Journey to the Hills and other Stories Divyaroop Bhatnagar 9781481214995 Books
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Named after a Himalayan flowering bush commonly found in these hills, Mussoorie was established in the early part of the 19th Century. Largely shunned by the British aristocracy, Mussoorie society in the 19th Century comprised of English businessmen and Box Wallahs with Indian princes and wealthy merchants thrown in for good measure. Things began to change after independence in 1947. The British left and many of their larger mansions were bought by wealthy businessmen from Calcutta and Bombay. Smaller houses were also bought by professionals from UP and Delhi. These stories are largely set in the Mussoorie of the 1960’s and 70’s. The British had long gone but many of their traditions and institutions still lingered. An army band played in the evenings at the Band Stand near the public library. Miss Mussoorie contests were still the highlight of the season though the contestants were no longer the white ‘missy log’ . The schools – Waverly Convent, St. George’s, Woodstock and many others were thriving. Families still took long summer vacations and there was no television and hectic activity to disturb the quiet flow of life. So, dear reader, enjoy the gentle charms of a forgotten time
Journey to the Hills and other Stories Divyaroop Bhatnagar 9781481214995 Books
Between India's independence in 1947 and liberalization in 1991, there was period when remnants of the Raj still abounded. Upper Middle Class kids studied at "Christian" schools and read English History from the Mayflower Classics (at least until the 1960s). Hill stations such as Nainital, Simla and Mussoorie were summer refuges for those who could get away. Steam locomotives dominated the railways and khus-khus screens had not been replaced by air conditioning.Test Cricket was still played at Green Park's Modi Stadium in Kanpur where Bhatnagar grew up and he writes vividly about the home and streets in Kanpur and its languid pace in the summer (when historically only mad dogs and Englishmean would step out). Summer meant trips to Nainital or Mussoorie and Bhatnagar describes Mussoorie so vividly that you feel like you are actually there with his family.
A great read for those from that era. Also a great read for anyone who enjoys learning about another time and place. You may see a bit of Jim Corbett or V.S. Naipaul or perhaps Ruskin Bond in this little book.
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Tags : Journey to the Hills and other Stories [Divyaroop Bhatnagar] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Named after a Himalayan flowering bush commonly found in these hills, Mussoorie was established in the early part of the 19th Century. Largely shunned by the British aristocracy,Divyaroop Bhatnagar,Journey to the Hills and other Stories,CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform,1481214993,Biography & Autobiography Personal Memoirs
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Journey to the Hills and other Stories Divyaroop Bhatnagar 9781481214995 Books Reviews
The book was had arrived when I got home from work. I started reading it right away, and could not put it down until I had read it completely, dinner and everything else waited! It was especially fascinating for me, as I could recognize many of the characters, and of course knew several places that are integral to the book. The haunting stories, the incidents in Mussorie, the preparation for the train ride, the details of the the train ride up there, and Methodist High School, all combine to make a lovely read!!
As a detail, I loved the annotations!!
This book is a must read for anyone who has lived in that part of India, and for anyone else who is curious about the way of life in the days past.
Debu has a wonderful style of telling stories......the story flow was as smooth as silk and his narration so vivid,real and engrossing that I couldn't put it down....I finished the book in one sitting......there are many nice pieces in the book.....I found the "Ida Villa" story particularly intriguing.....and the bit about getting Miss Williamson to come for the wedding after several years was very touching.....It is a fantastic read...and I have no doubt that even if one has not been to Dehradun or Mussoorie, one can relate to it well and visualize the place and story setting........KK Sridhar
Debu Bhatnagar's first book of short stories "Journey to the Hills and Other Stories" is a wonderful collection of stories all centred around a family vacationing in Mussoorie in the mid sixties. Though presented as a collection of short stories, all of them present a ensemble of characters that you recognize as you go through the book. A reader can pick and choose individual stories or can treat the whole book as one novel and go through it in one sitting. What is really remarkable about the stories is the gentleness with which the author treats each of the characters in the book. The author paints a beautiful picture of a bygone era when hill stations were full of interesting characters, and were really used as 'summer head quarters' by the affluent families. Once you start reading, I guarantee that you will finish all the stories in one sitting. A wonderful maiden effort. A must read for all of us who have had our share of summer vacations with our grandparents! A must read.
Ambi Parameswaran
Got the book yesterday evening by UPS, lay down on the sofa and pretty much finished reading it by the night. Half way down the book, I realized who Nanhe was or could be - looked like one of the characters from Enid Blyton novel - poking around, being inquistive, adventuring into the graveyard... The book is very easy and fun to read. It flows quite well. I could relate to quite a few family interactions in the book and the personalities - so typical of UP families.
I like the way Debu has used the local lingo in the story which makes the imagery very vivid. Regarding Methodist 'Girls High School', I had finished 6th grade from Huddard School and some of my friends were going to Methodist, so I told my Dad that I would like to go there. He sent one of his clerk to find out about the school and he came back and said - 'Sir that is a Girls school' and the matter ended there. We enjoyed some of the quips like
Kichidi ke chaar yaar
Ghee, Papad, Chutney, Achaar
This book is not about giving any gyan or some funda message, and I like that. There seems to be Masti and innocence in the air, some interesting family interactions and living lives of solid middle class values. Very nice piece of work. Hope you continue to write with the flair that you have....
Journey to the Hills and Other Stories, is an engaging book with nostalgia and childish innocence at the heart of the book.
The story is about a family, and recounts experiences during one of the family's annual vacation trips to Musoorie - the particular trip being special as the family has bought and now owns a scenic house in the hill station, and would be spending their first vacation in their own house.. In writing this tale, Divyaroop , is also able to bring out the strong bonding between members of extended families of cousins, uncles, grandparents etc , typical and unique to the Indian family concept .
While the story is set for a short initial period in Kanpur ,most of it is centred around travails in the then idyllic Musoorie, of a few decades ago. Readers who are familiar with this hill- station town , will definitely enjoy the references to well known areas and establishments,
Other, like me , whose personal experience of Musoorie is limited to a short visit made many years ago, should still not have any trouble with the visualization, particularly if one is familiar with other hill-station towns in India, built during the British period .
All in all, a good and relaxing read , and will probably take most people not more than a couple of sessions to complete. And I am sure it will stir up one's own memories of childhood vacations , as it did for me.
- Ravi Pisharody
Between India's independence in 1947 and liberalization in 1991, there was period when remnants of the Raj still abounded. Upper Middle Class kids studied at "Christian" schools and read English History from the Mayflower Classics (at least until the 1960s). Hill stations such as Nainital, Simla and Mussoorie were summer refuges for those who could get away. Steam locomotives dominated the railways and khus-khus screens had not been replaced by air conditioning.
Test Cricket was still played at Green Park's Modi Stadium in Kanpur where Bhatnagar grew up and he writes vividly about the home and streets in Kanpur and its languid pace in the summer (when historically only mad dogs and Englishmean would step out). Summer meant trips to Nainital or Mussoorie and Bhatnagar describes Mussoorie so vividly that you feel like you are actually there with his family.
A great read for those from that era. Also a great read for anyone who enjoys learning about another time and place. You may see a bit of Jim Corbett or V.S. Naipaul or perhaps Ruskin Bond in this little book.
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