CHANDAUSI JUNCTION

by Shankar Sahay, Preeti Sahay, Arushi Prakash (Illustrator)

A collection of short-stories set in the 20th Century India for the 21st Century kids & a nostalgic walk, for their parents & grandparents.

“Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration,”-Thomas A. Edison.
-Here’s a collection of short stories to inspire the readers.

Although this book has been named after the city of Chandausi, it contains stories from various places like Rishikesh, Agra, Champaran, Tilhar, Sambhal, Kanpur, Banaras, Lucknow and many others. These are the short stories of a bygone era-a period when India had either not gained independence or had been independent for not more than 35 years. These are the tales of journeys-taken up from the early 20th century to the end of a millennium, from Shahjahanpur to Delhi, from Bijnor to Hyderabad, from Hathras to Sweden & Norway, from Lakshmi Talkies, Allahabad to Night Watchman, Bangalore, from Panki to USA, from Dehradun to Canada, from Chandausi to Australia and many others. We are sure in all these stories, you will be able to find at least one character, which reminds you of your own self-of what you are, were or always wanted to be. Let us know the character with whom you have been able to relate to the most.
Happy reading.

157 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2021

About the author

Shankar Sahay has over 30 years of experience with Education, Training & the Corporate world. He has been associated with renowned organizations and institutes as Career Counsellor and Mentor and addressed the students & faculty members on various topics like Career Counselling, Stress Management, Negotiation Skills, Time Management, Presentation Skills, Retailing etc. He has conducted training programmes for employees of well-known PSUs/ Private Companies and has international exposure of visiting countries like USA, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Malaysia and Singapore. He has organized and moderated Academic & Industry sessions at Round Table Conferences/ Seminars, as well as conducted Webinars. It’s his love for story-telling and writing which has tempted him to write several articles, co-author a book and present one of his papers at IIT, Delhi. He is also a script-writer, poet, lyricist and composer. He believes in living as many lives as one can in a single life, by wearing different hats.

Reviews

[Cro · Rating 5 out of 5]

A peek into the yesteryears of India and how people used to live and spend their lives prior to the arrival of TV, Cars. ACs et al. Beautifully written and articulated. A good bed-time story for people of all ages

[Muskan Gupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Book holds a collection of beautiful short stories. The stories are a combination of the glimpse of today & tomorrow, some with a lesson within them. Most of the stories are based on from the past times down our memory lane to the experiences.
The simplicity of life before the time of Mobiles and internet. Those afternoons and vacations where we ran around the house with mothers running behind lazily. The feeling of tours to the other corner of city like travelling a country. And what not…That was so nostalgic.
The author has done a incredible job in capturing those days into a collection of such a warming read.
There are a lot of different stories from a long period of time which also tells us about the political and economic situations as well as cultures of that time. It’s really very interesting to read some things which are not so much widely known in the world around us.
This gives us a glimpse of where we are coming from and what our past generations has been through to move ahead with whatever they have and everything. There are moments which we usually ignore at times in our lives but which matters a lot.
The language of the book is lucid and it is easy to understand. Whereas, the stories in are simple and good for everyone. They are light as well as something that will stay in your heart. Though I didn’t find the title that relevant but the cover makes proper sense when you read it just like taking the journey of era.
The use of local words with their translation and pictures makes it easy to get familiar and related to the points in story, while also connecting the ones to it who has been a part.
The Book is a really great and light read. It’s like a companion which connects us to our roots and will accompany us to our old golden times. All of which while conveying some wonderful messages to our coming generations in the much needed lighter form.
I liked reading the book.

[Sonalli Korrde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chandausi junction is a book that has taken me down the Memory Lane with bittersweet memories popping up with a little word here or a familiar context there.
The stories are about some familiar situations, places, same kind of people and moments. While reading the book, the era lights up and is like a movie that plays in front of one's eyes. It becomes life-size and alive.
It is a very engaging book and some stories are a repeat read.
For me the stories that caught my attention more were connected with certain words.... and places.
Chapter 10 LOO - was one that caught my eye. The situation mentioned was very familiar to mine in my childhood... The notorious LOO.
What all the story suggests... To pass the time indoors or to reduce the effects of loo were executed by my friends and I in a mirrored manner.
Another story that caught me was chapter 24-SUPNEY. the conversationbetween Sujata and Vibha strikes a chord. When Vibha says that they do not cut corners for their kid's education. In today's time it is a disappearing value. Respect for the teaching community has been highlighted. This leaves me with new strength in my resolve to continue as an educator.

Another favourite is Chapter 17 - NAAMKARAN.
This is etched in MEERUT, my hometown and the year is 1970, my birth year. It was a very sweet story and stands to disprove the proverb... ' What's in a name. '

Chapter six, GAYATRI..
this story brought tears to my eyes. Recently my daughter adopted a stray cat, orphaned on someone's terrace. That cat, is now... Our life, just like GAYATRI became a member of their family. In every living creature we save, we save a piece of the creator.

This book is a reminder of an era gone but it brings back fragments of that era and makes us stand face to face with similar situations in our world.
Kudos to Shankar ji and Preeti for bringing back my childhood and giving this little treasure to the society.

Sonali Korde.
Friend and Well wisher .

[Akhil Sahay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is very well written, taking me back to the good old days of my childhood. I was able to relate to some of the incidents mentioned in the book. Very inspiring for kids. I wish the authors many more such endeavors.

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good book and very easy to read. It is written in a way that it takes you back in time. It is a collection of stories and it is easy to relate to the incidents in these stories.
V Kumar, United Kingdom.

[AJIT JAGTAP · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book makes us proud when we look back at the journey from our lovable Childhood till the destination we have reached today, very well written, keep up the good work - AJIT JAGTAP (NAIROBI, KENYA)

[Saumya Pradhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and breathtaking stories that ring a bell in everyone’s heart! A timeless book for keepsake..
Saumya, Australia

[Mala Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all congrats to the writer for giving us a stories that connects us to our childhood. Iam enjoying reading them.

[Sanjay Chandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of us have grown up listening to tales narrated by our parents or grandparents. If we were not children, we might have discerned a certain fondness, a certain longing, in their tone while telling these stories. But mostly these made us smile or chuckle or laugh heartily with our elders. These were not just stories for them – they were either anecdotes from their own childhood or stories handed down to them by their elders.

Chandausi Junction is a collection of 25 such fables from the lives of the author couple. These span a timeline from before independence till the mid-eighties. All the stories are narratives from the rural, semi-urban and urban India, across different social strata. The beauty of the stories is that they are timeless. Each reader would have gone through similar incidents from at least one story. I certainly felt a sense of déjà vu while reading some of the tales.

My review would not be complete without a special mention of the excellent cover. I believe, and I hope that I am right, the sepia tone of the picture is original and not photo shopped. This certainly would be an old photograph from the albums of those years.

This anthology would appeal to readers across different age groups.

[Rahul Garg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book to read, relates to old days. A book well written, good for us to relate old childhood days and fantastic for children today to have a view of old years.

Simply AMAZING

[Preeti Sahay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading the stories of an era gone by. The stories are very relatable and give a glimpse into the lives of people, the ethics and morals guiding their lives, their aspirations and the efforts made to fulfill their ambitions.

[Rouble Tuli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chandosi Junction by Shankar Sahay and Preeti Sahay has completely enamored me. The book is a collection of short stories that feel rooted in real experiences, with characters who are incredibly relatable—people you almost know, how they think, what their priorities are, and how they are shaping their lives. There’s a sentient quality to the writing that makes you feel as if you’re stepping into their shoes, immersing yourself in their environment. The chapters have an atmospheric charm, written in a tone that reminds me of conversations with elders who grew up during the 60s to 80s—reflecting their dreams, priorities, and bright hopes for an unknown future. The simplicity in the book is austere yet captivating, and every story feels like peeking into a neighborhood, observing life through the windows of its homes. It’s the perfect companion for a train or bus ride; in fact, I’m planning to take it with me on a five-hour trip to Chandigarh, and I know it will make the journey even more enjoyable. This is a beautiful work with a simple, original voice that deserves to be celebrated.

[Nima Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chandausi junction is a collection of allsorts. Very easy reading, some stories brought fond memories to mind, others a smile at human nature . I enjoyed the whole book however, two of my favourites were Paaye Laagoo and ek do teen .. sau. Paaye Laagoo carries a valuable lessons about morals and ek do teen reveals to us that people from large metros too find village life magical. The only down side? I’ve reached the end of the book

[Sonila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book comes with a fresh air for all generations but more particularly the gen-X. It clearly reveals, that we have come a long way as far as socio-economic development of our country is concerned. We have reason to feel proud of our achievements. It brings back nostalgic memories of our childhood.

[Lalit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very compelling short stories. This book is a pleasure to read and is one on the top of my read list. I highly recommend this book for anybody who wants to read stories that will change your outlook.