“”Once upon a time, there was a Bihari boy called Madhav.
He fell in love with a girl called Riya.
Madhav didn’t speak English well. Riya did.
Madhav wanted a relationship. Riya didn’t.
Riya wanted just friendship. Madhav didn’t.
Riya suggested a compromise. She agreed to be his half-girlfriend””

The first thing I thought when I read these lines a month back was something not that appealing to me to read this book. “I used to read these once-upon-a-time-stories in Class 5. This doesn’t sound like some good work” – I thought. Chetan Bhagat, nation’s bestselling author wrote these words for the back cover of his two-day-old novel, Half Girlfriend. Chetan’s work has always been a matter of debate for the reading class in India, a place where he always manages to sell millions of his printed stories.

While most of my friends from literature describe his writing using the most unsuitable words, a few readers turn his pages with utmost interest. A few gave no place to his books in their Top 10 books for the book bucket challenge while some others chose not to take up the challenge because they had read no other books but his. Was it a matter of shame to put his books as your favorite ones on the social networking websites? Are his books good enough to influence someone or leave an impression as the holy definition of that challenge stated?

According to the major population studying in Delhi University or any class of students, mentioning Chetan’s books as something you read becomes a matter of laughter for others. Will University see a day when students from English Honours will read his work as part of the curriculum? I am sure the strugglers of a bachelor degree would themselves choose not to. A group of Stephanians is already in pain to learn that Chetan has used their respectable St. Stephen’s College as a set out location of love for Madhav and Riya. Why? Is it ethically wrong to have someone with your college tag who cannot speak English in the book?

His supporters, including me bless his books for attracting us to read at all and give birth to a new generation of writers whom the elite readers term as ‘Chetan-type-writers’.
“He never uses good English” – some comment. What is the definition of good English? Is it using high vocabulary, which half the readers may not understand or is it using simple language to let the essence of story flow to the reader? The former is for those who make such comments but how many of you have tried writing a book? How many of you can drop out of their corporate jobs to become a writer?

 The problem here is that we blindly criticize. If there are no extra points to read his books, then there should be no deductions as well for the same. Chetan who took three years to write Half Girlfriend. simply chooses the subject of love and develops a story webbing around his personal experiences targeting all ages of readers especially the young ones.

Yes, there are complaints by those who have already read it that it has an exaggerated Bollywood angle. The movie based on Half-Girlfriend was announced much before the release of the book and the potential cast is already in news. With all his books as successful big screen makes, I feel the exaggerated angle has become a necessity for Chetan where he writes visualizing his story on screen. Everyone knows that 2 States was better to read than to watch. However, a few others call this the best CB book till date while some sense the lack of humour in Half Girlfriend.

“”Once upon a time, there was a Bihari boy called Madhav.
He fell in love with a girl called Riya.
Madhav didn’t speak English well. Riya did.
Madhav wanted a relationship. Riya didn’t.
Riya wanted just friendship. Madhav didn’t.
Riya suggested a compromise. She agreed to be his half-girlfriend””

I was judgmental to title this book as ’bad’ by just reading the back cover. The book here deserves a read.

Featured Image Credits: indialive.today