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Mediocre But Arrogant: A Story about Love and Life in a Business School
A quirky read about a confused MBA waylaid by love and lifeThree years of college, and Abbey has no answer to the question ‘what next?’. Luckily for him, fate, that chancy thing, lands him in an MBA course at a topnotch B-School, the Management Institute of Jamshedpur. At MIJ, Abbey finds his life turned upside down – what with professors like Haathi and Chatto, friends like Rascal Rusty and Pappu, and gorgeous girls like Ayesha and Keya. Will the two years at MIJ bag Abbey a job? Will this be where he finds love?Mediocre But Arrogant is the story of being young in India. It is about the roller coaster that is hostel life, bad grades, chai at the dhaba and, not least, being in love. Read on to know why MBA spells ‘mediocre but arrogant’.‘Loaded with humour and narrated at a cracking pace’— The Week‘The authenticity of the dialogues, friends, incidents, phattas, attitudes are the book’s heart’— Deccan Herald
- GenresFictionIndian Literature
264 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
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169 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 26, 2020
Made me relive my first year at IIM Indore. Looking forward to more MBA experiences in the second year.
September 24, 2021
I was hoping for a little insight into another culture, but was left with the impression that superficiality, laziness, and inanity were the primary characteristics of nearly every character in the book. Perhaps that was the point the author was trying to make? The best parts of the book (for me) were the occasional doodles illustrating it.
Perhaps I simply didn't "get it" because I'm not of the culture. That's certainly possible.
Perhaps I simply didn't "get it" because I'm not of the culture. That's certainly possible.
April 24, 2019
Based on author's experience in XLRI Jamshedpur. Makes you nostalgic of days spend in XL.
February 3, 2022
Very mediocre, can give this a pass
June 17, 2015
Mediocre But Arrogant – a story of love and life is set against the backdrop of a fictitious business school, MIJ – the coveted Management Institute of Jamshedpur. Abbey – the narrator and protagonist considers studying in MIJ as an act of “serendipity”. This is a story of how the two years of doing an MBA transforms Abbey’s life, perspective and relationships. Will Abbey find the love of his life? In a Darwinian microcosm of the corporate world, MIJ has taught Abbey to hone his survival instincts and shave off jagged edges of his character. Is this what he wants to be? what is the end result?
The book is set in 1980's India which places it a little differently from the numerous campus novels we have seen in recent times in the market. However, realistically speaking difference ends there...Stripped to its bone, it is a collection of same old cliches' of having bad and horrible professor (they are never good!), some quirky fellow students and friends, the parantha wala bhaiiya, dealing with the hectic MBA life and couple of love stories thrown in to complete the picture. Yes, you don't have the internet, the social networking, the mobiles and the madness about placements in the screenplay which eventually provides a respectable way out in making it not just another run-of-the mill novel.
Despite having a predictable plot, the book is engaging because all the characters are flesh and blood and the narrative very rarely digress from the main plot. You do find it unsettling when there is a constant hip hop between past and present in the first 100 odd pages of the book...which to be honest is quite unwarranted since it does not achieve much purpose as the final set piece and increases discontinuity in relating with the characters initially.
Having said that, it is still an entertaining read with light-and-frothy signatures style stamped across every chapter. The dialogues are hip and trendy (in sync with the time-period) and it is a light, cool, easy kind of book which either you have a great appetite for or absolute no interest. Adding to the fun quotient are the various handouts and drawings which are interspersed between the chapters. They are quite hilarious to glance through and portrays the depth with which the author know about his characters.
However, one particular plot point which i find really offensive was the ease with which relationships are taken here for granted. The love tracks between Abbey and the 2 girls in his life - Ayesha and Keya are superficial and remotely settles into anything concrete. Infact, there is a particularly awkward scene on the dance floor when Abbey gets caught between the jealousy of the 2 girls and really don't know how he should get out of the situation.
The portrayal of Keya is even more confusing to me. She is modern (even by the standards of 1980s), is cool with one night stands and don't shy away from being materialistic when it comes to using men for her advantage..which is all fine with me ....but surely some thought process must be gone into why exactly then he feels so strongly about Abbey. I don't have a problem in showing students having low moral values or confused about their sexuality, but somehow it leaves a bad taste. I just wished the central protagonist didn't came out to be so arrogant and cocky. It leaves you with an empty feeling which is a pity because essentially it is his coming-of-age story and ideally it should leave you on a high. Sadly, you don't feel much for him by the end because he don't care for the people in his life.
I am going with 2.5/5 for Abhijit Bhaduri's debut novel. The book is not really rocket science, it is one of the dozens of campus novels we have come across post Five-point-someone era. But it surely cockles the chords of your heart and brings a smile on your face.It is a pleasing tapestry of tender moments and of diverse characters straight out of your own college life, enough to keep you engaged. Don't read it with too many expectations, perhaps you won't be disappointed.
The book is set in 1980's India which places it a little differently from the numerous campus novels we have seen in recent times in the market. However, realistically speaking difference ends there...Stripped to its bone, it is a collection of same old cliches' of having bad and horrible professor (they are never good!), some quirky fellow students and friends, the parantha wala bhaiiya, dealing with the hectic MBA life and couple of love stories thrown in to complete the picture. Yes, you don't have the internet, the social networking, the mobiles and the madness about placements in the screenplay which eventually provides a respectable way out in making it not just another run-of-the mill novel.
Despite having a predictable plot, the book is engaging because all the characters are flesh and blood and the narrative very rarely digress from the main plot. You do find it unsettling when there is a constant hip hop between past and present in the first 100 odd pages of the book...which to be honest is quite unwarranted since it does not achieve much purpose as the final set piece and increases discontinuity in relating with the characters initially.
Having said that, it is still an entertaining read with light-and-frothy signatures style stamped across every chapter. The dialogues are hip and trendy (in sync with the time-period) and it is a light, cool, easy kind of book which either you have a great appetite for or absolute no interest. Adding to the fun quotient are the various handouts and drawings which are interspersed between the chapters. They are quite hilarious to glance through and portrays the depth with which the author know about his characters.
However, one particular plot point which i find really offensive was the ease with which relationships are taken here for granted. The love tracks between Abbey and the 2 girls in his life - Ayesha and Keya are superficial and remotely settles into anything concrete. Infact, there is a particularly awkward scene on the dance floor when Abbey gets caught between the jealousy of the 2 girls and really don't know how he should get out of the situation.
The portrayal of Keya is even more confusing to me. She is modern (even by the standards of 1980s), is cool with one night stands and don't shy away from being materialistic when it comes to using men for her advantage..which is all fine with me ....but surely some thought process must be gone into why exactly then he feels so strongly about Abbey. I don't have a problem in showing students having low moral values or confused about their sexuality, but somehow it leaves a bad taste. I just wished the central protagonist didn't came out to be so arrogant and cocky. It leaves you with an empty feeling which is a pity because essentially it is his coming-of-age story and ideally it should leave you on a high. Sadly, you don't feel much for him by the end because he don't care for the people in his life.
I am going with 2.5/5 for Abhijit Bhaduri's debut novel. The book is not really rocket science, it is one of the dozens of campus novels we have come across post Five-point-someone era. But it surely cockles the chords of your heart and brings a smile on your face.It is a pleasing tapestry of tender moments and of diverse characters straight out of your own college life, enough to keep you engaged. Don't read it with too many expectations, perhaps you won't be disappointed.
June 19, 2011
http://iandbooks.wordpress.com/
There are now so many new age authors in India and many seem to be the ones who have done MBA from some prestigious institute. Maybe, it was Chetan Bhagat who started this trend but no one else has got the same success. Abhijit Bhaduri is also one of those authors who did his MBA and “Mediocre but Arrogant” was his first book. I had not heard about the book before and just picked it up while browsing in the book store. I was intrigued by the title. He has kept the title such that acronym will be MBA. In fact, he did the same for his next book as well but that story some other time.
The book is an average story about life in the institute. The whole idea of staying in hostel and making great friends at this stage of life itself is worth a story for everybody who has gone through this phase of life. On top of it there are idiosyncracies of various teachers, pressure of studies and combination of freedom away from home creates some of the unique experiences in life. Then there is masala about girl friends, open relationships and you have an interesting book to time pass.
One thing that I remember about the book is the incident about quintessential Canteen owner (Almost all institutes have one whom everybody remembers) who is friend, philosopher and guide to all the students besides meeting their requirement of food and long credit lines. This canteen owner has a very unique way of identifying which companies pay better. If a student gets a job in a company and comes back to pay his dues then that company is good and pays well but if the student does not come back to pay the dues then the company where he joined must not be paying enough salary. The simple logic of a canteen owner surprises and amazes you. He believes his students all the time and gives them benefit of doubt even if they do not pay his dues.
There are now so many new age authors in India and many seem to be the ones who have done MBA from some prestigious institute. Maybe, it was Chetan Bhagat who started this trend but no one else has got the same success. Abhijit Bhaduri is also one of those authors who did his MBA and “Mediocre but Arrogant” was his first book. I had not heard about the book before and just picked it up while browsing in the book store. I was intrigued by the title. He has kept the title such that acronym will be MBA. In fact, he did the same for his next book as well but that story some other time.
The book is an average story about life in the institute. The whole idea of staying in hostel and making great friends at this stage of life itself is worth a story for everybody who has gone through this phase of life. On top of it there are idiosyncracies of various teachers, pressure of studies and combination of freedom away from home creates some of the unique experiences in life. Then there is masala about girl friends, open relationships and you have an interesting book to time pass.
One thing that I remember about the book is the incident about quintessential Canteen owner (Almost all institutes have one whom everybody remembers) who is friend, philosopher and guide to all the students besides meeting their requirement of food and long credit lines. This canteen owner has a very unique way of identifying which companies pay better. If a student gets a job in a company and comes back to pay his dues then that company is good and pays well but if the student does not come back to pay the dues then the company where he joined must not be paying enough salary. The simple logic of a canteen owner surprises and amazes you. He believes his students all the time and gives them benefit of doubt even if they do not pay his dues.
January 7, 2016
This is Abhijit Bhaduri’s debut novel. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Light breezy reading and a humorous and nostalgic take presumably on his life in XLRI. A bit in the Chetan Bhagat style. Since experiences in most B Schools is the same, if you want a bit of nostalgia, read this book - no matter which B School you studied...a few chuckles, a few laughs.....and a lot on the pointless lectures we attended and other inanities that make up the 2 years at a B School as part of the preparation for a career into the Corporate world.
On another note, wonder how these guys who have full time hectic jobs manage to write books. I was writing a column for Outlook Money and gave up after a year since the pressure to dish out 700 words every month became nerve wracking.
On another note, wonder how these guys who have full time hectic jobs manage to write books. I was writing a column for Outlook Money and gave up after a year since the pressure to dish out 700 words every month became nerve wracking.
September 29, 2009
I felt that the book was witty in parts and it provided some insights into the life of a person on campus. However, felt that the narration of the book was indeed arrogant. There were many chapters from the book which did not appeal to me. They were so devoid of feelings. Felt that many chapters in the book were written very clinically. Read the book fully but got bored while reading few last chapters. Having said that there was a feeling that the person was growing from each experience that he got on campus. I found that interesting. Would like to connect with Abhijit Bhaduri since I share his profession of Human Resources.
May 10, 2014
I didn't really expect much apart from maybe indulging in some nostalgia, from this book about the times in college, a b-school rather. But it managed to beat the low expectations too. The narrative was not easy to read, looking like a rather hastily written diary entry rather than a book. It would have probably been a bit more engaging if the non-protagonist characters (especially the female ones) had been sketched out a little better. I would presume if you didn't go to college in the 80s, or you didn't go to a college in Jamshedpur, you might find it a little hard to like the book.
May 2, 2012
The author has a flair for wordplay and it reflects in his writing and the humor makes the book interesting. Given the theme of the book, I personally was able to relate with the events and characters in the book. The book is a decent read overall but not an Indian answer to 'Snapshots from hell' as one of the testimonials on the back cover would suggest. Detailed review to follow
January 24, 2013
Kind of a cross between fiction and non fiction. While evidently drawn from the author's experiences as a MBA student, the disclaimer mentions its a fictional account and not an autobiographical sketch. It humanises MBA students to a great extent and portrays them as smart as opposed to brilliant folks. A nice one time read in my opinion
September 14, 2013
Beautiful. Two quotes from the book I will always remember
1. Early to bed early to rise, your wife goes out with other guys!
2. It is enough that I matter today. Tomorrow does not exist. And neither do I - Priya.
The final lap of novel is handsomely riveting. Incredible Da!!
1. Early to bed early to rise, your wife goes out with other guys!
2. It is enough that I matter today. Tomorrow does not exist. And neither do I - Priya.
The final lap of novel is handsomely riveting. Incredible Da!!
November 2, 2015
Dont waste your time over it. Just a below average attempt at jumping the 'cool college dudes who could write' overcrowded bus. Hope the writer got the message to write better if he must absolutely write, that is.
Read
May 30, 2011Light, cool and easy kind of book talking about a hectic MBA life filled with cliches of bad professors, quirky fellow students and friends and love stories during this period
October 2, 2011
Nice, campus life story. Why heroes all such books have to end up in bed with the most beautiful girl on the campus? Hidden desires?
April 23, 2012
Chetan Bhagat's 5 point some one characters behaving like they were in Sidin's Dork.
October 4, 2013
Below the belt for the titled people in the corporate world.
December 7, 2014
IMHO, it's a me-too kind of book talking about college experiences. Language is simple and equally un-interesting. The book fails to keep the reader glued.
May 16, 2010
never really lived up the expectations....all the hype and the hoopla didn't help its cause.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews