What Young India Wants

Book Review: What Young India Wants

Author: Chetan Bhagat

Publisher: Rupa Publications (2012)  

After a series of 5 masala novels full of the typical Modern Indian drama, sex, sensationalism, cricket, politics, wealth and youth Chetan Bhagat gives a chance to realism. (And yet, reading Chetan Bhagat is sheer fun.)

I’ve read all his works, enjoyed reading the masala bit, but had nothing to take away from them. All of them have been just another Dabangg or Rowdy Rathod on the Indian bookshelf, definitely unworthy to be termed as literature or even anything close to it.

Now my question is WHAT DOES CHETAN BHAGAT WANT? (Apart from wealth and popularity of course!) His previous works of fiction that made him the best selling Indian author have been all about the crooked Indian youngsters, indulging in everything against the social norms, be it sleeping with the dean’s daughter, making out in public, stealing exam papers, encouraging corruption or well simply being immoral for selfish needs. And woaah! With an attempt to realism he turns all idealistic?

It wouldn’t be wrong to say Chetan Bhagat’s What Young India Wants? Was not a best seller because it had no masala, rather it is filled with overdose of realism.

I started reading the book because I liked the underlying statement of the book- Young India wants a good life! But living in a country where nothing seems great- politically, economically and even culturally these days, the explanations, advices, and description of all that is ruined or can be improved and all that talking about the drawbacks is no less than a torture. Ram Raj is over and it won’t be coming back. And I wonder if the congress or the BJP have already approached the Mr Bhagat to decorate their false promises, aah! I mean their 2014 election campaign speeches.

Bhagat reflects his depth of thought, knowledge and exposure to the world and India through- ‘What Young India Wants?’ But it is way too preachy and idealistic to connect with the Young India. Mr. Bhagat should probably join the likes of Team Anna. All that fasting shall hopefully lessen all that idealism.

And I’d still say this one is the best by Bhagat so far for the attempt, the depth and insight! Read it for what it’s worth.

But the question still remains ‘WHAT YOUNG INDIA WANTS?’