No thinking cap before writing: Chetan

Jaipur Litfest: Author 'worries' Obama may join an Indian political party

“There have been so many people joining politics in India that I am worried that if Obama likes the Republic Day parade, he might sign up for one of the Indian political parties,” said Chetan Bhagat.

The renowned author was in conversation with Meru Gokhale, editor-in-chief of Penguin Random House, in the session—The spinners of the tale. Gokhale wanted to know how Bhagat became a writer. The writer replied that he had always been fond of writing and entertaining people.

At first he did the “correct middle class thing” by getting a degree and a job, but he always had a feeling that there was something missing in his life. “The desire to write was my horrible boss and I developed a LBDN (Look Busy Do Nothing) strategy to survive. Then I wrote ‘5 Point Someone’. It did well and I became a writer,” said Chetan Bhagat.

Bhagat revealed that he does two different types of writing – books and articles and does not spend a lot of time thinking about what he is going to write. “I write what comes easily to me. I compare writing to running but running a marathon is different. Most people write something short but writing a book is a larger and more complex effort that needs practice,” he said.

Writing doesn't become easier with experience just like body builders who sometimes feel lazy while going to a gym, the writer added.

Meru highlighted how the Chetan Bhagat phenomenon has redefined Indian publishing to reach out to a new generation of readers.

His self confessed desire to compete with ‘Candy Crush Saga’ and WhatsApp, points to an intuitive understanding of emerging digital new media and new forms of narrative, Gokhale pointed out. Bhagat had some words of advice for aspiring writers too. He asked everyone, specially aspiring writers, to find their own voice and strive for clarity as it is the real beauty. Young writers should not clutter themselves with too many things.

Bhagat took a gentle dig at his critics by showing a video that hinted that those criticising him may not actually have read his books.

“Criticism used to affect me but over time I got used to it. I use  criticism as content of my talk,” he said.

Gokhale referred to Bhagat’s newspaper columns, which are frequently on political topics and asked if he planned to join politics at some point in time. Bhagat replied that he is not artistic by nature and the reason to write on politics was to “reach people and bring positive changes in the society.”

Bhagat emphatically denied any plans of joining a political party.
DH News Service