If Chetan Bhagat is an author, so am I and so is anybody who can write a few sentences in English.
To me, he is a businessman- a shrewd marketing guy who knows how to milk the masses. Why am I suddendly talking about him? Well, it is not sudden, I have been thinking about this for some time now- in fact I've had a few arguments about his credibility with some of my friends. However, this time, as someone talked highly about his recent book, (I don't remember its name, but it is the one about a North-South love story) I decided to write why I think Mr. Bhagat is nothing more than a gimmick!
The general argument in his favor is that he has initiated a lot of young people into reading! Really??? I don't think the Indian masses are so deprived of good content that they need Mr.Bhagat to bring them closer to the books! I consider myself a fairly avid reader and I have never felt the need of a cheap potboiler to keep me busy. There is an immense treasure of good Indian writers- from Tagore and Premchand to Vikram Chandra and Jhumpa Lahiri. There are gems in every language, every genre that will appeal to most people. The reason Mr.Bhagat is probably popular or is claimed to be popular is because he creates this huge marketing propaganda around his books (his recent drama during the 3i release is a case in point) that generates enough interest in his work. Moreover, we have a huge population and considering that when and how many do you call a lot, when do you start calling a book a "bestseller", who reviews these books, who determines that people are enjoying his books? These are all unanswered unknowns that together create an impression that he is a phenomenon! Moreover, I think that most serious book lovers/readers have long left him for good. The language, the sentence structure and grammar in his books is so naive and the plot so thin that any school kid can write a story. And I can say this because I have his first 2 books and that was enough for me to understand his quality and stop reading him. His choice of populist topics, his short, crumb like sentences and his forewords, where he never fails to let people know that he is an MBA grad from one of the premier schools of India are all symbols that scream to me that he is not an author, he is just practising what he learnt at his MBA school!
The fact that he is making millions is only more proof that investing in an MBA degree is the best bet in today's times!
Yep! CB is a brilliant marketing guy! It was his move to market his books below 100 bucks that made ppl buy them.
ReplyDeleteHis books release during vacation time and that too makes them sell more.
He writes no literary masterpiece's but masses can relate to what he writes.
Despite all his flaws I strongly believe that he has revloutionised the Indian Reading scenario! Correct, many brilliant authors of Indian origin do exist but are they readable to masses??? Ppl might not have heard the names of half the brilliant writers in India but am sure they have read all the books by CB. As I always say, I myself have questioned ppl when they buy 3 Mistakes from CB and all I get to listen is "for 75 Rs it's ok".
Am an avid reader but I can not stop admiring CB for what he has achieved!!!!
Thanks Smita for reading my post and putting your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteWell, I agree and disagree with you on this.
I agree that his books are priced low and make reading affordable. I also agree to an extent that his topics are relatable to the masses, but I think that I personally cannot admire him for what he has done so far.
Dear Manya,
ReplyDeleteI would partially agree and disagree with you. I agree that none of his works is a literary masterpiece, but neither he nor any literary critic has claimed it to be.People who throng the bookstalls to collect the latest work of Chetan Bhagat do so because of the interesting , humorous and well laid-out plot. His works, even for a literary buff , are definitely a one time read . Moreover, the readers are able to connect with his plots . For instance , in his first work - 'Five point someone' ,which shot him to instant fame, readers were able to associate instantly with the main protagonists and were taken back to their college days .Bunking classes, romancing with a professor's daughter ,etc ,which are the fantasies of every youth, struck a chord with the readers .
I do agree that the controversies and sensationalism created by 3 Idiots might be his doing and he surely might have been tempted to rake the moolah . But , this shadows neither his intellectual merit nor of his works .
Hey Siddhartha,
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading my post and I really appreciate your comments.
You are right about his plots and all.
I guess what prompted me to write this piece was my disappointment after reading Dan Brown's latest.I felt frustrated with people getting away with mediocre writing and still getting high marks from people.
Yeah . I have read only one of his works : 5 points someone. And I totally agree with this : If Chetan Bhagat is an author, so am I and so is anybody who can write a few sentences in English.
ReplyDeletefinally someone who agrees with me!:)
ReplyDeleteThanks Ani!