When I first started, many publishers and people rejected my books… so I didn’t even think they were that good! Here, we meet Chetan Bhagat, author of nine blockbuster books, widely regarded as ‘the biggest selling English language novelist in India’s history’. India has always been a multicultural place, and because of social media – certain divisive tendencies are getting exaggerated… this is happening in the UK and USA too. We use cookies to help provide you the best experience on our website. According to Chetan Bhagat, Anusha being a South Indian was his parent’s biggest concern. At a broader level, India is one sixth of the world’s population – and a population who are trying to come-up in life. Both ways, Chetan Bhagat makes millions. Belonging to two very opposite sides of the country, there is a huge difference in their culture. Four out his five novels have been already adapted into successful Bollywood films and the others are in process of being adapted as well. Get App, AWESOME NEWS! Both groups buy his book - fans to glorify and critics to deride. Writing a book was always a dream, but I was worried my life will never have something so spectacular that I will have a story to tell. But then, some guys do work their charm better”. For many nations, the pace of change is opening up the wounds of unresolved or previously undiscussed issues; from attitudes to gender and sexuality to individualism, relationships, family structures and careers. [Chetan Bhagat]: Writing was a hobby, I never thought it would be my career. By We use cookies on our website to give you the best possible experience. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a husband like that, isn’t it? Time magazine named him amongst the ‘100 most influential people in the world’ and Fast Company, USA, listed him as one of the world’s ‘100 most creative people in business’. …. Chetan’s unique writing style has allowed him to tackle, head-on, some of India’s biggest cultural and social questions. A Conversation with Ngaire Woods, Founding Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government. We need to confirm your email address. there’s a lot more acceptance, not just in my stories but in movies also, of a female lead for example, who is maybe engaging in pre-marital sex and she’s still lovable, and likeable. Chetan Bhagat is the author of nine blockbuster books. Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Chetan Bhagat Apologises To Wife Anusha Bhagat After Getting Accused Of Sexually Harassing A Girl, 10 Television Couples Who Have Been Married For Over A Decade And Reinstate Our Faith In Love, 8 Foreign Star Cricketers Who Fell Head Over Heels In Love With Indian Women, [Exclusive] Author Durjoy Datta And His Wife Avantika Mohan Share Their Unheard Love Story, 12 Things That Definitely Happen At Every North Indian Wedding, 5 Super-Cool Benefits Of Marrying A Woman With A Career, Shashi Kapoor's Tragic Love Story: Once A Superstar, Who Went Into Depression After His Wife's Death. Chetan’s books have remained bestsellers since their release. We wish them all the luck in their life and hope to read many more inspiring romances from Chetan Bhagat. Millions, I think. There is something extraordinary about Chetan and Anusha Bhagat’s love story, otherwise 2 States (both the movie and the book) would not have tugged at every lover’s heart. If they find it interesting, that is the go signal for you. Across the world, countries are going through extraordinary periods of social change, with hundreds (if not thousands) of years of norms being upended by the momentum of global cultural liberalism, and the possibilities opened up by digital communications. People who are going to be together long-term should also take responsibility for their own happiness. Signup to my newsletter. I don’t think it’s a Western versus Eastern culture issue, but one of emotive society (which is naturally how human beings are). These include seven novels—Five Point Someone (2004), One Night @ the Call Center (2005), The 3 Mistakes of My Life (2008), 2 States (2009), Revolution 2020 (2011), Half Girlfriend (2014) One Indian Girl (2016) and The Girl in Room 105 (2018) and two non-fiction titles— What Young India Wants (2012) and Making India Awesome(2015). But as Chetan rightly said, the book was a work of fiction where you get just a tiny glimpse of the real Chetan and Anusha Bhagat. We already know Chetan Bhagat, the best-selling author of books like Five Point Someone, 2 States, Half Girlfriend and The 3 Mistakes of My Life, a screenwriter, a columnist, a television personality and a motivational speaker. A Conversation with Andrew Kassoy, Co-Founder of B Lab Global, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement. I felt that with my education, understanding and perspectives, there was a lot more I could do than write love stories. We naturally will tend to read media or engage with dialogue that affirms our hypotheses, rather than looking at the truth. Chetan quit his international investment banking career in 2009 to devote his entire time to writing and make change happen in the country. Nobody says that. Being a Punjabi, where would I get a girl from IIM-A? Anusha found Chetan to be funny and slowly fell in love with his humour and positive attitude; while for Chetan it was her cuteness, simplicity and intelligence that attracted him first. Recommended Read: Shashi Kapoor's Tragic Love Story: Once A Superstar, Who Went Into Depression After His Wife's Death, AWESOME NEWS! The political boundaries of India were only drawn 70 years ago, but our religions have been with us for thousands. I also struggled to find people who had been able to make it their full-time living… it genuinely never felt like it would be my life. A Conversation with Gad Saad on Parasitic Ideas and the War Against Truth. But, instead of fussing over this trivial matter, they chose to take the best of both cultures and give a solid foundation to their marriage and children. The conflict between conservatism and liberal values…. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from us. [Chetan Bhagat]: On twitter and social media, if you take a position it’s there forever. Of those arts, the written word is perhaps the most powerful. In an interview to the Times of India, about what attracted him to his wife, Anusha, Chetan Bhagat gave a very intelligent and convincing reply : “She genuinely is very simple and yet intelligent person with a pure heart. The other limbs and torso that attach to the spine, still depend upon the spine. [Chetan Bhagat]: Becoming a fiction writer happened almost as a happy coincidence, and India has given me a lot- it’s been very good to me. “For my parents, the number one sticking point was that she is South Indian. And perhaps you even know quite a bit about his love life because of his bestselling book and its adaptation on the silver screen, Arjun Kapoor-Alia Bhatt starrer, 2 States. “My wife Anusha was so cute that many guys in campus wanted to try their luck with her. I don’t know of religion compensates for money, or whether money compensates for religion – but what I do know is that people with wealth in India are still quite religious. On a personal level, India gave me the best colleges to attend – with worldwide recognition – and because of this, I could get a job in the real world, in investment banking. Q: What is the power of religion and materiality in today’s India? When Chetan Bhagat and Anusha Suryanarayanan joined Ahmedabad’s Indian Institute of Management in the year 1995, they did not know it was the beginning of something special. I have loved writing since my first four line joke came out in the school magazine when I was in Class V. I was so excited on seeing my name in print, I would show the magazine to random people on DTC buses. Art has always been a great changing force, the great common denominator, and a force to help people understand the world we live in, and the people within that world.” (Interviewed in Thought Economics, 2017). You had to be pristine to be likeable. And I like the whole poise that Tamilians have.”, Recommended Read: [Exclusive] Author Durjoy Datta And His Wife Avantika Mohan Share Their Unheard Love Story. What is considered respectful or disrespectful when dealing with each other’s parents, agreeing on teaching children one/ both parents’ mother tongue to name a few. India is conservative on the outside, but becoming more liberal inside. My work depends on knowing real India, not the ‘exotic’ stereotype. [Chetan Bhagat]: As we speak today, we’re in the middle of an election and the political battle-lines are drawn, and politicians don’t mind exploiting them. I anyway get turned on by articulate, intelligent women. Recommended Read: Chetan Bhagat Apologises To Wife Anusha Bhagat After Getting Accused Of Sexually Harassing A Girl. ), but you aren’t seeing straight if you cannot see the plain simple fact that Corona virus is not the act of this government and a tough decision had to be taken to arrest the spread of a dangerous virus, at the cost of temporary hit to the economy. The New York Times called him the ‘the biggest selling English language novelist in India’s history’. We love the simplicity with which Anusha carries herself in her public appearances and the bond that they share despite the differences. So, here we have the beautiful and inspiring love story of the man and woman that touched our hearts through his writings. It wasn’t there before. A software programmer? By continuing to use our site, we assume you are OK with that. I remember when I wrote my first book and people said, ‘I really like your book, but it would have been great if you didn’t show her having premarital sex….’ Fifteen years later? [Chetan Bhagat]: Indians are very religious people, and very family-oriented. I couldn’t have had those colleges, or I couldn’t have had the reach as an author that I do if I wasn’t born in India. However, despite all the differences and issues, their families gave in and they got married in the year 1999. They may not say that Chetan is the best author, but I want them to say Chetan is my author. She is his biggest critic and even understood his decision to quit the lucrative job he held and take up the unpredictable career of being a writer. I think that happens more in the West or in developed places because it’s more accepted there. When Chetan Bhagat and Anusha Suryanarayanan joined Ahmedabad’s Indian Institute of Management in the year 1995, they did not know it was the beginning of something special. He tried this technique with the first two books he wrote. I believe that I should do things which are good for my country… and that’s difficult sometimes, it’s much easier to get a fan following if you have a right-wing or left-wing narrative…. It’s happenstance that in 1947, certain political boundaries were drawn – that wasn’t the decision of the people, but rather people making decisions. Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. [Chetan Bhagat]: People who talk about India typically come from a certain background, or have a certain view of things… they have also capitalised on what sells about India… and that reinforces the outside image… after a while, it doesn’t really matter what India actually is! I caught up with Chetan to learn more about his view of today’s India, and how writing has been a keystone of social change in a country that houses one-sixth of the world’s population. Q: What worries you about contemporary India? Also Read: 12 Things That Definitely Happen At Every North Indian Wedding. It is not difficult at all. I see things differently now, I think I’ve changed my mind…’ – once you say Trump is bad, you have to keep saying it… and the same if you think he’s good. [Chetan Bhagat]: The internet has been a game-changer for culture in India. And Anusha’s family too had a similar concern that Chetan belonged to a Punjabi family and he was not from Tamil Nadu. [Chetan Bhagat]: Writing was a hobby, I never thought it would be my career. Chetan Bhagat did this when he initially started writing. From her side also, the biggest reservation was that I was not a Brahmin and I was not a Tamilian”. Choose your device Android or IOS (Apple). If they state some changes, be ready and ever willing to make the changes. Neha Gargi Without the written word, there can be no other form of communication….”. He is also a consultant and advisor to numerous entrepreneurs, business and organisations globally. Whether you look at consumerism, liberal lives & values, fashion trends, changes in sexual attitudes….. According to him, just choose a couple of your sincere friends and ask them to read your book. That is the story that so many of our people face, and what they connect with in my writing. In her 2013 interview with me, Maya Angelou said, “…written word is the base of culture, the spine. United Kingdom. India is technically a free society because of our structure as a democracy – but there have been a lot of taboos that have come with religion, and those taboos are getting questioned and going away… yet I think the stage we are at is one where people are not openly acknowledging their desires, and are keeping a certain façade of Indian culture that ‘we don’t do these things’, but a lot of those things are happening beneath the covers. Copyright © 2006 — 2020 Thought Economics Thought Economics, Swiscot House, 5 Pacific Way, Salford, M50 1DL. I want to make an emotional connect with my readers in India. We have new political movements on the rise, but it will take a long time for new culture to displace thousands of years of embedded heritage. A partner who is intelligent can really help. Chetan writes columns for leading English and Hindi newspapers, focusing on youth and national development issues. People do ask me how I want to be remembered… The truth is, I don’t want to be remembered, I want to be missed. Please click on the verification link we just sent you. Social media holds people hostage to their position, and stops them having free minds. In reality, India is not as divided as you might think… hundreds of millions of Muslims live and work in India, they are friends with people in and out of their community, and just live normal lives like anyone else…. Vikas S. Shah MBE is an award winning entrepreneur, strategist and educator who has built businesses in diverse sectors around the world for almost 20 years. Media and literature are playing a huge role in cultural change too. Several of his books explore these topics in an entertaining way. I feel a lot of gratitude that people choose mine. I also struggled to find people who had been able to make it their full-time living… it genuinely never felt like it would be my life. In the second phase of my life, India gave me recognition as a writer, and a lot of popularity in a different career. I would also say that Indian culture is very emotionally driven, with less of a focus on individualism. When magazines put covers like, ‘Divider in Chief’ (describing Narendra Modi) it’s really unhelpful. On Film – Conversations with Paul Greengrass, Ken Loach & Tosca Musk. Q: What is the difference between India as you see it, versus the India projected in media internationally? India is a place of very different people and cultures – the North East is different from the South, and the South is different from Kashmir – but ultimately, everyone just wants a better life. in 1947, certain political boundaries were drawn. A snake charmer? It’s difficult for people to say, ‘hey, you know what? Also Read: 10 Television Couples Who Have Been Married For Over A Decade And Reinstate Our Faith In Love. Chetan Bhagat may deride the belief of Hindus in his article (yep, he managed to write about Hindus, youth, economy and phones in the same article! Tariq Trotter, best known as ‘Black Thought’ once said to me, “…art has always played a role in revolution, evolution and change. In Anusha’s own words: “He was a clown in campus, and I’d crack up at his jokes while the other guys were too busy studying or trying to impress me”. (Also Read: 5 Super-Cool Benefits Of Marrying A Woman With A Career), “One should always have a strong friendship and clear communication. I realised that people like me are part of a small group who could bridge that gap. In fact, in one of my books I have an Indian girl who has a lot more sexual agency, she is more forthright and confident demanding what the guy does, ‘yeah… you may be satisfied but I’m not…’ – fifteen years ago, those narratives would have been unthinkable…. When I first started, many publishers and people rejected my books… so I didn’t even think they were that good! Anusha has always been a supportive wife to Chetan without which he could not have possibly achieved what he has today. Thought Economics also features world-class opinion editorials on the issues that matter. Q: How is social media polarising opinion? I’m very lucky and sometimes, when I walk into a bookstore and see 30,000 different books? If we look at the United States, a country that I admire for its creativity, its business orientation and innovation… a country that has led the way in political correctness and liberal values… but a country that can still elect Trump. Also, one should realize and prioritize the importance of family.”. India in the mind of the ‘The West’ feeds into the biases that are projected of India, and that’s based on what people think will go viral. You see people everyday who just retweet stuff that supports a singular opinion, and ignoring stuff that opposes it – it just makes people lose credibility eventually. Even though the festivities celebrated all over the country by Hindus are quite similar, there is a difference in the way it is celebrated in north and south. As Anusha hailed from a Tamil Brahmin family, the news of their engagement did not sit well with either set of parents. Just think,… 1/6th of humanity that still has a standard of living a lot below the developed world, so they’re just trying to get better and just be better people and have more money to progress…. In Anusha’s own words: [Chetan Bhagat]: India forms a huge part of my identity – I’m one of the few people who got the opportunity to do really well in life, and whatever I am today is because of India. Not so much…. People obviously desire material objects, things and have aspirations for a better life or a better quality of life – but that’s everywhere, not just India. Almost done! The best thing about their marriage is that Anusha is the steady breadwinner of the family and Chetan is happy to call himself a house husband taking up the stereotypical role of a housewife when he is at home. That will go viral…. Despite having a great fan following, he has an equal number of critics. I dipped a toe in the water and found a lot of people were continuing to read my opinions and analyses as well as my stories and I felt that there was a disconnect in India between people who express themselves in their local language versus English, creating an elitist bubble. You may unsubscribe at anytime and your email address will never be shared. Anusha found Chetan to be funny and slowly fell in love with his humour and positive attitude; while for Chetan it was her cuteness, simplicity and intelligence that attracted him first. A Conversation with Chetan Bhagat, the biggest selling English language novelist in India’s history. By continuing to use our site, you consent to our use of these cookies. The key to a happy and content life is to take the positives from each other's’ culture, and like everyone else, work on investing in the relationship.”. For instance, during the festival of Diwali, they take the most important aspects of the festival according to them and combine it to create a fun-filled moment that they both can enjoy. Stay up to date. Q: How did you find a voice for change in your writing? Human beings are naturally liberal about these things, human beings are naturally in pursuit of wealth and in pursuit of love and in pursuit of pleasure. For me, this wouldn’t have happened if I wasn’t Indian. BollywoodShaadis.com © 2018, Red Hot Web Gems (I) Pvt Ltd, All Rights Reserved. Q: How did you decide to become a writer? We are recognised for our exclusive one to one interviews with the individuals who have shaped our world, are shaping our future, and impact every aspect of our lives. How did you come about writing this book? Don't Miss: 8 Foreign Star Cricketers Who Fell Head Over Heels In Love With Indian Women. In Anusha’s own words, this is how she handles the two different cultures together: “Yes we do have clashes at times due to different values and upbringing. It has been almost sixteen years since they got married and yet they look very much in love even today. A lot of my stories are about the double life that younger India has to lead…. Last Updated: He is also a motivational speaker and screenplay writer. Thought Economics is a journal of intellectual capital, now read in over 120 countries. He lives in Mumbai with his wife, Anusha, an ex-classmate from IIM-A, and his twin boys, Shyam and Ishaan. It seems that Chetan Bhagat has much insight into the pressures of studies, family, love, and striving for fame and fortune. A Conversation with David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee (IRC). We have to find a middle-ground….
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