Urban Indian
I just finished reading Rohinton Mistry’s book – Family Matters and loved the book for its beautiful and sensitive portrayal of Mumbai, Parsis and family life in urban India. The book reminds me good old of Jane Austen and her style of writing. The book is an extremely realistic, grounded portrayal of the family of a witty Parsi Professor. Am not going to write a book review here but will like to complain about the quality of new books by Indian authors in recent times.
I have loved reading Indian authors as they give us a better and closer feel of the time and place. Vertigo, Maximum City Mumbai and a lot of Salman Rushdie novels have long been my favorites. My last visit to Landmark though was a disappointment as I didn’t like what I saw of the new Indian authors writing in English. Some famous bloggers like Sidin Vadanakut and Amit Verma have also penned their books. Most of these books talk of how a college going or freshly passed out protagonist fights the world and gets a girl, money and fame.
I do realize that the authors need to churn what the publishers want and the publishers go by popular demand. But I think that churning out books like this helps neither the writers nor the publishers. True readers know a good book when the read one and these good books sell – irrespective of their price tag.
I think that the root of this problem lies with Chetan Bhagat. I believe that 100 Aamir Khans can’t inspire a wannabe to join films as much as what a Tushar Kapoor could. It gives immense self confidence and pride to anyone trying to become a silver screen star when they see someone like Tushar Kapoor being one. They all tell themselves that if Tushar Kapoor can do it, so can we. And so, while the Indian film industry has Tushar Kapoor for its idol, the Indian publishing industry has Chetan Bhagat.
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There you go again…!!! Elsworth Toohey. It the very nature of the modern world that corrupts the best just by promoting the unworthy, meek and feeble!!!
Nice post dude!!!
great post
if rahul gandhi can do it in politics so can we, if agarkar can do it in cricket..uday chopra in films, india’s so full of this 
I love Indian authors, specially those from Calcutta! Everytime we visit Hyderabad, I make it a point to visit this secondhand bookshop and ask for local authors. I bought three books last week, and one of them is Chetan Bhagat’s. I just heard so much about him that I wanted to read his work.
hey very nice post janit..
agreed about ‘the effect’…
I njoy Indian authors’ views and thouhts bt yess as u said..sensible writing is most impo..and now day by day the standrds are gettng worse..
I bought 2 books in Jan..nd stil m not able to read them completly as its too boring at times..nd smtimes bakwas also…
I wish u write li’l more on reviews of other books of Indian authors…
keep writing..keep rocking..
I like the script of this post.
Hi Krishnasant,
Thanks for visiting my blog. Do keep visiting.
Hey Smruti
Do put in your blog address the next time you comment. Helps visitors to track back to your blog.
Thanks for the comments. I am planning to write more about Indian authors and the like. Dont get much time though.
Hey what a nice post you have and I really agree with you!