I have this uncanny ability to like every book I read, every movie I watch and every place I visit. My November visit to Delhi brought me back three books, Papa gave me Chetan Bhagat’s Revolution 2020, and Pamuk’s Snow, while Raja gave me William Bissell’s Making India Work.
R2020 was an effortless read. Having books like My name is red by Pamuk and The book thief by Zusak as my favourites, R2020 neither pampered nor challenged my literary senses, and I have no authority to critique the politics and corruption that comes with it. However, this being my first Bhagat book, and having none else to compare with, it made me smile.
A love triangle involving Gopal, Aarti and Raghav in the holy ghats of Varanasi.
A predictable plot of love, ambition, desperation and disappointment, along with a sight into the corrupt education system and dishonest dealings with inherent corruption in the government, splashed with the a few who want to revolutionize the situation, money being just a necessary exchange, with determination and passion being everything else, it still is enjoyable reading. Albeit, simple and expected, nothing extraordinary but still enjoyable.
Many people write because they have a flair, much knowledge and want to share their story with the rest who both read and comment, many write as a career and to earn an income, many write in want of praise.
I write because it fills my soul. Much has happened between the last penned blog to this, and though I would want to write everyday for the rest of my life…I also want to read as much, travel as much and watch the directors transform ideas into watchable narratives. However, there is just that much time.
Soon after I completed Bhagat's book, I decided to send him a mail, and start blogging again, but before i had the chance to do that, I picked up Bissell's book and the moment I read his first sentence, `an overheard conversation in a small bookshop in dehra dun galvanized me to write this book', I took a pen and a paper and started writing. So, thanks to them both for feeding my soul once again.
As a frequent visitor to India, I find the antagonism of the people towards corrupt politicians deep yet unchallenged. Above that, the public practice corruption amongst themselves, from the tiniest package delivered to the job application scenario. The truth is, the elite and those who hold assets of monetary value, with power and position are the ones who can help change the system, but why would they do so, since they are the ones who gain the most from the status quo. The poor neither have rights nor voices to speak. They are too busy surviving to even bother about the meaning of revolution. There will be no revolution in year 2020 or after that if there is no addressing the basic problems.
So is it a wonder, that Gopal, Chetan’s protagonist, chooses corruption as an aid to achieving success and wealth over a life of struggle due to the failure of meeting the standards of the education criteria or not having rich parents to pass on monetary assets of value? Would someone in his position not secure the opportunity of doubling money over an agricultural land he possesses which is valueless, and take the help of politicians who use power and corruption to turn the land into a worthy asset? Do we really perceive that as an unfair? Is it really wrong that someone who has struggled in his life should find a way to success not through his own misdeeds but through corrupt politicians?
We seek the help for sustainable economic growth and opportunity and we let someone else take the blame for it. Can we suspend judgement on ourselves but continue to aggressively blame the governance? Yet who is chosen to the governance and if the people have the voting rights, where is the alteration? Why is there talk of revolution and genuine change for decades? With huge shopping malls at every corner, foreign intervention and knowledge, with export and import of intellectuals, goods and services, why is there no clear route to the solutions of the problem? Is the problem, the governance and the corrupt politicians or is it us? If it is the government, then why are we consenting to it?
Like i had mentioned earlier, I have no authority to address the political system or ruling government of another country. Therefore let it be apparent that I don’t impudently question anyone in particular. Sometimes I genuinely ask for ambiguity to be removed from my own thoughts.
I mentioned that R2020 was an enjoyable read. It was. But I was relating to didon about how I would have wanted the book to be more about revolution (because of the title) than the focus on the love triangle and self indulgence..and she said, maybe Bhagat intended it that way so that we see the dash of revolution and in that find its importance.
So in conclusion, from someone who is new to Bhagat…and has no comparisons to make…if it is your first book, you would undoubtedly enjoy his simple flow. And if you have read his other books, don’t leave out this one, because like didon said, he intended something with it, and so just flow along and enjoy the undemanding pressures of its interpretation.
