PATNA BLUES [Hardcover] Abdullah Khan

by Abdullah Khan

Arif is the son of a sub-inspector in Patna. His once prosperous landowning family has slipped low down the class ladder. Arif ’s sole ambition in life is to crack the civil service examination and become an IAS officer. He believes this will restore the family’s fortunes and works hard at his studies.

Until his first glimpse of Sumitra, a voluptuous long-haired beauty. Married, Hindu and several years older than him, she is wrong for him in every way. It is the beginning of an infatuation that will consume his life.

‘Abdullah Khan manages to bring together a heartfelt simplicity in his prose style with delicate personal and cultural observation and humour. His writing is lit with a love for the world.’ – Amit Chaudhuri



‘Reading Patna Blues is like pedalling your way through a little known India. It is certain to fill you with inexplicably candid and absolutely stunning tales. Patna Blues marks an impressive debut and brings us an important voice.’
—Anees Salim

Genres: Fiction, Novels, India

296 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2022

About the author

Abdullah Khan is a Mumbai based novelist, screenwriter, and banker. His debut novel 'Patna Blues' has been published by Juggernaut Books. 'Patna Blues' is being translated into many languages including Arabic, Persian, Hindi, Urdu, Odia, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Marath, and Bangali. Some of his writings have been published in The Hindu, Friday Times, Wasafiri, Scroll, Outlook, Brooklyn Rail and The Daily Star

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdulla...

Reviews

[Madhulika Liddle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starting in 1991 and stretching across the next decade, Patna Blues begins with its young protagonist, Arif, coming to the aid of an ill old gentleman whom he sees in a park, being helped along by a beautiful woman whom Arif is instantly attracted to. Soon enough, the gratitude that Sumitra feels for the young man who took her father to the hospital and helped them has turned to a reciprocation of Arif’s feelings. The problems, though, are many. One is the obvious: Arif is Muslim, Sumitra is Hindu. She is much older than him. And, worst of all—the one thing that keeps pricking Arif’s conscience, even as he draws dangerously closer to Sumitra—she is married, a wife and a mother.

Woven in with Arif’s own dilemma are the many problems that beset his family. The poverty that will cause problems in the weddings of his three sisters, for whom hefty dowries will need to be provided. Arif’s younger brother Zakir’s ambition to be a film star, and the embarrassing failures that come in the way. Arif’s own inability to get into the IAS, which has been his dream, and his parents’, for so long. Hindu-Muslim tensions. The Babri Masjid. Corruption.

All of this plays out largely against a backdrop of Patna, but also ventures briefly (and memorably) into the countryside. There is drama, there is folk lore and myth. There are the romantic dreams of a youth with his head in the clouds. There is harsh reality, the waking up to something that is not utopian.

I found Patna Blues an unusual and interesting book: on the one hand (primarily concerning the Arif-Sumitra love affair, and Arif’s repeatedly failed attempts to crack the UPSC exam) it has a touch of the fairly common tropes that pervade a lot of mass-market fiction today. On the other hand, there is a lot here that is a far cry from the rest: serious issues, some very enlightening insights into what it is to be a lower middle class Muslim in India today (or twenty years ago; does it make a difference?), and a very believable setting. The stories that Dadi tells Arif, and the folk lore that abounds in the rural countryside, were charming—and evoked nostalgia.

The language is simple, though occasionally slipping into the slightly stilted. There are some well-loved couplets from Ghalib, Faiz, and others (including some beautiful poetry by Abdullah Khan himself, one of which, A Workable Dream, I would have liked to read in Urdu too, not just English). (Edited to add: Abdullah Khan sent me a link to the Urdu version of this poem - written in Devnagari - and yes, it is even lovelier than the English: https://abdullahkhan.blogspot.com/201...)

If I have a complaint, it is with the way Patna Blues ends, leaving several important questions unanswered. I won’t say what those are, because that would amount to spoilers, but it was irritating. Is a sequel in the pipeline?

[Priyanka Sharma · Rating 2 out of 5]

The protagonist Arif is a 20 year old lad preparing for CSE and as the story progresses you get an insight into his life across the decade of 90s. His psychological, Physical, mental and financial needs and how he was trapped in a cobweb of The complexities of his family and family members for most period. Author has written the book in a very movie like manner, I wont be amazed if i see this adapted into a feature film some years hence. The first half is extremely well written for a debut novel but the second half becomes boring of sorts with unnecessary details but one of the few things the author didn’t fail throughout was reflecting the reality of society. The reality of India and most of its citizens. Even if you don’t belong to that strata of society you’ll still find the story relatable.

The choice of words is commendable, also the couplets and poems work as jelly beans sprinkled here and there. I loved how the plot evolved but didn’t really like unnecessary sexualisation at times but I guess that was a part of characters evolution as an adult. The extreme obsession which made him mad enough to differentiate between what’s good and bad for him disgusts the reader and well, if author aims to do that then he succeeded pretty well. The relationship between him and sumitra consumed not only him but his future at the cost of his dreams because of lack of concentration, his whims and fancies.

The ending is written haphazardly making the reader want for more. An abrupt ending leaves the reader in a labyrinth of questions which is nothing but disappointing. Neither the author nor the reader is able to join the dots in the end. I believe it’ll be better if the author publishes a sequel to overcome the flaws and foibles of this one.

[Utkarsh Sinha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this book because of the nostalgia factor. Flipping through the pages, I saw lots of mention of Patna and Motihari, native places of my parents. The book fell short of expectations. The plot felt too rushed, characters barely explained. And I guess the English language isn't at all suited to write about life in Bihar. All the dialogues lose their teeth too! The story has an interesting outline, with enough plot elements that can actually make this into a properly interesting movie. But perhaps not suited for a book in English language. Especially to those familiar with this life and people.

[Rizwan Khan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very disappointing ending to an otherwise very engaging story...!!!

[Sharjeel Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite a book. Wifey and I read it together and just couldn't stop. Even taking pauses was difficult after reaching 100 pages; the only drag is in the first few chapters. One major imperfection (for me) is the lack of wordplay, the language being too simple, and in places, even cliched. But you have to decide if you can get over that, or if you prefer that.
The story and its telling keeps you hooked, moves you, and even entertains you. Abdullah Khan, I feel, has a real talent in storytelling, particularly of the linear filmmaking kind.
What is the book about? Love, lust, success, failure, family, politics, communal harmony, communal rioting, growing up in small-town India, big city politicking, the fault lines in our economy, and basically everything that has touched us Indians from the '70s to the '90s.

[سراج منير · Rating 4 out of 5]

هذه رواية تمس القلب كثيرا الشجن فيها والحزن ليس هنديا فقط بل انسانيا كاملا
احباطات البطل يعاني منها الكثير من الشباب في كل بلاد الدنيا خاصة تلك التي يحتل الفقر فيها مساحة عريضة ويجثم الفساد والمحاباة على أرجائها ولكن يزيد هنا البعد العنصري والتركيز على صعود اليمين المتطرف وهو ما يوجد في بلاد اخرى لكنه هندي هذه المرة في صورة خاصة جدا
الرواية كتبت بأسلوب شيق متلاحق الاحداث وهناك عدد لا بأس بها من الالتواءات غير المتوقعة مساحة الرومانسية وأحزان الحب موجودة لكن غطاها الكاتب بمساحات اخرى ولعل نهاية الرواية أبرزت أن الحب ليس هو ما يحدد كم البلاء الذي يحاصر انسانا
الرواية اعجبتني في بساطتها والترجمة سلسة جدا تجعلك تشعر أنك تقرأ عملا بلغته الأصلية والاقتباسات الشعرية أعجبني منها الكثير

[Ha · Rating 4 out of 5]

أول قراءة لي في الأدب الهندي، بطل الرواية شاب مسلم في مقتبل العمر، جميلة الرواية رأيت الطبقية العرقية والمادية، والتعايش الصوري والعنصرية التي يعيشهما المجتمع الهندي عن قرب، والترجمة لا بأس بها الا بعض الكلمات مثل استعمال كلمة مستعمرة لوصف المجمعات السكنية، توجد كلمات أصح منها بنظري.

مجملا جميلة كأول قراءة لي في هذا النوع من الأدب، تحمست للأطلاع أكثر عنه

[Sharon Bakar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A successful author is one who can make us walk in his character's shoes, and we certainly come to care for Arif, a young man from a lower-middle class Muslim family. He falls in love with Sumitra, an older married Hindu woman; but they can never be together and the love-affair could well lead to the undoing of both of them. Only stolen moments are possible.

We share Arif's heartbreak when he loses his beloved grandmother and his brother, Zakir is abducted and most probably killed. We share his confusion when he realises that the girl he is to marry is actually in love with someone else and suffering her own heartbreak.

Arif has humble expectations - he wants to pass the civil service exams which are the passport to a secure livelihood for himself and his family. Unfortunately although he takes and retakes them time and again, he continues to fail to pass them, taking stop-gap work as a tutor to help his family (once wealthy landowners) make ends meet.

Something I came to appreciate from the novel: in many ways (and not just financially) life for ordinary folks in India is a real struggle. Khan shows all the daily frustrations (not being able to get an ambulance; indifferent doctors; corrupt security guards and policemen; rioters on the streets) that grind away at the soul. Khan paints an unvarnished portrait of this world - this is the gritty reality of life in India. We're rooting for Arif to come through all adversity and with his head held high.

The writing never draws attention to itself and is very readable.

This copy was sent to me by the author. (I was very resistant to reading it as he can tell you!) I promised only that I would read 30 pages - so for the book to have drawn me in so completely and still have me pondering about it is a real achievement.

[Apurba Ganguly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, I convey my sincere gratitude to the author for giving me the opportunity to review his début work of fiction.

Patna Blues is neck-deep in a reality which we are unacquainted with, yet we have some amount of knowledge about it. A tale full of unanticipated ups and downs, this is that one book that testifies the statement — "Reality hits you hard." And the best part of this book? It stays grounded to the earthly, mortal reality all around. This frankness that permeates throughout the story is highly appreciated.

The first trait of Patna Blues I admire the most is the fact that the plot underlines the significant events that are happening simultaneously with the incidents happening in the book. This makes a story more easy to relate to. Also, this marks the fact that the fictional story assures to the reader its attachment to reality rather than to a world of fantasy. The plot is shallow; not too deep or profound for the reader to understand. However, throwing light on its simplicity would be an underestimation of the book. It is a simple plot that conveys volumes of ideas and issues about the youth belonging to the prejudiced sections of society, specially that of the Muslim community. The brilliance of the author lies not in the technical or linguistic aspect of it, but in the story itself. The style of narration is very simple, the tone mild and impartial; impartiality, as a result, brings forth a sense of righteousness from each and every moment. The language, too, is lucid and easily comprehensible. Another thing that I loved a lot is how the author frankly narrates the dilemmas faced by the major characters of the book, specially that of Arif. The escalating sense of disappointment and disillusionment is indeed heartbreaking. However, the conclusion of the story is the best part of the book. It is very, very real, and it is not at all like a fairytale ending to unimaginable suffering.

However, there is only one glitch that could have been worked upon. The storyline is very significant and nicely written. A little elaboration of the story, with a touch of complexity, would have made the plot greater and more gripping than it is.

The saffronisation of a secular democratic republic is the exemplar of the failure of democracy itself. And the situation worsens when the marginalised, the prejudiced, the downtrodden are severely ripped off from opportunities. Only we, the present generation, can stop such a calamity from happening. To gain wisdom should be the first priority than to be powerful, because power is lethal; wisdom is strength. I convey my best wishes to the author for his future endeavours.

[Tanishkka · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Patna Blues by Abdullah Khan

The story of Patna Blues takes you to those streets of India which remain unnoticed for years or even centuries. The story brings in character of Arif, a middle – class Muslim boy, son of sub – inspector of Patna, a boy with high dreams of becoming an IAS officer. In the story we see how he goes through the 4 stages of life – Dream, Desire, Grief and Destiny. In the first stage we all have high aims in life, high expectations from ourselves and our life but as the time passes desires begin to grow. Now while we are busy asking ourselves the confusing question of choosing between the two Ds – Dreams or Desires, we find ourselves surrounded by Grief and then we finally let the destiny take its course. Similar is the case with Arif, he dreams of becoming an IAS officer and desires come in his life with the entry of Sumitra, a Married Hindu beauty. Uncover the stage of grief and the destiny in his life by reading the book.

According to me a book is made perfect by 5 factors – 1) A strong opening 2) Powerful description 3) A sense of originality 4) A basic story logic and 5) A satisfying ending. This book had the first 4 factors to make it close to perfect. The book got me attached to it from the beginning only, with a strong opening, a good one. The next 3 factors were taken care of very amazingly and for which I truly love the book.
Coming to the 5th factor, by the term A SATISFYING ENDING, I don’t mean a happy ending but an ending with justice or clarity, neither of which was present in the story. The story ends with a very confusing Para leaving the readers to imagine the future all by themselves. But the 5th factor not being completed doesn’t make the book any less worthy of reading. It’s RECOMMENDED by me for you all to give this book a read.

[Shorouk Said · Rating 3 out of 5]

أحزان هندية : عبد الله خان
ترجمة : ريم دواوود

سبب قراءتي للرواية : العنوان والغلاف ووجدت نفسي أمام ثقافة مختلفة والفضول ، هذا أول عمل لكاتب هندي أقرأه ، الهند التي لانعرف عنها إلا ما نراه في الأفلام

"لكنك في الهند لا تحتاج لارتكاب جريمة بعينها كي يتم اتهامك بالإرهاب .يكفي جداً أن تكون شاباً مسلماً .كلما حدث هجوم إرهابي ،تلقي الشرطة القبض علي العديد من الشبان المسلمين. يختفي بعضهم ، بمنتهي البساطة، فيما تتم تبرئة عدد كبير منهم ، بعد محاكمات ومعارك قضائية طويلة وبطيئة ومعقدة "

-جاءت هذه الجُمل في الثلث الأخير من الرواية لكنها تمثل القضية الأساسية التي يتبناها الكاتب في روايته، وضع المسلمين في الهند وتحامل الشرطة ضدهم

-ببساطة شديدة وفي أحداث متلاحقه يروي لنا الكاتب قصة " عارف " الشاب الهندي الذي ينشأ في أسرة مسلمة ،وحلمه أن يجتاز اختبارات الحكومه في دراسته ليصبح موظف ذا شأن ويحسن من أوضاع أسرته البسيطة

-في مسيرة عارف نحو حلمه البسيط يلقي الكاتب الضوء علي بعض أوضاع الهند السياسية كانت أو الاجتماعية ،كانتشار الفساد والمحسوبية والعنصرية ضد بعض الطوائف وظاهرة الرشاوي

-أعجبني في الرواية اتخاذ الكاتب الحيادية في وصف الأوضاع في الهند خصوصا بين الهندوس والمسلمين ،مثلما ذكر تحامل الشرطة ضد المسلمين لم ينكر تعصب البعض من المسلمين اتجاه القضية ومشاركة البعض منهم اشعال فتيل الفتنه بين الطائفتين

-كما أنه لم يجعل من عارف بطل قصته شاب مسلم ملائكي بل جعله شخص عادي يخطيء ويصيب كأن يقع في علاقة غرامية مع امرأة هندوسية متزوجة

- احترت في تقييم الرواية ، بعد أن انهيتها .البساطة الشديده في أسلوب الكاتب وتناوله موضوع قصته بسطحية . أجدها يعيبها سذاجة تقارب ما نراه في بعض الأفلام الهندية

-توقعت أن أري الهند غير التي نعرفها من الشاشة وأن يتناول الكاتب قضيته بأسلوب أكثر عمقاً وأكثر تفاصيل
لكن لا أنكر إن بساطة الأسلوب جعلني لا أشعر بملل وكانت الأحداث متلاحقة وأنهيتها سريعاً

-الترجمة كانت جيدة وسلسة

-أخيراً متتوقعش عمل أدبي ثقيل هو عمل جيد فقط لا يترك أثر بعد ان تنتهي من قراءته

[Ankita Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book:- Patna Blues
Author:- Abdullah Khan
Pages:- 291
Format:- Hardcover
Publisher:- Juggernaut

Blurb:- The story revolves around Arif Khan, a middle class boy and son of sub-inspector in Patna. Amidst family's expectations and his own hardwork to crack the civil services exam, Arif meets the beautiful Sumitra, a married woman a mother of two, and falls in love with her. But is it love or just another infatuation? Would Arif be able become an IAS Officer? Or does fate has something else in store for him and his family?

My Review:- Patna Blues is an interesting book told in third person's point of view and is divided into three parts - Desire, Grief and Destiny. First part is all about the characters dreams and love. Second part shows the struggles and failures and lastly the pages unfolds the destiny. The story had an unusual rawness to it. The real Patna and the people living in it was exposed.

Patna Blues shows the fearful life of Hindu-Muslim hatred and riots against each other to take revenge. In one of the events in this book, Arif's brother, Zakir gets arrested and accused for explosion and when enquired by his father, the inspector denies to even recognise Zakir. He goes missing and probably even be dead. The book throws light on the struggles of Muslim people in Hindu dominated country. However, the events in the book also clears that there are evils and angels in every religion, be it Hindu or Muslim.

You'll see the bond of an understanding family and how they strive during tough times. Belonging from a middle class family, I could relate with the constant financial crisis and Arif's silent stress and sadness for not being able to help Abba with his sister's marriage.

Coming to Arif's Infatuation with Sumitra, I'm confuse what to make of it. It's definitely not as bad as LOLITA but somehow it too felt wrong. I support a woman in most cases but this wasn't one of them. I don't think it's wrong to be in love with someone younger or older nor do I think it's wrong if a married woman or a mother falls in love. If a person is not happy in a relationship he/she is bound to go out to search for love, but Sumitra's character was leading a happy life with his husband and kids yet she encouraged Arif.

The negative points in this goes for it's cover, blurb and ending. Blurb isn't good because it only highlights Sumitra and Arif's Infatuation but there's so much more in the book than that. Cover doesn't do justice to the content inside it. Also I was really disappointed with the abrubt ending. There was not much to write more but if the author had written some more pages to complete the story, ending would've been perfect too.

Anyway, the book is worth reading. I'll recommend it to both fiction and non-fiction readers.

I received a copy of this book from @thebookbuzz in exchange of an honest review.

[Sarika Patkotwar · Rating 4 out of 5]

*This review was initially published at The Readdicts Book Blog. For more reviews, go here .

I take pride in proclaiming my love for reading books that focus on Muslim families and Islam in general, but Patna Blues made me realise that I haven’t read many books that revolve around an Indian Muslim family. This was an eye opener which helped me understand the struggles of a lower middle class Indian household and gave me a fast paced yet meticulous glimpse into the bustling and wondrous city of Patna which has me tempted to visit it. This was a perfect book because it had everything I look for in one- in-depth glimpses into places, mentions of appetising food, importance of family and friends with the right amount of drama that makes it believable, a romance cooking on the sidelines, poetry, incredible character development and a plot that kept me engrossed.

Patna Blues is the story of Arif Khan who struggles day in and day out to fulfil his loving Abba’s dream of seeing his son become an IAS officer. From his childhood to adulthood, we follow this hardworking, respectable, at times unconventional and incredible man as he keeps trying to make it big while life keeps testing him. Living with his family of eight stupendously developed characters added charm and profundity to the novel. Arif falls in love with an elder Hindu woman who he can’t let go of. The way this romance was portrayed was so impressive that even though it screams wrong from the get-go, it seemed right, even to the reader. That’s when you know you have stumbled upon a gem.

Abdullah Khan has written a charming and terrific novel, many parts of which reminded me of the works of Khaled Hosseini. The writing was ravishing and the storytelling so sensational, it made me want to keep reading the book. Although Patna Blues perfectly well for me, I see how some readers would be unsatisfied with it. I, for one, was left teary-eyed and smiling at the same time- which is magical. The minute I laid my eyes on this book, I knew I had to read it without even knowing the title or the author, so when I was contacted me to review it, I was overwhelmed. What a wonder it is when a book ends up being more than what you thought it’d be!

If you have admired The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, or if like to read about Muslims, or you love to read about someone who is way different from you yet you have a deep connect with on a personal level and if you love to explore literature from different parts of India, do consider picking this one up.

Note: A copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. We thank them for the same.

[Sugandha Garg · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOKS : PATNA BLUES
AUTHOR: ABDULLAH KHAN
RATING: 4.5 🌟

Patna blues is a story about family, dreams, ambitions, love, desire, betrayals, patience, struggle, loss, dreams unfulfilled. It is spread over a period of almost 10 years in the city of patna as the name suggests.

Arif the hero of our story is a young boy with an aspirations to crack IAS(INDIAN ADMINSTRATIVE SERVICE) and improve the circumstances of his lower middle class family and along the way falls head over heels for an older hindu woman but life has other plans for him throwing volley of troubles his way one after the another. It tells you how after so many major setbacks our dreams take new shapes and we satisfy ourselves with the minimal.
In the backdrop we witness the tension between the hindu muslim community, it also touches briefly on the sikh riots that took place in late 90's.

What i liked...

🖤I loved the story.
🖤i loved the realness of it all,
that not all dreams come true.
🖤 I loved the relationship that arif shares with sumitra (a boy high on hormones falling for a damsel in distress, clandestine but keeps you wanting for more).
🖤I loved that author has written this book with an unbiased mindset, about hindu and muslim community and not glorifying the one while putting the other down.
🖤I loved his portrayal of countrysides of India.
🖤I loved the love that Arif has for his family.
🖤 The narration is perfect with some very nice hindi songs lines, urdu couplets and words of wisdom from famous poets.

It is a believable account of how India 🇮🇳 was in 1990's.

What i did not like..
The story leaves you to join dots on your own, not providing closure. I wanted to know more about what happens to Arif, to sumitra, to his family.


Loved it...

[Nidhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Patna Blues”, as the name says it all. The story revolves around the city of Patna and the people of that city. The city which is famous for many things, which includes IAS aspirants. This is not a story of IAS aspirant but a story of a middle-class boy who is just like us. A boy with dreams in his eyes to be an IAS officer so that he can make his parents proud and support his father in his old age. It is a story of falling in love with a girl just like any other person of that age. It is a story about 80% of the people of our country who works day and night to meet ends of their lives along with handling the burden of natural calamities, bomb blasts, riots, corruption, elections etc.

Author narrated ordeal and triumph of our lives through Arif and Sumitra. One can feel that these characters are not part of a book but we have met them somewhere at some point in our lives. The storyline has a flow which is beautifully maintained till the end. Mesmerizing poems and use of Urdu Shayari along with an intense yet simple translation of the same will make you fall in love with every character.

To know more about Arif and Sumitra and the city of love, Gyan and tasty food “Patna”, I would recommend “Patna Blues” by Abdullah Khan.

[Priyanka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 90s Patna "Patna Blues" tells the story of a boy named Arif khan from a lower-middle class Muslim family whose sole purpose in life was to become an IAS officer. Everything was fine until the time when he falls in love with a married Hindu woman Sumitra, who is several years older than him. Set in the backdrop of the events like Hindu-Muslim riots, Delhi bomb blast, division of Bihar and Jharkhand and many more events from past the story covers the life of Arif in four parts i.e, Dream, Desire, Grief and Destiny. The author has tried to portray the lives of lower- middle class families at the time when communal riots were prevailing in India. If you have lived the 90s era then you may find it relatable at some instances.
The narration of the story is smooth and writing is lucid. Well it was a gripping book but I didn't like few things like I felt the cover and the title of the book doesn't go with the story as it was more about the life of Arif than the city Patna. Secondly I didn't like the inclusion of political incidents in the story and lastly the end of the story. The book ends without answering many questions in readers mind. But inspite of these things I liked the book and I think every reader can give this a try.

Happy reading!

[Ranjini · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Arif Khan, a young man, from a lower-middle class Muslim family. He is the son of a sub-inspector in Patna, Rashid Khan. With a younger brother, three younger sisters and his grandmother all living under the same roof; they barely make ends meet on their father’s meagre salary. Arif dreams big – he dreams of cracking the civil services examination and becoming an IAS officer, whereas his younger brother, Zakir, wants to make it big in Bollywood.

Arif makes the cardinal sin of falling in love with a married Hindu woman, Sumitra. Her beauty and voluptuousness mesmerize Arif and he finds himself fantasizing about her at all times of the day. Does their love blossom? What is to be Arif’s fate if anyone finds out?
To add to Arif’s woes, his father is burdened with the marriage of three daughters and Zakir suddenly goes missing. Arif’s stress and grief is so palpable; your heart will go out to him and you will wish that things end well for him.

In the midst of it all, the story is set on a real timeline. The happenings in the plot, mentioned in Bihar, are real, making the story more relatable. So is the description of Bihar; you will feel transported into the city of Patna.

The novel is realistic. It is a simple story of a simple human being – his daily nuances, his struggles, his grief, the economic burden on the family which he wants to share, his love and his helplessness in not being able to act on it. It could me your story or mine.
It is also a story of an ordinary family, and their struggles. It may very well be the story of 75% of our country, who deal with political and religious riots, curfews, and corruption. And, you do realise, that life is a struggle, in ways more than one, for a chunk of our population.

The writing is lucid and easy-to-read.
The plot is well-etched out and the characters well developed.
This is one book, definitely worth a read.

4.5/5 for me.

[Aamna Ahsan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must Read 😊💐

[Ashu Prakash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mixed ending though a little disappointing. Loved it overall. This is one of those few books I finished in just a couple of hours because it's irresistible. Abdullah Khan's writing hooks you up! Beautiful portrayal of Patna, the musilim community, connecting it with historical events.

[Raza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read Patna Blues in 2020. In a world ravaged by pandemic, it liberated me for a few moments from a lockdown that seemed to have caged my spirit. My mind wandered across space and time into the Bihar of the early 1990s, etched as skillfully as a Jaipuri miniature. I resonated deeply with the protagonist Arif, a man who is prima facie a bit of a failure, but in reality ends up living a life so rich with experience that one can only gawk with envy. I hope Abdullah Khan has lived a similarly rich life.

Last week, on an impulse, I read it again. This time, I read it even slowly, savoring all kinds of detail (e.g. "The barber, a thin old man with an Amitabh-like white French beard, informed him that he charged five rupees for shaving with cream. If he wished to use shaving soap then it would cost three." Or [the Imam of Jama Masjid] "recited from the holy book and blew his benediction on Arif with pungent onion breath").

Towards the end, Arif recites a self-composed poem, where he talks of a "tiny but workable dream." What more can one wish for from a life?

I would recommend this book strongly to those who like their fiction with a strong dose of verisimilitude. I cannot wait for Abdullah Khan's next offering.

[Avishek Bhattacharjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

সাধারণ মানুষের গল্প এখনো ভাবায় আবার পরেও ভাবাবে| ঠিক যেরকম বিবেক শানভাগ 'র ঘাচর ঘোচর পড়ে অবাক হয়ে গেছিলাম ঠিক সেরকমই আব্দুল্লাহ খান'র এই লেখা পড়ে সত্যি মানুষ আবার ভাববে | এখানে বিষয় আরো গুরুতর, সংখ্যালঘুদের নিয়ে মানুষ লেখে না, তারা সমাজের কোন একটা সম্প্রদায় হিসেবেই থেকে যায় | প্রতিনিহিত অপদস্ত, পর্যদুস্ত হওয়ার পরেও তাদের অদম্য স্পৃহার, ভালোবাসা, কাম-লালসা,বেঁচে থাকার গল্প এটা| বিহার'র প্রতি ভালোবাসা , বিহারের লেখা ও জীবনযাপনের সাথে পরিচয় অনেকদিনের | কিন্তু তার সাহিত্য, তার ভাষার সাথে অনেক নিবিড় সম্পর্ক তৈরী করে দিয়েছিলো সিদ্ধার্থ চৌধুরী, ঠিক সেরকমই অভিজ্ঞাতা এবারও | অনেকটা ব্যাপ্তি এই গল্পের, আরিফ'র জীবন, ভালোবাসা, ধর্ম , ধর্মের নিষেধ ও বাঁধন, প্রেম ও ব্যর্থতার গল্প এতো সহজ ভাবে লেখক বলেছেন যেন সবকিছু খুব অনায়াসেই চোখের সামনে ভেসে উঠবে | উল্লেখযোগ্য ক্যারেক্টার বলতে আরিফ'র ভাই জাকির, আরিফ'র প্রেমিকা সুমিত্রা, তার বাবা রাশিদ খান |
গল্পের সাথে জড়িয়ে আছে বাবরি মসজিদ, দাঙ্গা, গেরুয়া ধর্মের গুন্ডামি, ক্রিকেট, লিট্টি চৌকা , ঈদ'র আনন্দ, পুলিশের অকথ্য অত্যাচার ,(পাটনা থাকলে দিল্লী ও থাকবে-তার কথা) এবং সিভিল সার্ভিসেস প্রস্তুতি | সব মিলিয়ে একটা মুসলিম পরিবারের গল্প শুধু নোই, একজন মধ্যবিত্ত মানুষের গল্প, স্বপ্ন ভাঙা-গড়ার গল্প এবং তা শোনানোর ও পড়ানোর সফল চেষ্টা করেছেন লেখক | ভালো লাগলো |

[Shadab Ashraf · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last time I was fasinated to see my home state - Bihar in English fiction world was in Amitava Kumar books. Very little have been explored about Bihar in English litrature. Abdullah Khan Sir stands together along very few writers who had presented us the view and inside out of a world we live in but never care stand for a while and experience it. I walked and experience the world webed in Patna blues as it was my story. Story which appears close to heart and soul. It takes you to the trip which has been lost in time. The timeline of historical event has been best placed and it is one of the best part of story.

[Suman Panda · Rating 5 out of 5]

definitely a must read book

Hardcover: 296 pages
Publisher: Juggernaut (14 September 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9789386228833
ISBN-13: 978-9386228833
ASIN: 9386228831
Package Dimensions: 20.6 x 14 x 3.1 cm
Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars 7 customer reviews
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #11,724 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
#330 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Indian Writing

here is the link to buy :

https://www.amazon.in/Patna-Blues-Abd...

synopsis :
Arif is the son of a sub-inspector in Patna. His once prosperous landowning family has slipped low down the class ladder. Arif ’s sole ambition in life is to crack the civil service examination and become an IAS officer. He believes this will restore the family’s fortunes and works hard at his studies. Until his first glimpse of Sumitra, a voluptuous long-haired beauty. Married, Hindu and several years older than him, she is wrong for him in every way. It is the beginning of an infatuation that will consume his life.

point of view :
this masterpiece consisting Culture and traditions are something which has now become renowned all across the world. We all refer to India and its culture as something very diverse and unique. But seldom do we give a thought to why things are done in certain specific ways. Indian Culture is full of several unique customs and traditions, which outsiders might find really intriguing. Most of these originate from the Ancient Indian scriptures and texts, which have dictated the way of life in India for thousands of years.

epitomy of psycology :
In "Older Women, Younger Men: New Options for Love and Romance," authors interviewed tried to discover the allure of galvanating truth, that You'll be surprised at what men find appealing about older women.
It depends on the person, but some potential benefits include:

They are more mature, so typically there is less drama. There is more focus on what’s important in the long run, rather than small stuff that won’t matter later.
She often will have a better understanding of what makes a relationship work, having experienced a few herself. She can use this knowledge to guide the relationship in the right direction.Some women look great when young, but then don’t look as hot when older (usually because they didn’t take care of themselves). With an older woman, you already know what she is going to look like when she is older… because she is already older.In some cases, an older woman can provide financial stability, but not always. Depends on their personal situation, and what you consider “older.” If you think someone in their 40’s is older, then they probably have a career. If you think someone in their 60’s is older, then they are more likely to need financial assistance.And, overall, it reduces the pressure on the man. An older woman often knows how to make a man feel at ease, and knows how to relax him. And an older woman will often tell her man (verbally or non verbally) what she wants, meaning he doesn’t have to think as much and doesn’t have to guess. He can focus on making her happy, rather than trying to guess what might make her happy.

I must say ,
Younger generation is more practical than older generation
With the advancement of technology, luxury and a palette of options available, the younger generation are naturally practical. They need not take extra efforts to a practical approach.

For
They are optimistic and ambitious.
Earlier on, people fell easily for emotions whether it was for family or friends. Today’s youth can equally balance emotions.
Science has made life very easy for the generation today. Accessing someone today isn’t as difficult as it was earlier, when people relied on telegrams!
Even though the younger lot is considered to be impatient, their impatience is because they don’t want to waste time.
The young generation wishes to explore all possible horizons.
Thanks to the social networking sites, younger generation is more enterprising. Their ides are practical.
Due to the adverse competition, their practical perspective leaves with no time for ethical issues like ego, arrogance, emotions etc.

over all this book is must be read by every indian. there are no such errors or faults, which is very rare with todays publication houses. no doubt on page qualities , editing and overall formatting the book. i am insisting all bookishworms to go through this book once.
and atlast , thank you sir. i am honoured to review your work and sending you prosperous wishes for huge success of patna blues.

[Livre_monde · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first came across this book on bookstagram it instantly caught my attention, quite obviously because I am a Bihari and the cover had 'Patna' written on it. I quickly read the blurb on Amazon and it sounded really interesting. Trust me, the actual story is equally interesting as the blurb. 

Patna Blues is the story of Arif, covering nearly 15 yrs of his life in 4 different sections namely- Dreams, Desire, Grief, and Destiny. The story starts in the early '90s when Arif is a young and ambitious boy who belongs to a lower-middle-class Muslim family, son of an honest policeman and preparing for IAS entrance exams. He has already completed prelims and is excited about mains when he accidentally meets Sumitra, a middle-aged married Hindu woman. He feels an instant and strong attraction for Sumitra, but a pious Muslim in him cautions him of the sins he may conduct if he decides to pursue a married Hindu woman. He is afraid of the shame he will bring to his family. And what about the mains exam which is just around the corner? He cannot lose the chance of fulfilling his father's dream of seeing him as an IAS officer. However, the more Arif tries to go away from Sumitra, the more destiny brings him closer to her. Alright!! I am not going to give away the whole story here. You will need to read the book. 

The most interesting thing about this book is that while narrating Arif's story, the author has touched upon many other facets of the Hindu Muslim relationship in India and Bihar without losing the main thread i.e. Arif's internal battle to pursue Sumitra. Very subtly and gently the author has given an account of - How the demolition of Babri masjid in a distant land created riots in Bihar, how during festivals like Dussehra there are clashes between both the communities who otherwise live harmoniously. How the presence of Jansangh or a BJP politician creates fear in the mind of a general Muslim. How there are good and bad people on both sides. How not every case of love between a Hindu and Muslim is love jihad. How during terrorist attacks, when police are unable to crack the case, simple and innocent Muslim boys are framed and labeled as terrorists. 

If you want to understand how a general, non-radical Muslim feels in India who just wants to live a normal life with his family and friends(most of whom are Hindu) read this book. Also, if you are from Bihar and want to get a feel of nostalgia by reading about litti-chokha or listening to local folklore or want to roam through different familiar/known streets in Patna or Inayat Nagar, or Jamalpur, read this book. I had a mini trip to Bihar, to be honest.

Alright, I think this is going to be my lengthiest review. I have so much to tell. 

Coming to the narration, it is very detailed and apt to the storyline. I think it's because of the detailed narration and realistic characters, this book kept me hooked till the end, and the story kept lingering in my mind for a very long time. The characters have been built so brilliantly that every reader will feel he knows someone like them, they are so real and familiar. Though the story touches upon many complex facets of Hindu Muslim relationships, I never felt offended being a Hindu myself, the book has been written so genuinely and modestly. The only thing which left me wondering is the story of Zakir, Arif's younger brother. I would love to read Zakir's story if at all there is a plan to bring a sequel.


I would recommend this book to everyone who wants to have a good weekend read. Unless you love fast-paced short books, you will surely love the intriguing story this book brings to the readers. 

My rating:4.6/5

[Bhaskar Parichha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bhaskar Parichha


With rave reviews and brisk sales , Abdulla Khan’s debut novel ‘Patna Blues’ has become a sensation of sorts. The novel has even gone into several language editions. What is the sensation and why it has created so much of a buzz? Simple. Fiction by way of real life incidents.

Arif, the protagonist of the novel, is the son of a sub-inspector in Patna. His once well-to-do family has, because of the vicissitudes of time, slips into penury. But, Arif has a big ambition: cracking the civil service examination and become an IAS officer. He believes this will bring back the family’s fortunes; so he works hard to emerge triumphant. In this quest for status, he, fortuitously, comes across Sumitra. A married Hindu and several years older, Sumitra is wide of the mark for Arif in every way. It is the beginning of an obsession that munches through Arif’s life.

Set in the 1990s and at a place called Motihari - the township the author belongs to, Abdullah masterfully weaves the strands of a ‘forbidden romance.’ ‘Patna Blues’, besides being a wonderful narrative, is also a chronicle of the times making it, at one fell swoop, a period story. Abdullah makes use of some great tools to accentuate the tale. Result? A brusque narration which will keep the reader captivated till the end.

Hindu-Muslim riots, Delhi bomb blast, division of Bihar and Jharkhand, arrest of Lalu Prasad Yadav et al go straight away to enhance the effect of the storyline. The ordeal the Khan family faces for being Muslims, the stigma, the hostility and everything else is brought out in a restrained way.

To augment the embodiment of love between Arif and Sumitra, the author takes recourse to Urdu poetry and he comes out quite successful to make it an enthralling read. ‘Patna Blues’ is a saga from dream to destiny with a fascinating plot and venerable characters: Maya, Ramesh Kumar,Jamaluddin,Rabiya,Farzana,Huma,Zakir and so on. Another interesting aspect of the novel – is the use of local dialect and language, as spoken in the Bihar belt where the story is set.

Abdullah khan’s initial education in Urdu-medium and madrasa schools helped him to employ Urdu verse at precisely those spots where he wants to drive home a point. For instance, when Arif is in two minds about going back to Sumitra, he is reminded of Poet Ghalibs couplet:Iman mujhe roke hai to kheench hai mujhe kufr/Kaba mere peeche hai,kalisha mere age(Faith restrains me, temptations attract me/The holy Kaba is behind me while the idols are in front of me).

What’s engrossing about ‘Patna Blues’ is the cushy language and the smooth flow of words. Besides the central character, Zakir - the younger brother and a wannabe actor who eventually becomes a victim of the circumstances - is an inspiration and holds the moral fibre.

From the time of building up of the political mood of the nation before the demolition of the Babri Masjid to the Gujarat carnage, the story continues along the arc of political changes that took place. Using current event in fiction is a lot paying, as Abdullah has done in his novel. This helps the audience in reconciling with those socio-political events.

‘Patna Blues’ is as engaging a novel as tempting.

[Abhishek Putran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book :- Patna Blues

Author :- Abdullah Khan

Publisher :- Juggernaut

My ratings :- ⭐⭐⭐/5

Blurb :-

Arif is the son of a sub-inspector in Patna. His once prosperous landowning family has slipped low down the class ladder. Arif ’s sole ambition in life is to crack the civil service examination and become an IAS officer. He believes this will restore the family’s fortunes and works hard at his studies. Until his first glimpse of Sumitra, a voluptuous long-haired beauty. Married, Hindu and several years older than him, she is wrong for him in every way. It is the beginning of an infatuation that will consume his life.

My Review :-

The book is hard cover and the light blue colour goes with the title perfectly and the cover looks very good with a picture of a young boy who plants a lots of questions and curiosity in the reader's mind just with his look. The language is very simple and easy to read and comprehend and the words flow easily .

The story is of a young man named Arif who wishes to be in Civil Service and keep his parents happy, but falls in love with a middle aged Hindu women and only faces hardships and pain in his life. The journey through his life and the happenings around his and his difficulties is what the book is all about.

The highlights of the book is the way the author has explained the life of a Muslim boy or a Muslim family in the Hindu majority India. The author has not missed to include the historic events that took place since the 1980s to the early 2000s and few of them like Assassination of Indira Gandhi, destruction of Masjid, Bomb blasts, Communal disharmony and many more incidents catch the reader's eyes.

The fact that all of this is explained in a way how it affects the life of a middle class muslim family is fascinating and an eye opener for a lot of people who don't know the life situation of such families. The relationship of Arif with Sumitra is also carried in a elegant manner not to hurt the feelings of readers and look down upon the characters. The variation in the characters according to the situations and the character development of Arif along with the characters surrounding him is impressive.

The story has many sub stories which are small tales the pass through in between which keeps the reader engaging to the book and the author has done a commendable job in not letting out the grip on the main plot line.

The book also has a few drawbacks in it. There are a lot of scenes and incidents that take place and are left unexplained as to why it happened or what exactly happened and only the aftereffects have been considered in the plot line. There are also few incidents which unnecessarily lengthens the story that could have been curtailed.

Overall it can be said that it's more like a biography of a man called Arif than a work of fiction. The author has made sure that it looks that way and not in a single point do you feel it's a fictional story and a very good read for everyone irrespective of Genres.

[Priyam Ghosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Only knights mounting horses fall in the battlefield. How can a child crawling on it's knees fall?" - Azeem Dehlavi

Blurb:

Arif is the son of a sub-inspector in Patna. His once prosperous landowning family has slipped low down the class ladder. Arif ’s sole ambition in life is to crack the civil service examination and become an IAS officer. He believes this will restore the family’s fortunes and works hard at his studies.

Until his first glimpse of Sumitra, a voluptuous long-haired beauty. Married, Hindu and several years older than him, she is wrong for him in every way. It is the beginning of an infatuation that will consume his life.

Views:

Patna Blues, the author's first novel is an insight to what many of us are not very much familiar about. It's the socio-cultural background of Bihar. It gives a detailed description of Bihar about what we don't know, about the many lives we don't know and some other tales as well which also we don't know.

The novel is so relatable that one can easily imagine himself into the position of Arif. Arif's life and the battle he constantly fights to support his family and give them a good life is the wish of most of us. Arif's helplessness is very evident in all the pages but one thing he is not ready to do is accepting defeat. On the other hand love blossoms between him and an older Hindu woman, Sumitra which in itself is a subject of great dishonour. He feels tremendously attracted towards the woman and at the same time his conscience restricts his path and he is torned between his desire and conscience.

One great thing about the book is, it follows the real timeline of the the years the plot is set on and mentions about all the notable developments, riots and happenings of that time. It makes the book even more relatable because of the familiarity with real incidents and the difficulties the people were facing at that time. The Hindu-Muslim riot and the things happening to the minority group as well as the majority group are very well described. The author never tried to sugarcoat any topic or mislead any reader on the facts which is a very great thing.

The book is also filled with many Urdu shayari or small poetries by different eminent personalities as well as shayari written by the protagonists Arif and Sumitra. These shayaris also enhance the lyrical quotient of the book greatly.

The characters are described and developed beautifully. The description of Bihar can make anyone feel that they are standing on the very same place and witnessing everything. The writing is also extremely lucid making the book easy to read and much more relatable. Overall it was a very immersive reading experience.

Thankyou so much @abdullahpandari for providing me the review copy.

Rating and Recommendations:

4/5. You should definitely pick this book up and know more about the Bihar most of us are not aware of and also for the great story this book has.

[Shona · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Sirf ehsaas hai ye rooh se mehsoos karo..Pyaar ko pyaar hi rahne do koi naam na do”

I would like to thank the author for providing me with the review copy.

The story is about a boy named Arif living in Patna with his family. He comes from a lower middle class background and dreams to become an IAS officer. He wishes to earn respect in the society and make his parents proud. Arif is a very dedicated student but his life falls onto a different track when he meets Sumitra, a married Hindu woman and a mother of two. Things start to spiral when a forbidden love begins to bloom between them. Though Arif knows that the repercussions can be catastrophic which will bring nothing but shame to his family yet he cannot abstain himself from falling for her. In spite of being aware of the communal disturbances which can occur if their affair comes into light he continues meeting Sumitra secretly. But what will happen if their family finds out? Will Arif and Sumitra finally be together?

The book is set during the time when communal riots are at its peak. Islamophobia is raging throughout the country and the intolerance towards Muslims is increasing day by day. Different historical events are mentioned which questions the human race. Khan family goes through a huge loss because of the prejudice against the minority community which shatters them completely. Adding to that grief is Arif’s inability to clear the civil service in spite of reaching the interview round several times. But he is ready to try once again. Will he succeed this time?

The book is a heart-wrenching tale from dream to destiny with a gripping storyline and admirable characters. The language is easy and understandable and keeps you hooked till the end. It explores the various taboos existing in our society and highlights the hostility towards Muslims. The writing style is noticeable for its flawless ease, clarity and refinement. The characters are relatable inspired from those who we have met at some point in our lives. My most loved character is that of Arif, a boy who despite of several hurdles doesn’t lose hope. His relationship with his family and friends is warm and pleasant. The thought provoking and heart-warming narration along with the mention of Urdu poems spellbinds the readers and makes you question today’s reality. I would recommend this book to everyone out there. If you want to know more about Arif and the state of communal tension in the late 20th century don’t forget to give this book a read.

[ANAND VERMA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Patna Blues was like plunging in the unfathomable ocean of nostalgia having immune to drowning. It was like finding solace in the bedlam within which I’ve been securely tied for eternity. It was like sitting on a mahogany armchair with a cup of medicinal tea; listening to the deep notes of Md. Rafi in grandpa’s radio.

Dream

Born in Motihari, Bihar, Abdullah Khan in his very debut novel ‘Patna Blues’ has won over my only heart at first. Being a fellow Bihari I am not able to put it into words how proud I am of my land.
A story of a lower-middle-class Muslim boy Arif, who is the son of a sub-inspector in Patna and whose sole ambition in life is to crack Civil Services examination and become an IAS officer. Arif is the only beacon of hope for his family and he believes if he works hard for the exam, he would be able to raise his contemporary Muslim family from a class ladder.

Desire

Arif is highly focused towards his dreams until his first glance of a beautiful married Hindu woman, Sumitra. Both fall in love with each other and with frequent meetings and sweet talks Arif’s desire to get Sumitra takes shape of a mammoth. He is ready to retaliate with the society which has forbidden inter-caste relationships.

Grief

Arif’s long-cherished dream of becoming an IAS officer seems an impossible task now as Sumitra is always glued to his mind. But would he get succeed to covet a married ‘Hindu’ woman? Or would he retaliate with his thoughts of possessing Sumitra? Or would go against the irreducible customs of the society and marry Sumitra? And what would happen to his sole ambition to become an IAS officer?

Destiny

Set in 90s, Patna Blues is an engaging novel in which author puts up a rarely seen India through Arif. It’s a heartbreaking story of struggle, dreams, desires, separations and loneliness of millions and millions of Arif, knitted by Abdullah Khan with serious splashes of etiquette and which ends with a halt! Besides, it also have some heart penetrating, soothing Urdu poetries in between its 300-page which roots us completely into the book and does not seem like a burden on the readers.

You would love Arif for his demeanour and perseverance. You would love Sumitra for her virtue and elegance. You would love author for capturing and registering Melancholy and pangs of loss and Hindu-Muslim brotherly relationship with such, such deftness. You would again admire author’s resilience in getting way out of rejections by multiple publication houses. And you would tap your back for picking this book.

Read it. It will be as astonishing as your previous book.

And for my fellow Biharis, I can’t recommend it enough! Go get your copy and enjoy, it is available in multiple regional languages and let pangs of nostalgia gently kiss your cheeks.

I offer my sincere obeisance to the author Abdullah Khan, for sending me this wonderful book. Already looking forward to your forthcoming projects.