Colony Diaries

25th July 2026

I know I would be repeating this for the umpteenth time, but I read a meme that said, “If there is a place that represents the ’90s, I will take my kid there and wish he could experience that era.” And not a place, but this book definitely is that resort. This book is a time capsule, a trip down memory lane.

The narrative follows the Verma family as they relocate to C3, a bustling cluster of employee quarters. The heart of the story unfolds through the perspective of ten-year-old Amit Verma and his eleven-year-old sister, Guddi. Having dealt with disappointing and unstable moves in the past, the family is trying hard to adapt, find stability, and plant roots in their new surroundings.

Amit is refreshingly ordinary—he isn't a flawless hero, but a typical middle-school kid who constantly juggles the looming expectations of school with his desperate desire to just go outside and play cricket in the dust.

One of the most distinct and charming creative choices in the book is the presence of Jackie, the resident colony dog. Positioned as a silent philosopher and the "Chief Human Observer," Jackie witnesses the small everyday dramas, the building and fracturing of neighborhood friendships, and the subtle shifts in the community that the humans themselves might overlook.



Also, can we dedicate a special mention for the cover? I
Relatable Setting: The setting itself functions like a living character. Parganiah vividly paints a pre-smartphone India where shared courtyards, gossiping neighbors, and gathering around the television for Friday night Doordarshan formed the fabric of daily life.

Pertinent Coming-of-Age Issue: The book masterfully handles the quiet anxieties of childhood—fitting into a new school, making friends, and navigating neighborhood rivalries.

The Perfect Balance of Humor and Heart: The story avoids feeling overtly melodramatic. Comedic, awkward situations smoothly transition into gentle, meaningful life lessons about resilience and belonging.

If you enjoy slice-of-life storytelling in the vein of R.K. Narayan’s classic Malgudi Days or the cozy, localized warmth of modern Indian web series like Panchayat, Colony Diaries is a beautiful read.