REVOLUTION 2020: Love, Corruption and Ambition- MY TAKE!!

Chetan Bhagat is back with a new book – REVOLUTION 2020. It has a refreshing story line, something with which the youth can completely connect. It starts with Chetan Bhagat meeting the (some what) protagonist- Gopal and then something leads to the other and our dear writer is again stuck with listening to the story of a desperate and helpless man. Nothing new there, I guess.

Revolution 2020 is a story about childhood friends Gopal, Raghav and Aarti who struggle to find success and love in Varanasi. All three of them try to create and simultaneously contest their separate identities in an unfair society where the corrupt are rewarded and the honest are disadvantaged and are seen as weak. The book portrays the struggle of students preparing for competitions in a ruthlessly competitive realm of engineering and the conflict that they experience between following their dreams and doing what others are doing for the sake of money. It is also about the endless corruption that takes place in the education sector that has now made a joke out of the future of millions of helpless youth who have no other choice but to take whatever they get at the cheapest price. Beggars cannot be choosers, after all.  All of this is put in a very simplified manner which characterizes Bhagats writings. While Gopal gives in to the system of corruption, Raghav strives to fight it and make a revolution that would bring about radical change and establish a corruption-less society. (somewhat reminds me of Marxist obsession to social change).

The book is also has a love story where both Raghav and Gopal fall in love with Aarti. Now for the 1st time, the ending is not "larger than life" and there are no cheap punches and stupid unreal fights. There is no hero, no villain in the story. The readers are expected to make their own judgement about the characters. It is as usual from a male point of view and thus again shows women as regularly playing with the feelings of men and the women are portrayed as the most confusing and confused creatures. The women are, as usual, central to a guy’s life-a guy can jump off the building and even change his ambition and friends for the one very pretty girl he loves (and eventually never gets).

While talking about the serious issues of ambition, corruption and survival in such a tough world, Bhagat as usual does not make it too serious. Yes , usual to Bhagats writings, there is a stench of “augmented reality”, but its you are going to enjoy it, thanks to his over-simplified manner of writing. (Which many “Shakespearian” writers criticize unnecessarily).It is a good balance of sugar and spice.

 However, after reading his splendid “2 states”, one may find “revolution 2020” a lot serious. True, it has its funny punch lines- but it still has the “drag” moment in it.

My advice- It’s a good read. It has a good story line. One thing about Bhagat- You hate him, you love him, but you cannot ignore him. It is a one-time read. It makes you think on issues that are heavily clouding our judgements in todays world- corruption.  But do not expect it to be as good as “2 states”. It does not have its fun and simplicity. But in the wake of Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption campaign and our own wakefulness on this matter, this book is sure to be a hit. So what are you waiting for guys?? Grab a copy, order some pizza, sit by your window and start reading!!

expectations- erased!

She tapped her fingers against the cold glass of that beer bottle in her hand as she sat waiting for him. She was a little too early for a girl who never made it to any place on time. She had only one thing on her mind all this while. Why had he called her here with a ‘lot of beer’? And why did he sound so unusual on the phone? He was such a sorted guy. This whole situation made her curious. She sat in a secluded little corner right across their neighbourhood park which they had discovered as kids. She sat on her spot with her back against the hard stone wall, but with a tiny hint of smile on her face.
Even though she pretended to not know anything about what was happening and what this was regarding, she had a slight, vague idea inside her that made her hopeful by the moment.
They had been friends since junior school, they were inseparable and knew everything about each other. Well, almost till his ambiguous phone call this morning. Just a few days back, she was telling him about her idea of the perfect beginning of a relationship would be right when the summer began. She remembered he had scoffed at that and then, well, got himself punched on the shoulder. But eventually, she had succeeded in convincing him that it wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
Her train of thoughts was broken when he appeared from behind that huge tree and waved at her. She waved back, feeling a sudden and quite unexpected rush of blood to her face. He sat down opposite her and instead of leaning back against the wall, he sat slouched with his hands on his knees.
So, what’s up? She asked. Why so worried?
Did you get the beer?
She handed him a bottle from the pack of six.
So, what was it that you wanted to tell me so urgently in person? And why the special demand for beer?
He took a sip and looked at her.
There’s something I need to tell you, he said. I’m not too sure about this, I mean.. I’ve been feeling this way for quite some time now..
This was it. It all added up! School had just closed for the vacation yesterday and this was the official beginning of the summers. He was going to ask her out. She could just see it now. It was all so clear! He would ask her out, she would say- hell yes! She would finally see her dream come true just like the way she wanted it to be, right there. She would have someone to call her ‘boyfriend’ and she wouldn’t be the girl who other girls in school smirked at, anymore. She resisted a smile.
They would hug right here at their little haven and as the dusk approached nearer, they would hold hands and walk back home....together..the way she dreamed.
She could feel the smile on her lips, but she quickly hid it with an understanding expression.
Okay, go on then. I’m ready to hear you out.
He turned to face her and held her hands.
Look, before I say this, I just want you to know that our friendship is very important to me. I don’t want my feelings to be the reason why.. you know. Why we stop being what we are. You know what I mean?
She couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t believe that he would actually think that he had feelings for her and she didn’t. This was just so ironic. She was the one who had feelings for him and now here he was, asking her and telling her that HE hoped that SHE won’t let his feelings for her, be an obstacle in their friendship. Go figure!
There were just so many new and exciting aspects to this whole transformation from being friends to being a little more than just so. Will they hold hands? Will they talk on the phone late into the night? Will she tell her mum about this? Will they go on those dates she had fantasized about? They absolutely HAD to go to Paolo;s for their first official date. She made a mental note to mention that to him once he was done asking her out.
Before she could process her thoughts, another one came swooping in. The summer festival! It was a customary thing organized by their society and now she finally had a date. Like, not just a hey-this-is-my-friend-because-I-don’t-have-a-date date, but an actual date. Eeee. She was already flipping through her party dresses and thinking of which one to pick in her head.
Hey, are you okay? He asked, in a concerned voice.
Oh yeah! Totally. I’m sorry, I’m just a little distracted. Anyway, yes. I just want you to tell me whatever it is that’s on your mind. Of course it won’t affect our friendship, silly. Nothing ever could. She smiled at him and squeezed his hand.
Okay, so I’m just going to come out with it really quickly? You should know I’m still not too sure about my feelings but I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, and it’s been driving me crazy. So, just try and understand, okay?
The red dress or the new black one with a white bow thing on it- she didn’t know which one to pick for the festival. Hm. She really just wanted to ask him which one would suit her better. Maybe she’d ask him about it later, he look kind of.. pained right now.
She gave him and understanding nod.
He sighed and shook his head.
I can’t believe I’m going to say this out loud, but here goes.
She held her breath. Here it was. Her ticket to the best summer of her life!
And then he said it.
So.. I think I might be gay.