A review by ninetales
English, August: An Indian Story by Upamanyu Chatterjee

4.0

Most of us dream of a job in the prestigious Indian Administrative Service. The IAS tag is the promise of a good pay package, a highly enviable social status, numerous Govt. benefits, the chance to travel all over India at the expense of the State and (for some men) a huge dowry. But new IAS recruit Agastya Sen just cannot settle into his responsibilities in his first posting in the hot and sultry town of Madna. He is preoccupied with thoughts of drugs and women and is continually harassed by the mosquitoes and the awful meals prepared by his cook Vasanth. The book is full of wit and sarcasm. Agastya manages to think of something outrageously funny in the most boring and depressing of circumstances, but he makes you think at the same time. A must-read for all those who think they are stuck in a wrong job. Definitely a good return-on-time for anyone who loves their jobs.