I have this problem with the books of Chetan Bhagat that when I sit to read his writing, until I reach the end of the book reading, I find no peace.That's how addictive his writing is. I bought his latest novel 'Revolution 2020' from a street vendor. Just when I was in the midst of an interesting chapter, I noticed that around 16 pages from pg 216-232 were missing in my copy. Damn ! I felt like going back to Karamongala to return the book and exchange it with a fresh piece, but we were only about one and half hour away from the movie we were to see that evening. Travelling down to Karamongala meant we would have to miss the movie. Tickets were bought already, but I had no patience to wait until the next day to know what transpired in the novel. So my hubby scoured the cyberspace desperately in search of a pdf version lest I stayed adamant with my demand to get the book exchanged first and made him miss his movie. Thankfully a philanthropist blogger was generous enough to distribute pdf versions of the book on his blog and my husband downloaded it from there, all for my sake I assume :p
Based on what apparently seems to be a real life incident, 'Revolution 2020' recounts the life story of three friends - Gopal Mishra, Raghav & Aarti. Set against the backdrop of Varanasi, a city that cleanses sins, the novel revolves around their ambition, competitiveness, jealousy, failures and achievements in life. It also broaches a very sensitive topic up for discussion - the desperation among Indian parents for their sons to clear engineering or medical entrance exam and putting pressure on them for repetition in case of failure at first attempt. It's hard to live a free life being a woman in our country, thanks to the deluge of restrictions imposed on our freedom to movements. But the novel opens my eyes to view the perspective of guys who go through the pain of pressure for clearing JEE or AIEEE at any cost. Based on a period when number of seats in govt Engineering colleges were limited and private technical institutions were not prevalent in India, the novel describes the frustration of its central character Gopal Mishra who for the sake of fulfilling his father's dream goes all the way from Varanasi to Kota to spend one year taking preparation for JEE and AIEEE.On the other hand, Raghab, the good boy, cleared JEE but instead of choosing IIT as his alma mater goes to BHU for further studies as it will help him fulfill his passion of 'journalism'. When asked if being a journalist is his ultimate ambition, why he is wasting precious years studying engineering, he replies "Dad. Why else?" Such is the mindset of most of the Indian parents who think that without an engineering or medical degree, their children's career will go to waste.
This desperation to become engineers or doctors breeds jealousy & frustration among those who lag behind in the rat race while their friends race ahead of them clearing the sought-after JEE or AIEEE. This is what forms the core of this novel - how sheer competitiveness and failure in the tests of life take two friends apart, with a fuel adding to the flame is the girl who, both friends are in love with, responds to the proposal of the guy, handsomer of the two with a brighter future. How life with all its challenges change the moral trajectory of people and how an underdog also has the ability to make it big in life with fate standing by him are the questions answered in this novel. A fully engaging book, it will keep you glued until finish.
Based on what apparently seems to be a real life incident, 'Revolution 2020' recounts the life story of three friends - Gopal Mishra, Raghav & Aarti. Set against the backdrop of Varanasi, a city that cleanses sins, the novel revolves around their ambition, competitiveness, jealousy, failures and achievements in life. It also broaches a very sensitive topic up for discussion - the desperation among Indian parents for their sons to clear engineering or medical entrance exam and putting pressure on them for repetition in case of failure at first attempt. It's hard to live a free life being a woman in our country, thanks to the deluge of restrictions imposed on our freedom to movements. But the novel opens my eyes to view the perspective of guys who go through the pain of pressure for clearing JEE or AIEEE at any cost. Based on a period when number of seats in govt Engineering colleges were limited and private technical institutions were not prevalent in India, the novel describes the frustration of its central character Gopal Mishra who for the sake of fulfilling his father's dream goes all the way from Varanasi to Kota to spend one year taking preparation for JEE and AIEEE.On the other hand, Raghab, the good boy, cleared JEE but instead of choosing IIT as his alma mater goes to BHU for further studies as it will help him fulfill his passion of 'journalism'. When asked if being a journalist is his ultimate ambition, why he is wasting precious years studying engineering, he replies "Dad. Why else?" Such is the mindset of most of the Indian parents who think that without an engineering or medical degree, their children's career will go to waste.
This desperation to become engineers or doctors breeds jealousy & frustration among those who lag behind in the rat race while their friends race ahead of them clearing the sought-after JEE or AIEEE. This is what forms the core of this novel - how sheer competitiveness and failure in the tests of life take two friends apart, with a fuel adding to the flame is the girl who, both friends are in love with, responds to the proposal of the guy, handsomer of the two with a brighter future. How life with all its challenges change the moral trajectory of people and how an underdog also has the ability to make it big in life with fate standing by him are the questions answered in this novel. A fully engaging book, it will keep you glued until finish.
1 comment:
The good part of this book is that it takes us deep into how corruption cycle works...how are the envelopes (bribe) taken and given...how everyone from a political leader to education system have lost their set of values and how corruption affects everyone in society. This books has an enticing love tale with success/failure elements in it, which almost every teenager experiences in his/her life.
The movie material is that one of two heroes; Gopal, instead of failing in his educational life becomes phenomenally successful/richer than his IIT-BHU graduate counterpart Raghav. Both boys love same girl Aarti from their class and Aarti has nothing to do the in the book except playing a girlfriend material role.
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