Book Title: Realistically Possible
Author: Vandana Gupta
Publisher: Rupa Publications India
Number of Pages: 136
ISBN: 9376467485
Date Published: Aug. 1, 2026
Book Review
Vandana Gupta’s “Realistically Possible” is an extraordinarily warm, funny, and deeply moving memoir that captures the grit behind educational leadership. Raised by a courageous single mother who taught in a rustic village school without basic furniture, Gupta learned early on that strength isn’t about grand gestures, but showing up every single day. From her childhood in a Haryana boarding school to becoming a principal at just thirty-five, her life story proves that building institutions—and building a life—is an act of quiet, persistent courage.
What makes this memoir hit so close to home is its raw, human honesty. Vandana doesn’t shy away from the exhausting reality of balancing a bustling joint family, late-night doctoral research, and 4:30 a.m. routines. As a principal, her challenges went far beyond lesson plans—she navigated high-tension power lines over school sites, land encroachment threats, and bureaucratic hurdles, once even cradling her feverish daughter in administrative halls just to secure property papers. Through every crisis, her deep empathy for her students and staff shines through.
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Yet, for all its emotional weight, the book is packed with charming, entertaining moments. Whether she is recounting her children acting as fashion auditors and forcing her into stilettos for a school reunion, indulging in saree shopping trips in Bhopal, or sharing a heartwarming meal offered by a caring school didi, Author Vandana Gupta reminds us that progress happens through small, ordinary choices. It is a delightful read for anyone needing a gentle, empowering reminder that you don’t need a perfect plan—you just have to do what is realistically possible.
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