Re-reading Cultural Materialism: A Study of Bandhu Ram Basumatari’s Short Story “The Cobweb of Darkness”
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11103462
Author(s): Dr. Chandrima Sen
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11103462
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Volume 15 | Issue 2 | April 2024
Pages: 81-89
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The Criterion: An International Journal in English Vol. 15, Issue-II, April 2024 ISSN: 0976-8165
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https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10448030
Chetan Bhagat’s Vision of Life and His Youth Calling Approach
Dr. Rajeev Kumar Sharma
Professor,
Department of Humanities,
Lakshmi Narain College of Technology (LNCT),
Bhopal (M.P.)
Article History: Submitted-12/03/2024, Revised-11/04/2024, Accepted-18/04/2024, Published-30/04/2024.
Abstract:
Chetan Bhagat is one of the most celebrated fiction writers in Indian Writing in
English. His writings are considered as representative of issues disturbing young generation.
He highlights the confusion, troubles and dilemmas that the youth is facing in modern society.
Chetan Bhagat has merged both highbrow and lowbrow genres into one, which is now accepted
as the best-seller genre of Indian English literature. He takes the people from the real-life
metropolis. His novels go around the lives of the youth. Bhagat writes about the youth and
specifically for the youth. Everyone feels as if Bhagat writes to him. He is in true sense the
author of today’s generation because of his description on the topics which have a great
relevance in today’s life. This paper is a distinct study of Chetan Bhagat’s novels. As a writer,
he is gifted with an extraordinary ability to deal with various facets of human life. His
popularity as a writer rests basically on his intimate understanding of human nature. This study
examines various aspects of life portrayed in his selected novels. The novels selected for this
study are Five Point Someone, 2 States, One Night @ the Call Center, The 3 Mistakes of My
Life, Revolution 2020, and Half Girlfriend. This study reveals that Bhagat’s novels provide a
realistic portrayal of contemporary Indian society, capturing the aspirations, dreams, struggles,
and challenges faced by young Indians.
Keywords: Chetan Bhagat, Indian youth, human life, Indian society, social change.
Introduction
Chetan Bhagat has always tried to touch upon something new in his writings. His
writings have always been close to reality and presented a true picture of life in Indian society.
He has always expressed himself in a way that every generation can connect itself to it. He has
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started a crusade against eradicating the evils of the society by his ‘sugar coated’ novels. Chetan
Bhagat, in almost all his novels, highlights the problems faced by the youth and society. It has
been one of the major reasons why his writings have seized the minds of the younger
generation. Though he has written a handful of books, he has touched upon a variety of subjects
from life at call center, secularism, present education system, inter- community marriages,
corruption and many more. His fictional art, a fine synthesis of contradictions, has opened new
windows to present the realities that were earlier hidden in invisible terrains.
Bhagat as a writer of Modern sensibility
Ever since the time India opted to go global, extensive socio- economic, political and
technological changes have shaped the face of India. The generations before 1991 who could
look around and make sense of the world are lucky to see two different times. One quite
stagnant and the other one full of vibrantly globalizing activities. Globalization has become the
buzz word after 1991 and has touched all the spheres of Indian life and experience. Bhagat very
comfortably depicts this atmosphere in his works. He vividly shows his understanding of the
pain and passion of changing urban realities in India in this globalized world. The shifting
paradigms of life conditions prepare the fabric of new modes of social behaviors, personal
relations, value systems and the commitments of social order.
With the appearance of his debut novel Five Point Someone (2004) Chetan Bhagat
catapulted to spectacular fame in Indian fiction world. It opens the lives of exam oppressed
students who cram to get into Indian Institute of Technology and then rebel against the
stultifying atmosphere of academic competition. The novelist has, from his first hand
experience, clearly portrayed ragging, hostel life, increasing suicide cases and the eccentric
elitist world of India’s most prestigious institutes. The very next year came Bhagat’s second
novel, One Night @ the Call Center (2005) which depicts the aspirations and plights of the
workers surviving in the oppressive work culture of the call centers. His third novel The Three
Mistakes of My Life (2008) reveals the condition of aspiring businessmen in India, failing to
pursue economic gains, the ups and downs of middle class to keep the body and soul together.
Gujarat earthquake, religious politics and Godhara riots are some of the current issues of the
time raised by the novelist. With his fourth novel Two States of My Marriage (2009) Bhagat
reflects on the issue of inter racial marriages. This novel portrays how the culture can create
differences in the matrimonial alliances. Chetan Bhagat’s latest novel Revolution 2020 (2011)
is again a criticism of the creeping of the virus of corruption ruining the sanctity of educations
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system. Therefore, Bhagat, through his writings, takes upon the sensitive issues which concern
to the society ranging from romantic love story to a deplorable condition of present educations
system.
Chetan Bhagat has a realization that education plays a significant role in the formation
of the psyche of the youths of India and it subsequently sets the fabric of the socio-political life
of the country. The students are obsessed with the passion for seeking admission in the most
prestigious institutions of India. The anxiety of admission is creating havoc in the life of the
youth of India.
Traditional teaching methodology:
Chetan Bhagat through this novel indirectly conveys a serious message in a humorous
tone that it is a wakeup call for the elite technical institutes to replace the traditional teaching
style of ‘I teach; you listen’ with an approach that develops students’ own abilities to collect,
select, filter and assimilate information; that inspires students’ creativity by developing their
life-long abilities; and that teacher students how to learn efficiently and actively. The emphasis
should be placed on learning methods instead of knowledge accumulation; and we need to help
students turn their knowledge into innovate ability. Five Point Someone in a mild tone points
out that our technical education has become a lifeless system and needs reformation. The
limitation of IIT system was intricately brought out by the remarks of Ryan Oberoi in a get
together party:
You know guys, this whole IIT system is sick. Because, tell me how many
great engineers or scientists have came out of IIT? I mean that is supposed
to be the best college in India, the best technology institute for a country
of a billion. But has IIT ever invented anything? Or made any technical
contribution to India? Over thirty years of IITs, yet, all it does is train
some bright kids to work in multinationals. I mean look at MIT in USA…
what is wrong in the system… where is the room for original thought?
Where is the time for creativity? It is not fair (34-35).
Ryan, Alok and Hari emerge as a voice of collective criticism against a system that is
providing no opportunity for the expression of independent knowledge rather sacrificing their
talent in securing jobs. It induces greater anxiety and loneliness He therefore, advises his
students who are standing on the threshold of their future: “believe in yourself, and don’t let a
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GPA, performance review or promotion in job define you. There is more to life than these
things…” (261)
Thus, Bhagat puts a lot of emphasis an observational teaching and hints towards off-
quoted phrase “Human Resource Development” which is one of the objectives of technical
institutes. The technical institutes should develop the technical skills, key competencies and on
lance the organizational performance of an individual. These technical institutes should
motivate the budding technocrats to think beyond the textbooks.
Indian Education system
Chetan Bhagat’s latest novel Revolution 2020 stands for the revolutionary spirit of the
author. It addresses some burning issues of India today, like the rotten education system and
corruption in public life. This novel is the story about three friends Gopal, Arti and Raghav. In
this novel Bhagat describes about the corruption apparent in the Indian educational system
where Gopal is the “most uneducated director” (Chetan Bhagat: 03) of Ganga Tech college of
Engg. & MBA. These institutes are approved through corruption, link of corruption from top
to bottom. He also describes that our education system is a good business for politicians to
invest their black money into the private colleges or institute to make it white “You want me to
open a college? I haven’t even been to college”. (120) “Most people who own college in India
haven’t. Stupid people go to college. Smart People own them.” (120). This is the condition of
our educational institutes.
The three friends cherish their own ambitions in life. Gopal selects financial wealth and
comfort in life, Raghav wants to bring social and political change in the country and Arti aspires
to become air-hostess. Raghav disregards the suggestion of his father to get admission in IIT,
even though he was eligible for it. He listens to his heart and emerges as a successful journalist.
After being unsuccessful in both the IIT-JEE and AIEEE, Gopal is forced by his father to move
to Kota, ‘the capital of coaching classes’, to join a coaching center as a repeater. Gopal records
the sentiments of millions of engineering students:
The AIEEE attracted ten touch students annually for thirty thousand seats
in the National Institutes of Technology across the country. Every
engineering aspirant took these exams. I don’t want to be an engineer.
Baba wished to see me at once. (23)
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Commercialization of Education: Root of Corruption
The novel can be seen as an attempt to bring the fore the anomaly of Non-Profit
Organizations and commercialization of education. The role of politicians who are not very
literate but still holds the courage of opening an institute of higher education has been comically
depicted by the author. Shuklaji, the MLA said:
If we had straight forward and clean system, these professors would open
their own colleges, blue chip companies and software firms could open
college. The system is twisted; they don’t want to touch it that is where
we come in. (Revolution 2020: 166)
Raghav and Gopal in Revolution 2020, suggest the two dimensions the corrupt
education system. At every stage Raghav is apprehensive of Gopal’s ambitious plan of Ganga
Tech College. He enquires, “What will be the faculty ratio?” and in the same breathe admits, “I
can’t be a part of a corrupt enterprise.” (164) Shuklaji the MLA has clear plan in his mind how
to use his art for manipulating these directors of the college. Chetan Bhagat asserts that such
private colleges have provided a safer shelter to all mafias and corrupt persons of society.
Money is being produced in these colleges but blood is being sucked. Sunil, with contempt
goes on elaborating the creation of the corrupt system in education:
It scares me to even think of studying at these places. Liquor barons are
running colleges? Politicians, builders, beedi makers. Anybody with
experience in a shady business does really well in education. (116)
This exposure of the picture of corruption marks on the relationship of Shuklaj and
Gopal. On the realization of the consequences, Gopal is almost petrified. Bhagat organizes the
events to enhance the impact of the situation, “What is it, Gopal? I had to call CM. These stupid
articles are the biggest headaches.” “Sir we have bulldozers here.” (192)
In the novel Raghav becomes a mouthpiece of the novelist, to expose the evils rampant
in education system. Shuklaji, is busy in publicity in media and newspaper to secure more and
more recognition for his institution. As a foil to his ambition Reghav in the newspaper publishes
an article, with the headline, “New Engineering College opens in city – with corruption
money?”(175) This single article becomes a challenge to the reputation of Gange Teeh to Gopal
and to Shuklaji. Through Raghav, Chetan Bhagat communicates his prophetic vision to ensure
peace and justice in India. One side of Indian society is represented by Rahav, the social activist
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and the other by Shuklaji, the MLA- the image of corruption and human apathy. In his
newspaper entitled “Revolution 2020” Raghav clarifies about his dreams of a society:
Revolution 2020: That’s his goal. The India must have a full blown
revolution by 202. Power will be with the youth. We will dismantle the
old corrupt systems and put a new one in its place. (197)
Chetan Bhagat’s Revolution 2020 is not a fantasy but a prophetic vision of life free from
the horrible shadows of corruption and filthy passion. With the publication of this novel,
Cheatan Bhagat has taken a new stride in the realm of Indian fiction. His idea of revolution is
the synthesis of the idea of evaluation of human spirit and the image of a corruption free nation
imparts a timeless popularity to the novel. In a true postmodern sense, Bhagat acts as a social
critic, highlighting the biggest problem of the Indian society.
Anxieties and Insecurities of Young Generation
In the fictional world of Chetan Bhagat personal relationship is a part of the total system
and not an isolated romantic activity. In his first dating with Priyanka, instead of making
reflections on any romantic idealism Hari makes serious discussions on some serious problem
of life. He criticizes the psyche of politicians who remain indifferent to the sentiments of public.
The fabric of life lacks morality and religious faiths. Life is being governed and guided by
consumer choice. In the following conversation of Priyanka and Shyam, there are serious
reflections on the deplorable conditions of the country. In context of one of the article entitled
“Why Don’t Politicians suicide”, Vroom reveals:
The article said all kinds of people – Students, housewives, businessmen,
employees and even film stars – commit suicide. But politicians never do.
That tells you something. Well, Vroom’s point was that suicide is a
horrible thing and people do it only because they are really hurt. This
means they feel something. But politicians don’t. So, basically, this
country is run by people who don’t feel anything. (Chetan Bhagat: One
Night @ the Call Center, 47)
A Clash of two System- The Old and the New
With the coming of globalization and cosmopolitanism, the youth today is transcending
the pulls of differences and comparisons. They have imbibed the new ethos. The protagonists
of the novel – Krish and Ananya are highly educated, independent and live according to the
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new set of mores while the parents are still rooted in traditions. 2 States very well presents
what can be termed as a clash between “New India and “Old India.” Chetan Bhagat, very
admiringly delineates a series of cultural features or markers of Tamil Brahmin and Punjabi
micro communities which are in sharp contrast to each other. There are frequent references to
the food habits of Punjab community and Chetan Bhagat takes a dig at their obsession with
food through his memorable one liner; “Nothing soothes an upset Punjabi like dairy products.”
(44) For Punjabis, food triggers and emotional response.” (222) He also makes fun of the
Punjabi community’s trait of giving importance to show, splendor, lavish spending and fashion.
Krish’s mother even for ordinary guests, tells her maid to “get cashews and those Dubai
dates.”(61) For special guests, there is a “gigantic tray with samosas, jalebis, Chhole bhature,
and milk cake… twenty thousand calories plunked on the table.” (64) This kind of hospitality
is in contrast to the Tamilian style of welcoming guests.
Conclusion
Chetan Bhagat promotes a rational attitude to visualize and to settle down the rumpus
rooted in the system of Indian economy and political ideology. In absence of an organized
system, national solidarity will be a dream. He expresses his resentment against government
malfactional polities. The revolution is to be in the streets. The voice of the common man is
the highest voice to turn down the defective system of the government.
Hence Chetan Bhagat stresses the importance of redefining the social values. He writes
about India as an Indian. He writes about each aspect of India like its culture, its problems, its
language and depicts the life of young generation. In his book What Young India Wants Bhagat
discusses about the mentality of people about rich. He says,
Becoming rich by unfair means is bad but you can also create wealth my
hard work, innovation by creativity that should be celebrated, that is my
ethos and I think young India wants that kind of message. The answer is
very simple and that is good. (Chetan Bhagat: 15)
According to Bhagat, today’s young India wants a good life, a good job and romance – “Meri
naukri, meri Chokri”. (15) He says,
The youth want to fulfill their own needs and only after that they are
willing to support certain cause. Today youth wants a good well-paying
job (naukri) and nice girl friend (Chokri) in a decent urban city. I don’t
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think there is anything wrong in that but what is important is to earn that
living honestly, with integrity and excellence without compromising the
core values that build our society. (15)
The traditional Indian society is in a state of metamorphosis. The old practices and
customs have not given a way to new and hence creates conflict in the life of the characters.
Literature is not soothing pill, which calms down anxiety of mind. It also works as
proactive pills which stimulates the mind to bring innovative changes in the patriarch society.
Bhagat considers literature as a proactive pill, which works as a strong stimulant to the human
mind. Bhagat enthuses the youth to purge untainted obstinacy of the social system. He has
merged both highbrow and lowbrow genres into one, which is now approved as best- seller
genre of the Indian English fiction. He has endowed the genre with healthy humor and sanguine
approach to life.
Works Cited:
Bhagat, Chetan. Five Point Someone: What Not to Do at IIT. Rupa & Co., 2004.
Bhagat, Chetan. One Night @ the Call Center. Rupa & Co., 2005.
Bhagat, Chetan. The 3 Mistakes of My Life. Rupa & Co., 2008.
Bhagat, Chetan. 2 States: The Story of My Marriage. Rupa & Co., 2009.
Bhagat, Chetan. Revolution 2020: Love, Corruption, Ambition. Rupa & Co., 2011.
Bhagat, Chetan. Half Girlfriend. Rupa & Co., 2014.
Bhagat, Chetan. What Young India Wants. Rupa & Co., 2012.
Note:
All successive references to the novels are given parenthetically with concerned page
number.
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Dr. Chandrima Sen