International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Configuration, ISSN: 2582-8649, Vol. 2, No.1, January 2022 Indian Youth; Reflection in Chetan Bhagat’s Novels Jawed Husain Quraishi*; Dr. Anshu Raj Purohit** *Research Scholar; **Professor, Department of English, Career Point University, Kota, Rajasthan, India; Corresponding Author: [email protected] DOI: 10.52984/ijomrc2108 ABSTRACT: It seems significant to note that Chetan Bhagat is an imperishable name in the arena of postmodern fiction along with that a symbol of new India. He has captured his deep concern about the youth today i.e. the problems and despairs, hopes and aspirations of the youth in all his works, he has written six fictions and two non- fictions. He specifically deals with the harsh realities of life and also manages to retain the sense of pure humour in his works. His works have striking similarities with parables in offering moral messages, spiritual guidance and technical suggestions; his works can better be defined as postmodern projection of parables. The present paper is based on those issues that deals with the victories and defeats of the youth, finely observed in Chetan’s stories. Keywords: Chetan Bhagat, Fiction, Non Fiction, Postmodern, Parable, Message. INTRODUCTION: narrative which is easy to understand. The above narrated explanation of a It seems significant to note that a parable is justified by Chetan Bhagat’s parable is a simple narrative that fictions and non fictions clearly. illustrates and elaborates a universal Chetan Bhagat is a distinguished truth. A parable often involves a Indian author, a prolific writer, a noted character who encounters a moral columnist, a well-known screenwriter, dilemma or one who makes a wrong and a motivational speaker, recognized decision and then suffers the for his English-language dreamed unintended consequences. An novels about young urban middle-class important feature of the parable is the Indians. Chetan Bhagat is a luminary presence of a subtext suggesting how a who is luminous in the postmodern person should behave or what he Indian fiction which revolves round should believe. Apart from providing hopes and despairs, smiles and tears, guidance and suggestions for proper fears and cheers, happiness and sorrow, conduct in one's life, parables ambition and tribulation, love and frequently use metaphorical language separation of the youths of new India. which allows people to discuss difficult The columns about the youth, career or complex ideas in an easier way. development and current affairs are Parables manifest an abstract argument also written by a celebrated public by means of employing a concrete 81 International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Configuration, ISSN: 2582-8649, Vol. 2, No.1, January 2022 intellectual, Chetan Bhagat. Chetan averages (GPAs) and their (mis) Bhagat rose to eminence in a short adventures in the four years they span of time. His style of writing is spend at IIT. The whole story simple, lucid and vivid with graphic talks about the constant struggle to descriptions and linear narratives. beat a system which judges everyone by their GPA, and As per his view, novels are perfect which, they feel, suppresses the devices for both inspiration and creativity of a person. So they set entertainment and further he out to make the most of extra- disseminates his views and opinion curricular college life, by devising about society and youth. schemes which will help them to maintain their five point something averages with just two Discussion Issues Raised In or three hours of study a day. Chetan Bhagat’s Selected Novels: Further the upcoming free time is spent in boyish adventures, be it 1. FIVE POINT SOMEONE: playing squash, roaming the city Chetan Bhagat‘s first novel Five or trying to woo the professor‘s Point Someone…. is not to help daughter. On the whole all that people who aspire to get into the they should not do at IIT. But the IIT, or even help those who are one thought nagging them all is, already there to pass out will they make it? successfully. It discusses an The book, also deals with the important problem of the youth fears and insecurities of the students in today – why do students at elite one of the country‘s top institutions, institutes sacrifice their youth for besides having a humorous appeal. Its the sake of a successful adulthood. description of the lives of the students It is general notion that student in IIT or other higher-education graduates from India‘s prestigious institutions such as IIM or NID rings technology universities get good true. Even the chances are that it could jobs, make great money and are be Harvard, except for the regional eagerly sought-after marriage flavor of the locales. IIT provides the partners. Contrary to this it is well backdrop against which the story depicted in Chetan Bhagat‘s unfolds, but it could just as well have charming debut novel ‘Five Point been any other elite institution elite in Someone….’ they end up in a terms of the aspirations of its students Faustian bargain i.e. either they but we can say eclectic in terms of commit suicide or they spoil their their social, cultural and economic career as well as their lives. The backgrounds. story ‘Five Point Someone….’ is In the competitive atmosphere about a guy, Hari, and his two of IIT the author delves into the minds friends, who consider themselves of the students, their motivations and the underdogs because they have aspirations. It is important to note that five point something, grade point the personal lives of the characters are 82 International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Configuration, ISSN: 2582-8649, Vol. 2, No.1, January 2022 also beautifully interwoven into the the book, if not for nothing else, simply narrative. The protagonist‘s because it breaks many myths. involvement with his professor‘s daughter forms the love angle of the 2. THE THREE MISTAKES OF plot, and their love life accounts for MY LIFE: It is significant to mention more than a few laughs. It is added to that this book is a good come back by the drama that her father is the kind of Chetan Bhagat after One Night @ the person no underperformer wants to Call Center. It involves the major meet. Further, he is left low-key, but headlines of early 2000 like the Gujarat not underplayed while portraying the earthquake, India- Australia test series, warmth of friendship or bonds of and the 9/11 and not to forget the attachment. Godhra train mishap. Apart from In this book the commonly held cricket, business and religion it also notions that IITians generally have are has the mesmerizing love story dispelled. It seems significant to note between Govind and Vidya. The Novel that life at IIT is totally performance- deals with recent incidents and the oriented, with never ending notes, story is fictious, its not about Chetan assignments, lectures etc. It talks about Bhagat‘s life. It is sentiment, romance, the GPA system, which kills the social message, business, life, students‘originality. As the story ends, relations, and religion and of course the characters realize that this is the Cricket. Chetan Bhagat has addressed a drudgery that makes IITians what they sensitive issue in the most sensible and are. The narrative has included many unique way. He has presented the facts, funny incidents, like when Hari sneaks narrated a story in a neutral way. The into the professor‘s house in the middle story is about three friends Omi, of the night to wish his daughter a Govind and Isha and it is presented happy birthday, or when he appears for through Govind‘s eyes and it‘s his a viva after downing half a bottle of three mistakes of life that are vodka to “boost his confidence”. The presented. Govind is a true Gujarati, dialogues used are fresh and youthful interested in coming up on his own in and the language used is original. life, through business. Further it talks Chetan Bhagat removes the mask of about Ish who is an avid cricket player intellectualism with which the IITs are whose passion lies in playing, teaching associated and uses casual, easy- and watching cricket. Omi is a priest’s flowing style. The everyday realities son who doesn‘t have any ambition of have been so well webbed that it does his own and just moves along with his not take you to a wonderland, but two friends. The journey of these rather moves you smoothly towards simple people in life, how their lives realities that are pleasant and fun- get affected by the worst disasters in filled. His grasp of the human psyche Gujarat‘s history is portrayed in a is well reflected in his works. The simple yet efficient way by Chetan author is well aware of the fact that Bhagat. You get inspirational lesson by there would be a great readership for this book, it teaches you how your dreams crash into pieces by unexpected 83 International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Configuration, ISSN: 2582-8649, Vol. 2, No.1, January 2022 events but how with support from soon. It‘s a book with nice ingredients people around, you gets back on track, of real events and fiction perfectly focus and ultimately rebuild your cooked for a delicious dish. We dreams. This novel especially comes at curiously read about all the mistakes. a time when people only want to come 3. 2 STATES: The Story of My up with excuses to show or feel how Marriage, Chetan Bhagat disapproves different they are rather than see the the social and linguistic differences in common aspects and bring oneness the people belonging to different states which can keep us together and and also their discrimination on the achieve our common goal of growth, basis of their colour, face, dress, peace and prosperity. The language language and manners. based on throughout the story connects well with Chetan Bhagat's own life. It is the story the youth of India, the narration has about a couple coming from two improved, and all in all Chetan Bhagat different states in India, who faces has improved in all the departments of hardships in convincing their parents to writing a book. He has again proved approve of their marriage. The story that to As per his writing we can begins in when Krish, a Punjabi boy deduce that if you want to be a best from Delhi catches sight of a beautiful novelist you don‘t need fabulous girl, Ananya, a Tamilian from Chennai vocabulary or you don‘t need awesome and they meet in the IIM Ahmedabad critics review, all you need is a thread mess hall. Gradually, within a few days to connect to the plain minds of people. their friendship turns into romantic To sum up we can say that this book involvement. Further, they make has the same type of narrative serious plans for their engagement after storytelling, the homely Indian girls their employment. At first Krish tries trying to lose their virginity and the so to convince Ananya's parents by called boys felling shy and guilty after helping Ananya's father to do his first having sex with them............Neha in PowerPoint Presentation, her brother, Five Point Someone and Vidya in 3 Manju, by giving him IIT tuition and mistakes of my life..., well there are later convinces her mom by asking her many people out there and each to sing in a concert organized by person‘s life is a different best-seller Krish's office, i.e. Citi Bank. It is on its own. Chetan Bhagat writes in his significant to note that she is simple, charming vocabulary with the convinced as her biggest dream of lingo of typical Indian youth- with his singing at a big concert comes true; she homework done he has again published sings along with S. P. a good book; and got his work out Balasubrahmaniam and Hariharan. there in the market. The book is really After that they try to convince Krish's good, and induces curiosity and mom. The real problem occurs when Overall it‘s a good book. Chetan his mother's relatives reject the idea of Bhagat has been clever by stating their engagement. They opine that 3mistakes and you keep flipping the Krish should not marry a Tamilian but pages for knowing the other two as the end up agreeing with them when 1st mistake you'll come to know quite Ananya tries to help one of Krish's 84 International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Configuration, ISSN: 2582-8649, Vol. 2, No.1, January 2022 cousins to get married and succeeds to ventures to inform the youth of his do so. Krish neither shares his feelings country. He advises the youth to fix nor keeps a harmonious bonding with marriage on the criteria: physical his father. He has had a strong hatred symmetry, education, and financial for him. After convincing both their position and gender skills. As per his parents they now try to introduce each suggestions one should find in one’s other's parents. They go to Goa. But match four things. First, the match this dream of theirs shatters as should be almost equal in physical Ananya's parents smell something properties. They should be suspicious between Krish's mom and sufficiently educated. Their financial him. Ananya's family ends up deciding position should be considerably that Krish and Ananya will not marry profound and they should be adept in each other. Although, Krish's father, their gender jobs i.e. the boy should was like an enemy for Krish, helps know how to manage family Krish and Ananya to get married as he expenses and a girl should know how convinces Ananya's family to properly keep the house. Chetan successfully. Krish now realizes his Bhagat further gives important father's love for him. The novel is suggestions and says the youths narrated in a first person point of view should follow their heart; knowing in a humorous tone, often taking digs what they want and sticking to their at both Tamil and Punjabi cultures. At decision is most important. the end of the novel Ananya gives birth CONCLUSION: to twin boys. He says that the babies To sum up, Chetan Bhagat‘s belong to a state called 'India'; Chetan Novel has laid bare various social Bhagat makes it clear that his children issues pertaining to young generation will be identified only as Indians not ranging from love marriage, by the tag of any religion or state. He generation gap, dowry & other many comments, “They will be Indian. social issues. Usually, it provides They will be above all this nonsense. solution of all the problems. He has If all young people marry outside emerged as a realistic writer with their community, it is good for the objective opinion but leaves his country. This is the greater readers to contemplate the purpose.”(P-103) prospective solutions of the problems The novel records the supreme spirit they are grappling with. His novels of nationalism. It is based on the leave a lasting impact through social and amorous endeavours of narrative technique, language two main characters – Ananya selection, episode selection and Swaminathan and Krish Malhotra. cinematographic treatment of the The novel attempts to unite not only subject content are par excellence. two states but also two traditions and cultures. It tries to represent the people of the nation only as Indians not as castes, religions, states etc. This is the only thing the novelist 85 International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Configuration, ISSN: 2582-8649, Vol. 2, No.1, January 2022 Reference: 4. Bhagat, Chetan: The Real Dirty Picture/ A Column: The 1. Bhagat, Chetan, 2004: Five Times of India, February12, Points Someone, New Delhi: 2012. Rupa & co. 5. Das Biswas, Mun Mun: 2. Bhagat, Chetan, 2008: The 3 Depiction of Youth Culture Mistakes of My Life. New in Chetan Bhagat’s Five Delhi: Rupa & co. Point Someone. 3. Bhagat, Chetan, 2009. 2 States. New Delhi: Rupa & co. ……………………… 86