Colony Diaries: The C3 Move by Anupam Parganiah brings the warmth, humor, and emotional depth of 1980s India to readers across the world in a debut novel already making waves as a #1 Amazon Bestseller and Top 3 title in Indian Literature in both the U.S. and India.
Set in the steel township of Bhilai in 1989, Colony Diaries: The C3 Move follows ten-year-old Amit Verma and his sister Guddi as they settle into their new home in the C3 colony cluster. Through their eyes, readers experience the everyday rhythms of middle school life, the formation of friendships, and the quiet tensions that shape growing up. Adding a distinctive narrative layer is Jackie, the colony dog and “Chief Human Observer,” whose perspective brings insight, wit, and unexpected poignancy to the unfolding story.
Blending nostalgia with emotional authenticity, the novel captures a time when life revolved around shared courtyards, cricket matches in dusty lanes, and evenings with Doordarshan. It is a story about transition and resilience—about the small, defining moments of childhood that often go unnoticed until they become memory.
Drawing inspiration from timeless works like Malgudi Days by R. K. Narayan, as well as contemporary titles such as Remarkably Bright Creatures and The Travelling Cat Chronicles, Parganiah crafts a narrative that feels both rooted in Indian culture and universally relatable. The book also echoes the emotional sensibilities found in the works of Arundhati Roy and Sudha Murty.
The story is deeply personal for Anupam Parganiah, who grew up in Bhilai before moving abroad. Inspired by shows like Kota Factory and Panchayat, and shaped by his own memories of township life, he set out to preserve the spirit of a generation that grew up before the digital age. The result is a vivid, heartfelt portrayal of a world that continues to live on in memory.
Adding to its uniqueness, the audiobook version is narrated by the author’s wife, creating an intimate listening experience that reflects the family-driven spirit behind the book. The project itself was inspired in part by his daughter, making Colony Diaries not just a story about family, but one created through it.
Praised as “the Malgudi Days of our generation,” Colony Diaries: The C3 Move resonates strongly with readers who long for stories of simpler times, meaningful relationships, and the bittersweet nature of growing up. Its appeal spans generations, particularly among those who remember—or wish to rediscover—the texture of life in India’s residential colonies.
The book is now available in print, eBook, and audiobook formats through major online platforms.
Order Your Copy: https://www.amazon.in/dp/937002882X
