OF NAWABS and NIGHTINGALES

 Author : Moosa Raza (IAS)

Publisher : Rupa & Co, Year 1995, Pages 191

         

Excerpts :

( ) The Collector, the SP and the Civil Surgeon formed a trio at the bridge table (of the Gymkhana Club, Surat) , perpetually waiting for the fourth man. The moment I entered, I was press ganged by this trio. I was an indifferent bridge player and I remained so. But that didn’t matter …. For I always became the dummy once the bids were settled.

( ) Major Kohli looked down upon civilians. The Collector, District Judge and Police Officers were all so many lesser beings created to service the Indian Army. And their existence was tolerated only so long as they did their service completely …. which he believed they no longer did so. Major Kohli had only two passions in life … whiskey and billiards. Now on his last posting before retirement with no prospect of a further rise in his career, the Major had only one ambition left. To make a break of 500 points on the billiard table. He had scored 400 odd, but never reached 500 even once; not in his life.

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My Take : The author was posted in Gujarat as DM , Collector, rising to Secretary level in a Central Govt Ministry. The book contains 15 true stories / episodes from his career.

The episodes in the book are engaging and on the whole, once you start reading them it is difficult to stop till you finish the story. Very enjoyable. The author paints a vivid picture of the characters, places and events of the time. Fifteen episodes seem too less given the stock available with the author in his long career. A thicker book next time.

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Subject / Type – Reminiscences

Narrative Style  – Excellent

Readability – Excellent

Maintaining Readers Interest -- Excellent

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