their distance. Most of the workers weren't paid either as their bosses kept the funds to guarantee their return. He refers to the privileged ones who aren't much affected by the pandemic and of senior citizens who have to rely on online portals or volunteers to seek help. I wouldn't want to delve too much into the varieties of stories but my favourite of all is most definitely Essential Items and Shelter From The Storm.
.
The stories aren't all gloomy and dark. Amidst crisis, as it so happens, there are white knights who strive to assist others and when I read such stories, they made me smile. Humans and their incessant ability to adapt to any given situation, their empathy and understanding ability are so crisply written in this book. Amidst this inconvenient situation that we have been living in, one must be kinder to others for they may be carrying an invisible burden. This book of ten stories was extremely effortless to read all the while making one think about how much our lives have changed this year. We take things and people for granted only to realise later that almost nothing is permanent. Essential Items may not be a critical read but it does serve its purpose in making one feel that they aren't alone during this dire time.
.
Rating : 4.2/5.
November 7, 2020
Reading this book felt like a whiff of lockdown air--- one that we all breathed in discipline but now feels distant. I loved all the stories (my favorite is the Border Town). These stories made me realize how everyone had dealt with the lockdown in their own way. It's a beautiful book. And I am going to remember these stories for a long long time.
October 14, 2025
3.2 🌟
This one was just like short story collections usually are; some stories were good, and some were just okay. They made me smile as well as brought tears to my eyes. Overall, it was some experience revisiting those strange, unforgettable days.
Still can’t believe it’s already been five years(?) since the lockdown and that we actually lived through a time like that (Alhamdulillah).
This one was just like short story collections usually are; some stories were good, and some were just okay. They made me smile as well as brought tears to my eyes. Overall, it was some experience revisiting those strange, unforgettable days.
Still can’t believe it’s already been five years(?) since the lockdown and that we actually lived through a time like that (Alhamdulillah).
November 6, 2020
“Essential Items” is a book that is difficult to analyse, perhaps because Covid-19 is still so rampant. The way this book can be thought of is—it circumvents or sort of summarizes the visible and the invisible impact of the pandemic pretty well. In the light of multiple occupations, ideologies, age groups and relationships— ‘Essential items’ harps on the theme of survival of humans in this crisis, and what things they need to survive, or perhaps live.
These short stories capture the dysfunction of various systems, be it the social or the financial systems—or the interpersonal or mutual relationship systems. In a prose that is so raw and keen on propagating the crudeness of human insecurities, Udayan Mukherjee’s stories talks of man’s various hues and shades.
The best part of the stories, were probably the way the contexts and backgrounds of various happenings have been swirled together. In each story, there is an interplay of many underlying sentiments, some understood and some very undertone. These could include the unanimous way in which we believe in the goodwill of people, or the unconditional belief in a higher power, or the faith in our own strengths. The vicious ways that certain agencies that govern our well-being have all turned tables: it gets infused into the story without much fuss. So, in a way, ‘Essential items’ becomes a collection that isn’t afraid to point fingers at the failures that mankind has fallen into, or the subtle small winnings that each of us have been warmly greeted with.
Synonymous to the fact that the Covid-19 crisis has starkly taken us all aback, without giving time for any anticipation; this short story collection is very fresh, yet verifies some stale constructs that took the frontline within this unprecedented situation. It harbours the capability to make us understand the way this crisis has seeped into the various tributaries of life and beyond, and how largely it has taken a toll on sympathy, acceptance and patience.
Thanks to Bloomsbury India for the review copy.
These short stories capture the dysfunction of various systems, be it the social or the financial systems—or the interpersonal or mutual relationship systems. In a prose that is so raw and keen on propagating the crudeness of human insecurities, Udayan Mukherjee’s stories talks of man’s various hues and shades.
The best part of the stories, were probably the way the contexts and backgrounds of various happenings have been swirled together. In each story, there is an interplay of many underlying sentiments, some understood and some very undertone. These could include the unanimous way in which we believe in the goodwill of people, or the unconditional belief in a higher power, or the faith in our own strengths. The vicious ways that certain agencies that govern our well-being have all turned tables: it gets infused into the story without much fuss. So, in a way, ‘Essential items’ becomes a collection that isn’t afraid to point fingers at the failures that mankind has fallen into, or the subtle small winnings that each of us have been warmly greeted with.
Synonymous to the fact that the Covid-19 crisis has starkly taken us all aback, without giving time for any anticipation; this short story collection is very fresh, yet verifies some stale constructs that took the frontline within this unprecedented situation. It harbours the capability to make us understand the way this crisis has seeped into the various tributaries of life and beyond, and how largely it has taken a toll on sympathy, acceptance and patience.
Thanks to Bloomsbury India for the review copy.
November 20, 2020
Book Title: Essential Items and Other tales during lockdown
Author: Udayan Mukherjee
Format: Kindle
My Thoughts:
This year has been tough for everyone in the world. Each and every soul, be it human or any other living being is facing troubles. The pandemic has affected the world and its people in many ways. The lockdown months have devastated many lives. People have been experiencing frustration, anger and anxiety.
A person of every age group has been falling prey for these conditions apart from the fear of getting infected by the virus. This mere fear has also drawn the relationships between people adrift and created a void. No community gatherings have shown people how to spend in precarious times.
In the book, there are stories that talk loud, but in a sublime level about caste, economic class disparity, haves and have not's, death and after death consequences, political scenarios and its effects. The stories range from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. But, what stands highlight is that every story as an undercurrent emotion along with a moral that which if, gets inducted into one's mind, a person will be ready to fight any kind of unusual happening in the world.
There is humour, sadness, reality checks and darkness in the stories. The cover image of the book in black and white shows the good and the bad, happy and the sad etc., analogies that reflect in one's life. The author has also touched the subjects like poverty, abuse, discrimination and arrogance. Every story also warns the reader the need for preparedness when a mishap of any type happens.
What to expect from the book?
This book is a collection of ten short tales. The title of the book - Essential Items And Other Tales from a Land in Lockdown clearly states that the stories are inspired from ten vastly different walks of life and their experiences in India, all tied together by the common theme called lockdown.
A reader, while reading the ten short stories in this book, seems like taking a long walk through an Indian city, especially during the lockdown. Every lane passed, every corner, every building, every high-rise and every slum area has a story in the book. Here, the author seems to have taken that kind of walk himself while penning these stories.
With vivid descriptions and realistic storytelling skills, he manages to get into the shoes of various demographic only to paint a picture from a day in their lives that has changed so drastically in this pandemic. The best part is he also takes the readers' holding their hands along with him making them taste a surreal experience.
Who can read?
The ten stories in the book are written in a very comfortable language that can be read by readers of any age group. There are no elements in the stories which seem to be unsuitable to old people or children. Every reader who has been aware of the problems related to the current pandemic situation can read the book.
My take on the characters
The book has ten short stories, and every story has a central character and supporting characters. The story though runs around the central character, one of the supporting character either brings a twist or becomes an important lap in the story. For example, in the story - Holidays, towards the end of the story, the old woman, Ajji, brings a new light in Achala's mind. Here, Ajji's character is introduced just before the story ends.
This kind of portrayal has given a new direction to the book. Every character, including the main and others, are given sufficient strength, scope and attitude.
How good is the author's writing style?
With good and accessible language, the author Udayan has presented his readers with nice stories that are very relatable to the present situations. The author has touched various subjects and taboos. It is very unlikely that a book with short stories though belongs to different themes and falls under different categories, also happens to be a strict eye-opener.
How entertaining is the book?
The stories in the book are written keeping in mind the current COVID situation, the lockdown and the problems faced by the common public since the lockdown was set. Each of the ten stories explains the real-life situations that every walk of life has faced and is still facing. With a great uncertainty of how to deal with the pandemic, there are many lives that are shattered and the author has captured the exact situation very vividly and presented in the stories.
With an accessible language and understandable vocabulary, the book is written that suits the reader of any age who understands what the world is now going through. And yes, definitely the book is quite entertaining in terms of the storytelling.
Final Verdict
Touching, Thought-provoking & Intriguing realistic tales.
Rating:
4/5
Author: Udayan Mukherjee
Format: Kindle
My Thoughts:
This year has been tough for everyone in the world. Each and every soul, be it human or any other living being is facing troubles. The pandemic has affected the world and its people in many ways. The lockdown months have devastated many lives. People have been experiencing frustration, anger and anxiety.
A person of every age group has been falling prey for these conditions apart from the fear of getting infected by the virus. This mere fear has also drawn the relationships between people adrift and created a void. No community gatherings have shown people how to spend in precarious times.
In the book, there are stories that talk loud, but in a sublime level about caste, economic class disparity, haves and have not's, death and after death consequences, political scenarios and its effects. The stories range from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. But, what stands highlight is that every story as an undercurrent emotion along with a moral that which if, gets inducted into one's mind, a person will be ready to fight any kind of unusual happening in the world.
There is humour, sadness, reality checks and darkness in the stories. The cover image of the book in black and white shows the good and the bad, happy and the sad etc., analogies that reflect in one's life. The author has also touched the subjects like poverty, abuse, discrimination and arrogance. Every story also warns the reader the need for preparedness when a mishap of any type happens.
What to expect from the book?
This book is a collection of ten short tales. The title of the book - Essential Items And Other Tales from a Land in Lockdown clearly states that the stories are inspired from ten vastly different walks of life and their experiences in India, all tied together by the common theme called lockdown.
A reader, while reading the ten short stories in this book, seems like taking a long walk through an Indian city, especially during the lockdown. Every lane passed, every corner, every building, every high-rise and every slum area has a story in the book. Here, the author seems to have taken that kind of walk himself while penning these stories.
With vivid descriptions and realistic storytelling skills, he manages to get into the shoes of various demographic only to paint a picture from a day in their lives that has changed so drastically in this pandemic. The best part is he also takes the readers' holding their hands along with him making them taste a surreal experience.
Who can read?
The ten stories in the book are written in a very comfortable language that can be read by readers of any age group. There are no elements in the stories which seem to be unsuitable to old people or children. Every reader who has been aware of the problems related to the current pandemic situation can read the book.
My take on the characters
The book has ten short stories, and every story has a central character and supporting characters. The story though runs around the central character, one of the supporting character either brings a twist or becomes an important lap in the story. For example, in the story - Holidays, towards the end of the story, the old woman, Ajji, brings a new light in Achala's mind. Here, Ajji's character is introduced just before the story ends.
This kind of portrayal has given a new direction to the book. Every character, including the main and others, are given sufficient strength, scope and attitude.
How good is the author's writing style?
With good and accessible language, the author Udayan has presented his readers with nice stories that are very relatable to the present situations. The author has touched various subjects and taboos. It is very unlikely that a book with short stories though belongs to different themes and falls under different categories, also happens to be a strict eye-opener.
How entertaining is the book?
The stories in the book are written keeping in mind the current COVID situation, the lockdown and the problems faced by the common public since the lockdown was set. Each of the ten stories explains the real-life situations that every walk of life has faced and is still facing. With a great uncertainty of how to deal with the pandemic, there are many lives that are shattered and the author has captured the exact situation very vividly and presented in the stories.
With an accessible language and understandable vocabulary, the book is written that suits the reader of any age who understands what the world is now going through. And yes, definitely the book is quite entertaining in terms of the storytelling.
Final Verdict
Touching, Thought-provoking & Intriguing realistic tales.
Rating:
4/5
November 7, 2020
4.25 stars!
COVID-19 has been a massive pain in the backside, a source of heartbreak and grief, a source of helplessness and sorrow for the world. But though the world did come to a standstill for a long time, things are slowly getting back on track to a point where we look back on to the times of lockdown as one to learn something from. To be careful. To be respectful. To be helpful. To be considerate. To know where our privileges lie.
Udayan Mukherjee, in his collection of stories, 'Essential Items' tells some tales that we would probably not pay attention to if we were in any other situation. He talks about the elderly, about migrant workers, about children being affected by it all, about children being kinder through it all, about helping each other, about looking out for ourselves, and so much more! He has packed so much into this easy-to-read, short book that will make you think and reflect and ask yourself, "Is there anything I can do?" or "Could I have done anything to make at least one person's life better?"
'Essential Items' warms your heart and gives you hope while drilling into you the importance of staying safe and taking precautions in these testing times. Being positive in outlook while staying safe is the need of the hour and this collection exemplifies that in hordes.
Loved reading this and loved the warmth that it spread through me. It put a genuine smile on my face. <3
Thank you a ton, Bloomsbury India, for the copy! :)
COVID-19 has been a massive pain in the backside, a source of heartbreak and grief, a source of helplessness and sorrow for the world. But though the world did come to a standstill for a long time, things are slowly getting back on track to a point where we look back on to the times of lockdown as one to learn something from. To be careful. To be respectful. To be helpful. To be considerate. To know where our privileges lie.
Udayan Mukherjee, in his collection of stories, 'Essential Items' tells some tales that we would probably not pay attention to if we were in any other situation. He talks about the elderly, about migrant workers, about children being affected by it all, about children being kinder through it all, about helping each other, about looking out for ourselves, and so much more! He has packed so much into this easy-to-read, short book that will make you think and reflect and ask yourself, "Is there anything I can do?" or "Could I have done anything to make at least one person's life better?"
'Essential Items' warms your heart and gives you hope while drilling into you the importance of staying safe and taking precautions in these testing times. Being positive in outlook while staying safe is the need of the hour and this collection exemplifies that in hordes.
Loved reading this and loved the warmth that it spread through me. It put a genuine smile on my face. <3
Thank you a ton, Bloomsbury India, for the copy! :)
November 3, 2020
Essential Items (and Other Tales from a Land in lockdown) by Udayan Mukherjee is the most unique collection of short stories I have read this year.
Before starting this book, I was mentally prepared for gloomy stories of mourning, loss of human touch and much more heart-wrenching tales which we have read in news due to COVID-19.
But Mukherjee's soft tonal writing make this collection unique in itself. From the first story narrating the plight of two morticians, because no proper burials weren't, and aren't, happening during this pandemic and they being penniless, to a wanderer stuck in hills and bonding with the local culture and people in those paused months, to a friend recalling his childhood friend who flew abroad and never returned.
The author has looked into the minute details of life, his collection is partly focused on the larger picture of COVID times complementing it with invisible details of it.
I am astounded as to how he writes poignantly about multiple perspectives, from a migrant worker to Upper-Class affluent people.
As Benyamin has said this book a classic of 'epidemic literature', I will surely reread it after ages, once this pandemic subsides.
Before starting this book, I was mentally prepared for gloomy stories of mourning, loss of human touch and much more heart-wrenching tales which we have read in news due to COVID-19.
But Mukherjee's soft tonal writing make this collection unique in itself. From the first story narrating the plight of two morticians, because no proper burials weren't, and aren't, happening during this pandemic and they being penniless, to a wanderer stuck in hills and bonding with the local culture and people in those paused months, to a friend recalling his childhood friend who flew abroad and never returned.
The author has looked into the minute details of life, his collection is partly focused on the larger picture of COVID times complementing it with invisible details of it.
I am astounded as to how he writes poignantly about multiple perspectives, from a migrant worker to Upper-Class affluent people.
As Benyamin has said this book a classic of 'epidemic literature', I will surely reread it after ages, once this pandemic subsides.
February 18, 2023
What a delightful read this was!
In "Essential Items", Udayan Mukherjee brings to us a collection of short stories based in the nationwide lockdown of 2020. Each story brings us diverse characters from different socio-economic backgrounds, different perspectives, with each facing unique challenges in the lockdown. Udayan approaches these stories from different angles, all with the COVID-19 lockdown as its background. Absolutely loved this collection of short stories which were so grounded, topical, and quite realistic though fictional.
In "Essential Items", Udayan Mukherjee brings to us a collection of short stories based in the nationwide lockdown of 2020. Each story brings us diverse characters from different socio-economic backgrounds, different perspectives, with each facing unique challenges in the lockdown. Udayan approaches these stories from different angles, all with the COVID-19 lockdown as its background. Absolutely loved this collection of short stories which were so grounded, topical, and quite realistic though fictional.
November 3, 2020
A collection of short stories around the coronavirus epidemic, ‘Essential Items and Other Tales from a Land in Lockdown,’ by Udayan Mukherjee is a call to comprehend the importance of people and assistance around you.
In this book journalist and author, Udayan Mukherjee narrated How Covid-19 Lockdown has changed livelihood in remote areas and the lives of those who are leading their lives in informal sectors. The author also assessed human traits such as resilience, morality and endurance in very subtle and minimalistic prose. Stories are murky, witty and uncover noes of the societal hierarchy. From the story of a British climber abandoned in Munsiyari during the unexpected lockdown to the story of a middle-aged man stuck at home with his ageing mother and wife while having an affair. Two funeral workers at a Benaras ghat try to work their way out of the dwindling business of cremations. A domestic worker, sent on paid leave, grapples with the shifting landscape for people on the margins of an urban metropolis. Hundreds of returning migrant workers turn up unannounced at the gates of an erstwhile Rajbari
in Kolkata in the wake of a devastating cyclone. The title story is so remarkable and impactful. All stories are worth reading. It's a glorious collection.
Bestselling author Udayan Mukherjee weaves a colourful tapestry of lives under lockdown and examines what happens when people are forced to confront their mortality.
In this book journalist and author, Udayan Mukherjee narrated How Covid-19 Lockdown has changed livelihood in remote areas and the lives of those who are leading their lives in informal sectors. The author also assessed human traits such as resilience, morality and endurance in very subtle and minimalistic prose. Stories are murky, witty and uncover noes of the societal hierarchy. From the story of a British climber abandoned in Munsiyari during the unexpected lockdown to the story of a middle-aged man stuck at home with his ageing mother and wife while having an affair. Two funeral workers at a Benaras ghat try to work their way out of the dwindling business of cremations. A domestic worker, sent on paid leave, grapples with the shifting landscape for people on the margins of an urban metropolis. Hundreds of returning migrant workers turn up unannounced at the gates of an erstwhile Rajbari
in Kolkata in the wake of a devastating cyclone. The title story is so remarkable and impactful. All stories are worth reading. It's a glorious collection.
Bestselling author Udayan Mukherjee weaves a colourful tapestry of lives under lockdown and examines what happens when people are forced to confront their mortality.
November 12, 2020
2020 is full of blues .TBH, I cannot find any better word to describe this year. Unthinkable and unavoidable situations we all are still facing . But the thing is , I don't want to talk about this time ever. Like in future I'm not going to have a chat on this "Life in pandemic" topic . I'd rather recommend people to read "Essential items" by Udayan Mukherjee.
No matter how much we try to collect things that pleased our eyes ,but at the the end of the essential items only stick to us ,as if a part of our organ though these items varies. Man to man. Gender to gender.
"Essential Items " by Udayan Mukherjee is a collection of short stories that gives us a glimpse of life in pandemic mostly from every perspective. This change was (is ?) not same from everyone. People lost lives but those who survives have to deal with all. Loosing of jobs to coping up with mental health .
The best thing about these book is , it is not only beautifully written but the way Udayan has sketched his characters. I cannot say I feel connected but the thing is I was surprised I never have known people around me that well !
Don't over think. Add it to your TBR. You aren't gonna regret .
No matter how much we try to collect things that pleased our eyes ,but at the the end of the essential items only stick to us ,as if a part of our organ though these items varies. Man to man. Gender to gender.
"Essential Items " by Udayan Mukherjee is a collection of short stories that gives us a glimpse of life in pandemic mostly from every perspective. This change was (is ?) not same from everyone. People lost lives but those who survives have to deal with all. Loosing of jobs to coping up with mental health .
The best thing about these book is , it is not only beautifully written but the way Udayan has sketched his characters. I cannot say I feel connected but the thing is I was surprised I never have known people around me that well !
Don't over think. Add it to your TBR. You aren't gonna regret .
October 26, 2020
The book is a collation of short stories of people stuck and affected by the Covid induced lockdown on india. The stories concern various segments of Indian populace: touching, poignant and lingering. The concerns and struggles of various sectors of society is well captured.
Very poignant every story reaches out, speaking to us and letting us know, making us realise what each of the sectors of society have gone through.
Udayan Mukherjee the calm and sauve voice and face of financial markets reporting... surprised to read his writing. Clean, balanced and conscientious the stories....err the reality would remain with me!
Very poignant every story reaches out, speaking to us and letting us know, making us realise what each of the sectors of society have gone through.
Udayan Mukherjee the calm and sauve voice and face of financial markets reporting... surprised to read his writing. Clean, balanced and conscientious the stories....err the reality would remain with me!
February 25, 2021
Hard-hitting short stories from the covid lockdown era.
May 17, 2023
Absolutely amazing 😍
May 25, 2024
a brief yet fun read. explores lives of the different socio-economic classes in the society during the pandemic
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