I was talking to my good friend Gaurav Bhalla on Chetan Bhagat’s latest book Half Girlfriend. Few days ago, when traveling by Delhi Metro, Gaurav observed 4 people reading that book in his train's bogie. He's never seen so many people reading the same book at the same time. This is an unprecedented phenomena because most people in India don’t read fiction books that too in English. Chetan Bhagat invites more ridicule among the elite for his works but also sells more than any other author. As per a news article on Scroll his book equals combined sales of the next 400+ bestsellers. Which means there is no competition for him when it comes down to connecting with the masses.
Chetan Bhagat’s success is not just because he knows his audience, but also that he offers a complete experience. People adore those in whom they see themselves. I was in first year of engineering in my college when 5 Point Someone, CB’s debut book, released. I doubt there was someone in my hostel who hadn't read that book. Not just the book but my friends were in awe of its author for the following reasons
1. He did his engineering from India’s top college (dream college of engineering graduates)
2. He did MBA from India’s top college (dream college of MBA postgraduates)
3. He was working abroad in one of their dream companies (also among the highest paymasters)
My friends wondered what made CB write a book when he had achieved it all.
The story didn't end there, and CB wrote more books. A day came when he quit his Hong Kong based job to shift back to India and became a full-time author. The risk paid for CB, and his brand value kept getting enhanced. Now he writes newspaper columns, gives lectures in colleges, and has turned himself into a brand. Most people around me take his views seriously.
It is not just in reading but CB has inspired more people to start writing. Growing up in school we all felt that to be a writer you had to have strong vocabulary, degree in arts, use complex sentences, etc. CB has none of these but that is not a concern for his target audience. There are few who read only his books, and several others who started reading books because of him.
All my science graduate friends are unhappy with their jobs. Maybe they can relate to CB as someone who found his destiny in a territory few would have ever anticipated. Critics and naysayers matter less than what we often fear.
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| 5 Point Someone, Chetan Bhagat's debut book |
1. He did his engineering from India’s top college (dream college of engineering graduates)
2. He did MBA from India’s top college (dream college of MBA postgraduates)
3. He was working abroad in one of their dream companies (also among the highest paymasters)
My friends wondered what made CB write a book when he had achieved it all.
The story didn't end there, and CB wrote more books. A day came when he quit his Hong Kong based job to shift back to India and became a full-time author. The risk paid for CB, and his brand value kept getting enhanced. Now he writes newspaper columns, gives lectures in colleges, and has turned himself into a brand. Most people around me take his views seriously.
 |
| Chetan Bhagat |
All my science graduate friends are unhappy with their jobs. Maybe they can relate to CB as someone who found his destiny in a territory few would have ever anticipated. Critics and naysayers matter less than what we often fear.
 |
| Photo by Arjun Suri Photography |
