Lives of civil servants is a field that has not been reaped much in the literature world. As boys become men is a brimful account of the journey to the bureaucracy and thereafter. Lives of CS has always been topics of interest to the laymen. There has always been a curiosity to know how they study, how the course will be, how their lives with their friends will be, how difficult the journey would be ! There has been a wave of jealousy towards the ones who could pass through the peephole of exams and interview. But little was thought after about how they handle the pressure which accompanies the power.

There were so many philosophical tete-a-tete moments between friends in the book. A lot of different ideas were instilled in the minds of the readers. But somewhere these conversations seemed forced. Nevertheless, it is good to see that author portrayed a different dimension of boys’ lives other than the cliched ogling at girls, drinking and smoking.

The book is an asset for the aspiring students. It is an entertainer for those who are looking for a story with substance. The pace of the story is slow. Don’t read the book expecting hardcore fun. It is more of reality. The authenticity of the story and the events cannot be doubted since the author himself is a civil servant who studies in Kirori Mal College where the story revolves around. So I would like to view the book as a fictional adaptation of an autobiographical account.

An entertaining, gripping and a multi-layered book. College days celebrated excitingly in the book. Also touches upon several human emotions realistically. The voyage of the uniquely depicted leading characters – Uday and his ‘dabbling with desire with no senti hanky-panky’ prescription on life; Sandeep’s life’s mantra – travelling on the assuring ‘middle path’ and the sensitive Mihir reasoning out various facets of life through philosophy make the book indeed a fascinating read. The chapter ‘Mystique of Desire’ needs a special mention here. The assortment of desire,philosophy, death infused with the ‘Mona Lisa’ flavor served well in a platter!
Admirable fare for the young and not so young readers…

AS BOYS BECOME MEN explores college life,friendship,romance,leaving home,adjusting to a new environment,ambition and passion. What sets the book apart from run-of-the-mill stuff is the treatment of an otherwise seemingly normal story. The story throughout the book runs under a philosophical hue, making it a heady cocktail of fun and philosophy. The story revolves around Mihir,Uday and Sandeep, who get instinctively drawn to each other to make the trio for pursuing their ambition,Civil Services. The trio foster some sparkling fun.

The book also touchingly captures in a subtle manner the socio-economic-political milieu of the youth drain from Bihar, and the simmering schism amongst the humanity of the nation.
The debates amongst the three History boys reflect upon the deeper layers of life,viz
History,God,religion,universe and topping all man, affording exciting perspectives in a refreshing manner

Remarkable in the book are the three symbols which render it sparkling; Soma for anything kicky viz. deram, desire, hope etc, Mona Lisa capturing the complex human emotions characterized by the simultaneity of pain and pleasure, and Shiva as one of the forms for defining the faith.

The language is truly exciting due to the innovative diction; it comes as afresh breeze to the reader. As Boys Become Men is definitely a gripping and refreshing read