The world was your oyster. Friends were the centre of your universe. Love was your opium. And bunking classes was the norm. Those were the best the days of your life. The ones spent in college. So when those days come wrapped in stories, be prepared to be flooded with pleasant memories. “Down The Road” (Grey Oak Publishers, Rs. 195) is an anthology of short stories, articles and essays on campus life. Authors such as Abhijit Bhaduri, Ira Trivedi and Malathi Jaikumar; bloggers Nikhil Rajagopalan and Prateek Gupta and journalist Sonia Safri come together to weave stories on relationships, friendship and the transition from teenage years to adulthood.
“Down The Road” was launched at Crossword Bookstore, followed by a panel discussion. Abhijit Bhaduri spoke of his essay “Strangers in strange places”. “I have written about unexpected encounters with acquaintances from college. You may not necessarily have been close to them, but look upon them favourably when you meet them many years later,” he said. Prateek writes on an interesting aspect of college life — elections. He also spoke with fondness about his college days.
Nikhil Rajagopalan's “Just a moment” explores the relationship one develops with a personal space, like a hostel room. Nikhil's writing is evocative and his descriptions beautiful. “For me, this book is about looking back on my school days,” says Ahmed Faiyaz, author and founder of Grey Oak publishers. The stories range from the humorous to the nostalgic. The book is a must read for students who are about to embark on their college days.
