चमनलाल की डायरी: Chamanlal ki diary

by Praveen Kumar Jha

चमनलाल जी का सफर यूँ तो हास्य-व्यंग्य की शैली में ढला है, परंतु इनकी २० कथायें देश के भिन्न-भिन्न जीवंत मुद्दों पर आधारित है. समलैंगिकता, आरक्षण, नारी सशक्तिकरण जैसे मुद्दों पर आधारित व्यंग्य से कुछ रोजमर्रा जीवन की समस्याओं पर चुटीले व्यंग्य. कुछ बाड़मेड़, कुछ खंडवा, कुछ बिहार, कुछ दक्खिन, कुछ दिल्ली, कुछ बिदेस. मिला-जुला के एक मजेदार 'फन-राइड' है चमनलाल की डायरी.

107 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 5, 2018

Reviews

[Gorab · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up.
Thank you Mr.Vamagandhi for sending me a paperback in exchange for an honest review.

These are 20 blog entries published as a book.
Each incidence looks like a recollection of author's own life penned down in a comical and satirical tone. It touches down into problematic areas in Indian society, sugarcoated with humor!
While some of the incidences did feel tasteless and dry, it had its share of some very good ones too :
Atmahatya mein PHD
Mayuri dot com
Facebook
Mango Raja (best of the lot. brilliant satire!)

Honestly, it would be an injustice to rate this as a book.
Rating it as a diary which is what it is of Mr. Chamanlal :)
The cover art and illustrations are also catchy.
Quick easy fun read.

[Prateek Jha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author's debut book is a pleasant read and should interest a wide audience. Stories do not appear to be work of fiction, rather based on his personal experiences and struggles in life. The 'diary' theme allows the author to present many of his religious and political views, but they are often described with a neutral, sometimes humorous tone, which should not bother those who do not subscribe to such views. While the book is most suited for a leisure reading, you may end up being enlightened by the hidden message in some of the stories, only when they are read between the lines. The language used in the book is simple Hindi with generous use of Urdu words; Premchand fans will find the language familiar. In fact, if Premchand would have been alive, he may have also written stories of similar kind. My only major complaint with the book is some digressions and detours within the stories go far too long and the main plot or message is not often clear. Also, stories often end abruptly, without giving much breathing space to all the characters. However, such things are expected of a new writer-on-the-block. May be it is beginning of a new style of Hindi writing, the stereotypes need to give way.

This book needs to be read twice, once for the humor, once (more carefully) to get the hidden messages. Chamanlal's diary is as mischievous as the name 'Chamanlal'!

[Mousumi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is simply awesome. I couldn't control laughing and reading it aloud to have a more dramatic effect. The choice of words and the way every chapter is narrated and then weaved in the book, it simply makes the book a light a fun read.
Although I haven't finished the book but so far its too good.
The satiric way in which every topic is touched upon is really good and giving a funny face to some serious matters makes the book all the more likeable.
This book is a must read for everyone wanting some quirky lines in Hindi and LOL moments.

[Abhijeet Ranjan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a giveaway. So first of all big thanks .
I don't remember thee last time I read a hindi novel/ book. So I was excited to get my hand on this book. I was very happy when I finished the book as the stories in the diary was delight to read.

I loved how author used very simple language and sarcasm to make his point. I would suggest to go for this book and yes I am looking forward for some more from Praveen.

[Hema Dadi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the whole story. This one is different
from other stories. This story will also make you feel emotions and sadness at sometimes.

After watching a good movie, we all remember it for a long time, so as this story will be remembered in my mind..
A different unique book☺☺
All the best to author for upcoming novels

[Ved Prakash · Rating 4 out of 5]

लेखक ने इस पुस्तक की विधा के लिए एक शब्द यूजा है --खिलंदड़ साहित्य। सच में इसी विधा की मस्त पुस्तक है ये। हँसी-हँसी में ही इसने व्यंग्य के सटीक बाण चलाये हैं।

कहानियों के लिए जो विषय चुने गए हैं, उनमें विविधता है। यूँ तो इन सब विषयों से हमसब कमोबेश परिचित हैं, लेकिन लेखक ने एंटरटेनिंग ढंग से एक गप में उलझाये रखकर कहानियों को ऐसा मोड़ दिया कि चुभते तीर आपको अनायास ही उड़ते दिखाई पड़ेंगे। विषयों की बात करें तो उन्होंने जिन विषयों को चुना है, वे हैं -- महंगे स्कूलों के ताम-झाम और महानगरीय जीवन की पाट में पिसता इंसान, NRI बनने के लिए सर के बल चलता इंसान, महानगरों के शीशमहल जैसे हॉस्पिटल्स के लिए कस्टमर फंसाने का फलता-फूलता बिज़नस, राजनीति का दंगल सोशल मीडिया पर शिफ्ट होने की वजह से टूटती दोस्तियां, मानसिक संकीर्णता की वजह से टूटता प्रेम, कैरियर और पैशन के टकराव में दरकता इंसान, समलैंगिकता पर समाज का नजरिया, छात्र राजनीति को मोहरा बनाते घाघ लोग, वाद (-isms) की राजनीति के पीछे का चेहरा, मठों का फूलता बिज़नस, पर्यावरण के लिए जुनून आदि।

इनकी पुस्तक "भूतों के देश में" पढ़कर जो निराशा हुई थी उसकी भरपाई इस पुस्तक से हो गई।

मनोरंजन के लिए एक-दो कहानियाँ एक बार में पढ़ के इस पुस्तक का लुत्फ़ उठाया जा सकता है। मैंने किंडल अनलिमिटेड के फ्री ट्रायल का लाभ उठाते हुए इनकी दो पुस्तकें -- एक ये और दूसरी -- मैहर : संगीत कथा पढ़ ली।

[Sagar Shirodkar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks for the Author for giving this book.

One is sure to find oneself in either of the stories written by the author. Some of them were really nice some where just average. The author seems to have good potential .

Keep writing :)

[Prabhash Anand · Rating 5 out of 5]

अद्भूत

डॉ प्रवीण झा से जुड़ना बड़ा आनन्ददायक है। व्यंग्यात्मक लेख से समाज के कई पहलुओं पर जबरदस्त रोशनी इस पुस्तक ने डाली है।