Before diving into his bibliography, it is crucial to understand the man behind the words. Born in 1919 in Mumbai, Pu. La. witnessed the pre-independence era, the post-colonial struggles, and the modernization of India. His formal education in law and teaching didn't constrain him; instead, it gave him the tools to dissect middle-class Indian life with surgical precision and heartfelt empathy.
While contemporaries focused on serious realism or romanticism, Pu. La. carved a niche in humor and satire. However, to label his books as mere "funny reads" would be a disservice. His humor is laced with pathos, his satire with deep humanism. He is often called the "Mark Twain of India," but in truth, Pu. La. stands on his own unique pedestal.
In Asa Mi Asami (Such a Person I Am), Pu. La. turns his gaze inward. The book is a monologue—a dramatic, humorous confession of an average man grappling with his own mediocrity, moral failings, and societal pressures. p l deshpande books
The protagonist tries to justify his laziness, his compromises, and his small hypocrisies to the reader. In doing so, Pu. La. holds up a mirror to the reader. We laugh at the character, then realize we are laughing at ourselves.
Why you should read it: It is one of the sharpest satires on the Indian middle-class mindset. It is uncomfortable, hilarious, and deeply cathartic. Before diving into his bibliography, it is crucial
Before becoming a writer, Pu. La. was a dramatist. His one-act plays are still performed by amateur Marathi theater groups.
These plays read like short stories. The dialogue is crisp, and the character arcs are complete within 20-30 pages. For students of theater, these books are textbooks on efficient storytelling. These plays read like short stories
For those looking to buy physical copies, the standard publisher for most of his works is Mauj Prakashan Griha (Mumbai). They offer uniform editions with iconic cover art (often featuring Pu. La. himself, wearing his signature spectacles and a warm grin).