Chetan Bhagat
breaks the image of a college writer
and steps into a cult of his own with his new and most thought provoking book, Revolution
2020. In this book, Bhagat not only shows his dream of a revolution to tackle
the innumerable social and political problems sucking the life out of the
nation today; but also touches down on the more sensitive side of the young
Indian psyche. The underlying theme grabs the attention of the audience where
circumstances turn an orphan whom you just cannot feel enough sympathetic
about, into a corrupt manipulative ‘Sir’; yet he manages to show that humanity
shall always prevail in hearts, even though modern agendas like ‘practicality’ and
‘money-mindedness’ may have their shine in time, humanity dies only with the
human.
As always,
Bhagat manages to give a picture of India in its everyday routine. Be it bribes
at every stage of the bureaucracy, pressure behind the marriage of a girl, the
decade long cases in the courts or the flight of the ambition of the common
man; Bhagat shows the extent the Indian man has to go to achieve his dreams. He
doesn’t let a ‘cut’ of 20%, or two horrible years in a city which improves a
slight chance for getting into a college which might change the face of his
family someday. Bhagat also reveals the consequences faced by those who choose
to bring a revolution to the country by trying to be an example. Somehow, the
advice from parents to be honest and brave changes the moment they realise they
will not be there forever to look after their patron.
For the 2nd
time, Bhagat probes into the mind of the Indian female and digs deep into her
life, her pressures and choices she is compelled to live with. Her character
also reveals the complex sexual tension when she finds herself askew between
‘commitment’ and ‘love’. Bhagat pens down an extraordinary character in the face
of Aarti who probes into the thoughts of the reader, was her decision correct?
In a nutshell,
Bhagat makes the blood gushing into the veins of Indian readers once again. You
can see the constant shift from being a college writer to a writer who writes
with a mission, sending out a message at large. This time, he asks a question.
The revolution is coming. Are you ready for it?
