A letter to Chetan Bhagat understanding the hatred scenario

By Prathyusha Vedula

Chetan Bhagat. Is there anybody out there who doesn’t know him? Who hasn’t have had him in their teens as the most gossipped author for his books? I bet, not.

He has created a massive revolution of his fiction to get India into reading.

10 years ago*

During school, I remember exchanging ‘What Young India Wants’ for ‘5 Point Someone’, recommending the non-readers to read them and challenging them that they wouldn’t stop reading ever after.

Probably, that was the first time I could see such a huge audience suddenly plunging into reading when the Chetan Bhagat era started. The scope for reading, the interest among groups, and the enthusiasm for books began to elevate to new heights. Ask a random student- Who is your favorite author? What was the last book that you’ve read? What is the best book of fiction that you’ve read? 90 percent of the answers end up being ‘Chetan Bhagat’.

10 years later* (now)

*Chetan Bhagat accused of sexual harassment*, *Chetan Bhagat caught in a controversy*, *Responses to Chetan Bhagat’s Open letter to Kashmir Youth* pop out as the most popular highlights on the internet.

Meanwhile, in quora, questions like ‘Why does India hate Chetan Bhagat so much?‘ is put up in as many ways as possible and thousands of readers get involved in the conversation.

Wait. What is happening?

Understanding Chetan Bhagat and the hatred scenario

Yes. Chetan Bhagat indeed helped a humongous part of the non-readers community to get into reading through his books. Five Point Someone, One Night at the Call Centre, and 2 States are definitely a few of my personal favorites. They received a hugely positive response and love. Many of his books also were made into Bollywood movies. Things went well until…

India is a developing country. Our parents have known the same about India, we know the same and our children might do. It is great to be progressing. I don’t even know if ‘India is a developed country’ would be a better statement than the former. Anyways.

Development and progress are what one seeks to be a better person. Applying the same to Chetan Bhagat’s books.

Thousands of people took to Instagram and Twitter talking about the same cliched plots and the very predictable endings that Chetan Bhagat is not improving on.

If Chetan Bhagat is trying to make India taste literature through his books, no it’s not happening. We’ve reached the verge of impatience to pick out your next book to find the same undeveloped plot, rampant sexism, and misogyny.

We agree with him that he researches a lot before he writes and gives his best.

We respect you for waxing your hair assuming you would know a woman’s real pain when you were working on ‘One Indian Girl’. But, that is not all. The books showcase more sex and romance than any other aspect. If that is why you think people in India are reading Chetan Bhagat’s books, sorry.

Similar to how a writer puts himself/herself into what she writes, a reader equally gets involved in it. Spending so much time, concentration, patience, and interest in a book and gaining little is a pity.

Every time we expect the new book of Chetan Bhagat to be different, we fail, losing interest.

What India is showing presently is not hatred but mere criticism in another form. Regarding Chetan Bhagat supreme once upon a time and cutting it down to nowhere feels awful. The reason why India is still reading his books is that we have faith in him.

Seeking good literature, different plots, and unperturbed is a reader’s right. When this seems to be digressing, criticism started to grow.

Concern

Personally, we don’t want this to happen. From being such an appreciated, talented pop fiction writer, we hope he starts over again with his next book. Hoping to read a better one, the next time.

For a good cause.

– Your concerned readers (those kids who once said, ‘2 States is my favorite’)