Chetan Bhagat’s Revolution 2020 and Raanjhanaa

Is Raanjhanaa a movie inspired by Chetan Bhagat's 'Revolution 2020' with some changes? Finished reading the book one year after I bought it. (I think it is insult to a writer if you buy but don’t read). I skipped pages because I did not really enjoy whole of it. Initial portion when characters are young is good while later parts are all politics and like pen-pushing. I liked this from page-16: Boy had stolen and eaten a chocolate cake from tiffin-box of a girl. The girl became furious and cried her heart out. So later, he takes a box of laddoos and brings to her but she refuses! Loved it when the boy says, "Why? You firang or what?" :) She says, "No, laddoos make you fat. I don't want to be fat." Boy hits back: "Chocolate cake doesn't make you fat? :) Later on much of his intelligence and humor is lost because he becomes love-sick. Same old story but with a love triangle. I wish they made the movie better than the book.

Book Review: What Young India Wants by Chetan Bhagat

‘What Young India Wants: Selected Essays and Columns’

By Chetan Bhagat

Rupa Publications

ISBN 978-81-291-2021-2

This book is a collection of newspaper articles and columns published by the author Chetan Bhagat. The book starts with Chetan talking about himself and his life, in fact in the manner of a concise autobiography, though readers may find it unnecessary. Then there are about 30+ articles collected for the book which span over many issues and subjects, with the central theme being India and its progress.

I personally didn’t agree with many of the view points mentioned by the author and many arguments. For example, do you really think a diverse and big country like India can ever be compared with a city state like Singapore? It will be like comparing apples with oranges and all the statistics and parameters of these two countries will take us nowhere. The pages show that the author is deeply concerned about India and wants progress here, which is very appreciable. I think young readers should definitely think about the issues Chetan Bhagat takes to write upon. They may or may not agree with him, but at least the thinking will create something positive and will be an improvement over statuesque.

For not so serious thinkers and casual reading but never without readers’ own perspectives on the subjects.

- Rahul