Review of One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat

The latest novel of the well-known bestseller writer Chetan Bhagat attracts the attention of the readers. The title makes us curious of what would be there.

You can predict what would be in 272 pages of a book if you have read his earlier fiction.  You will find everything that you always look for while reading his fiction.

The Story begins with the wedding scene of Radhika, the protagonist. She is a successful investment banker who is frank, independent and not a virgin. Goa Marriott is the hotel where both families are planned to stay.

The One Indian Girl, he is talking about, is no longer INDIAN at all. In no case she could match with the ACTUAL INDIAN GIRL (In our mind)-MAY BE A STEREOTYPE of INDAIN GIRL.

The so-called Indian Girl in his fiction, Radhika, is shown as the direct opposite of the actual Indian Girl. She belongs to the elite class and is no longer Indian by mindset. She is bold. She has gone through everything before her marriage. She confesses it with her would be husband who finds no problem in it and considers it as a matter of past. It seems very trivial when her ex-boyfriends come to meet her when marriage functions are going on.  It is also filmy when she calls her ex boy-friends Neel, Debu, and Brijesh (Would be husband) to meet her at the same time and the drama that happens.

The portrayal of Radhika as a feminist is one sided. It doesn’t fulfill the demand that the term FEMINIST is asking for. Is it like having affairs before marriage? Is it that independence only? Feminism is beyond that where we could listen and respect the INNER VOICE of a woman. Unfortunately, Chetan Bhagat doesn’t highlight it a lot. Had it done, it could have been a good piece of literature (worth readable). It is sad that popular culture still needs a woman’s body to make business.

Why to Read:

·         Read if you are interested to know whether they get marry or not.

·         To know what she does with her boy boyfriends. (Expected before we read)

·         To satisfy the unfulfilled desires only by reading.

·         To waste time if you have lots of time.

·         NO SPECIFIC REASON

Why not to read:

·         There is nothing that you will get from it except how to make love with girlfriend-around 7-10 pages (in between) of description at different places across the countries.

·         Save your time and utilize it for some other priorities.

·         It is not an entertainment at all. It is a waste of time.

Sachin Bhagat