Ranjit Kulkarni releases two Jigneshbhai and Swami books, stories of wit and wisdom in stressful times
Bengaluru, India: In these stressful times of the pandemic, Bangalore-based writer Ranjit Kulkarni has released two books that promise a healthy dose of humor and wisdom, woven into stories around day to day life. Readers can follow Jigneshbhai and Swami’s pursuits through some unexpected situations in “The Good, The Bad, and the Silly” and “Give Me a Break.” According to the writer Ranjit Kulkarni, an IIM Lucknow alumnus who spent 22 years in corporate life before taking up writing books, “I had created the characters of Jigneshbhai and Swami as part of my blog many years back. I decided to extend them into the comic nuances of daily situations and see what happens. The result is the first book ‘The Good, The Bad and The Silly’ which is a series of small inter-related stories set in a simple, uncomplicated plot of good vs evil. I hope it makes the reader smile and take away some wisdom in the process.”
He further added, “Jigneshbhai is a man with a cool temperament and extraordinary wisdom, while Swami is more fickle-minded and has a golden heart. He often finds himself in trouble and depends on Jigneshbhai to extricate him. That is more pronounced in the second book ‘Give Me a Break’ which is set around Swami’s plans for a break going astray due to the greed of his boss and long-lost activist friend.”
Kulkarni takes us on a ride with Jigneshbhai and Swami in his first novel- a ride that is a mix of humor and wisdom. Often delving into the difference between knowledge and wisdom with philosophical musings, the author peppers them with tongue-in-cheek humor. A reader commented that “My sister nudged me while I was reading this book because I was laughing out loud and with tears in my eyes” while another gave it “a big thumbs up to silliness and wisdom— an antidote for our pandemic ridden times!” Some more critical readers who found the humor somewhat farcical still said that “the writing style is commendable.”