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Book Review: Wavy Bob by Sameer Suryakant Kulkarni

Wavy Bob by Sameer Suryakant Kulkarni is an incredible novel about an Indian IT professional named Ketan. Yes, you can say that this is a story of Ketan, but we also see some other characters with auxiliary importance. Ketan, around thirty-years old, lives in Pune while working for an IT company over seven years.


As you advance into the story, you will get to know that Ketan is not a normal guy – he is way different than other ambitious people working in the IT industry, because of the reasons like he is uncharacteristically impulsive and always lives in fear of insecurities. But despite all, he is a way honest and hardworking guy and people around him appreciate him for this virtue, even his organization. The characterization of Ketan is fully developed and the great thing is that he doesn’t sound like a larger-than-life character. Thus, this aspect makes this novel very relevant and contemporary with respect to current time.

Let’s discuss how we got the title of the book – Wavy Bob. One day Ketan, on a company bus, comes across a beautiful lady. She carried a strange yet captivating persona and her hairstyle was different than others. Ketan was awed by her beauty and said that her hairstyle was like Wavy Bob. She was so beautiful and charming that Ketan fell for her at first sight. Well, next he doesn’t see her for much time. He inquires about her but to no avail. And at the same time, Ketan is busy meeting girls for marriage recommended by his parents. So, he thinks about marrying that Wavy Bob. But in reality she passes before him like a mirage or illusion. Will they ever come face to face?

Well, you must be thinking that other than the life story of Ketan, what the other concurrent theme in the story is. It is insecurity that IT employees feel post the recession. Ketan always feels and once he also dreamt that due to automation he was forcefully thrown out of his company. This fear keeps him gnawing day and night. Any chances that his worst fear may come haunting for him any time. That’s another thrilling jolt in the story.

Other than Ketan’s encounters with girls, the major part of the novel deals with his fear of losing job. And when he is moved to America on a project site, he witnesses the worst office politics that could ever occur to him. And shockingly, the girl Wavy Bob plays the de facto role in this politics. He is shocked to the core and realized that insecurity and office politics are inseparable from his working life. But at the same time, he comes close to his crush: Wavy Bob. But the irony is that he cannot get along with her. At times what we strive to achieve is something that we don’t need in reality.

Ketan moves ahead with another girl and back in India he gets into entrepreneurship. He commences a start-up for senior citizens of India, which is another phase of his life. Apart from job, office, insecurities, we also see the other side of Ketan where he constantly thinks about life in a small town with his parents, and the kind of chemistry he holds with his parents is also funny.

Overall it is a lengthy novel with many great aspects and for IT professionals it is an eye opener. In this novel you will find almost everything like romance, modern world theme, struggle, destiny, irony and so on. In a nutshell, a complete entertainment novel but at the same time relaying a very positive message that irrespective to any field one must keep updating their skills to survive in the corporate landscape of India. Ketan’s character is an inspiring one – how he works dedicatedly to save his job and support his filial responsibilities is worth watching.

Well-written and well-edited, Wavy Bob moves at a brisk pace and holds a promise for IT professionals.

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