Revolution 2020: Typical Chetan Bhagat Narrative

30 nostalgic photos of manipal 1997 to 2001 — Revolution-2020

I know this has been out for a few months now, but I just got myself a copy. All right, to be honest, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to buy it after all the bad reviews / publicity that it got which is why the delay. Then when I saw it was available on Flipkart for next to nothing I thought, oh what the hell. As soon as I saw the cover with two guys and a girl, the girl holding one guy’s hand while embracing the other, some idea of what the book might be about (Three way love story / Friend / Boy Friend / Issues ) came to mind. I was right as I read up further.

Synopsis is best taken from Mr. Bhagat himself

Once upon a time, in small-town India, there lived two intelligent boys.
One wanted to use his intelligence to make money.
One wanted to use his intelligence to create a revolution.
The problem was, they both loved the same girl.

Welcome to Revolution 2020. A story about childhood friends Gopal, Raghav and Aarti who struggle to find success and love in Varanasi. However, it isn’t easy to achieve this in an unfair society that rewards the corrupt. As Gopal gives in to the system, and Raghav fights it, who will win?

What did I like about the novel? Honestly a lot of things. I can’t understand why such harsh criticism on the book. It’s written in the easy to read, never stopping, typical Chetan Bhagat style. He’s brought a book out on something that happens everyday especially in India. If anything he just penned it down. The story is about three friends and how life changes them and moulds them slowly but surely. It’s a nice simple read. The way he portrays things work with the bribes is apparent and known to everyone. Anyone who disagrees is just trying to cover up or using tunnel vision. With respect to how he has portrayed the Indian system of education, again he just penned down what’s there everywhere. Everyone knows but doesn’t talk about. With 1.3 Billion People I guess that is how to segregate the cream of the crop. The depiction of Gopal in the book is far more realistic then the depiction of Raghav who actually reminds me of a reporter in the Indian media whose name escapes me. There are far more Gopals in this system then Raghavs. The portral of Aarti is pretty accurate to how some girls actually are. Be on the honest side I personally know at least three. The ending of book is truly the correct ending as it should be. Not the pansy bed of roses that Bollywood tries to imply life really is.

Though I will admit the book isn’t perfect. While the synopsis is extremely accurate the title is what let’s the book down. The title depicts that the book will be about some revolution taking place somewhere, and besides I’d say of Gopal there really isn’t any. It’s a false title. This book is about a love story first with corruption as the back drop and more importantly sacrifice. The sacrifices our parents make for us, the lengths they go to to make sure we can get ahead and more importantly what we sacrifice on our way to get ahead. Some people sacrifice the joys, some the innocence. This is what this book is about. Get a copy.

I think the fledgling Indian population that continues to ‘read’ are making an unfair demand from the current crop of authors.

Yes, so they are not O’Henrys and Emma’s. So, what, as rightly put forth… they are making people read, they are penning down what the present India is in no uncertain terms for the future to not deny it away and most importantly, they are WRITING! How many authors have we seen, who chose to write ( iremeber Sashti Brata ” My God died Young” ! Huh.

Keep it simple, lower your expectations, (not for grammar and sentence formation though, I hate some of the new “IIT/IIM writers”, ugh!)
and Chetan Bhagat ( i concur with Kanwar here) has a flow and a pace that is easy to follow.

He doesn’t write a book that should be leather jacketed and stored on a shelf.
It is a book to buy when you are on a long journey on a train. to be read for the purpose of enjoying it. Don’t drag too deep and try to get too much out of it.

Sudhir Kekre says:

November 23, 2011 at 9:54 AM

Nice review Kanwar. Enjoyed your review more than Chetan Bhagat. 🙂

meera says:

November 28, 2011 at 10:52 PM

i didnt by it:) got it from eloor lending library. the book is okay.i liked it though i felt sad that the guy let go of his gf:(:(

Aersh Danish says:

December 28, 2011 at 10:01 PM

The only respect I have for Chetan Bhagat is for the fact that he got Indians back into reading books… apart from that I wonder if his books are even worthwhile as paperweights.

he doesn’t innovate…the only thing we see is the same old Indian society… and frankly i feel he writes as if his books would turn into movies… so it lacks the literary value… the language is poor. and although i agree he writes for for the “Indian masses” it would do people better to read other much better Indian authors.

Sambit Mohanty says:

March 10, 2012 at 4:36 AM

I think the fledgling Indian population that continues to ‘read’ are making an unfair demand from the current crop of authors.

Yes, so they are not O’Henrys and Emma’s. So, what, as rightly put forth… they are making people read, they are penning down what the present India is in no uncertain terms for the future to not deny it away and most importantly, they are WRITING! How many authors have we seen, who chose to write ( iremeber Sashti Brata ” My God died Young” ! Huh.

Keep it simple, lower your expectations, (not for grammar and sentence formation though, I hate some of the new “IIT/IIM writers”, ugh!)
and Chetan Bhagat ( i concur with Kanwar here) has a flow and a pace that is easy to follow.

He doesn’t write a book that should be leather jacketed and stored on a shelf.
It is a book to buy when you are on a long journey on a train. to be read for the purpose of enjoying it. Don’t drag too deep and try to get too much out of it.