Chetan Bhagat Gets candid

It is not always sunny in Tweetland,Chetan Bhagat is learning it the hard way. The Jaipur Literature Festival is over and Bhagat is in town to talk about the ‘power’ and ‘reponsibilities’ of being a well-known author. He saunters into the lounge of a five star hotel — a business suit oasis in Anna Wintour’s nightmare-come-true — and settles down to counter ‘five points of Chetan Bhagat bashing’ for a popular city tabloid. ‘I don’t know yaar. Why did he have to get so personal? I was so shocked. And Dan Brown is a great writer. Fair enough,now Brown’s fans from across the world knows me!”

Stargazers,as well as part-time scribes,settle down eagerly around Bhagat,now decoding the Indian values for us — in the gently persuasive voice cotton salwar-ed mothers use to feed broccoli to children in Horlicks ads. “Why do you think pornography is not legal in our country? That’s the freedom of expression too! We are not in USA or Paris,that is the reason. We have a different value system and we need to respect that.” So,should literature bow to values,perceived as prejudices by some? As Bhagat drafts a pleasing to the ear answer,stargazing scribe shoots a month’s worth of outrage. “We have to arrive at a moderate path,” Bhagat explains. Playing safe? “Arre,mein moderation bol raha hoon,aap bol rahe ho safe play.” Scribe in the opposition,leaps to the rescue. “Chetan,do you think Anna Hazare will lead the the Revolution 2012?”

Rousing deconstruction of democratic rights later,Bhagat is asked if ‘they’ hate him because he doesn’t flip for the ‘west’? “Why yes,I think you don’t write things that please them. Other Indian writers do,” fan scribe,answers his own question. “Reason why you are a youth icon!”

So,does he thinks he can really talk motivation into people. “I guess. Kids who have no one in an IIT and IIM do. They look up to me.” Nestled between the bio and fan club,links on his website,is the link to ‘invite him for a speech’. “It’s a little preachy,yes. But people are ok with it. So,I’m too.”