'Khan Market gang mentality’ in literature must go: Chetan Bhagat

Indian literature

has no place for a ‘

Khan market

gang mentality,’ said Chetan Bhagat, decrying elitism in

literature

while defending the simplicity of work at a session of the

Times Litfest

in Delhi on Sunday.

The simplicity of his books, Bhagat said, is the reason behind their popularity. “Most of us have a myopic view of literature. What is literature? Telling what is happening in society in simple words. Rather than criticising my books, one can simply accept the fact that it can help connect many with the written word,” he said.

The writer said he thinks Indians have an ‘aukaat’ (loosely translated to ‘status’)problem. “You will not find this unique problem anywhere else. It forces you to think within a set mould according to your reach, education and upbringing,” he said.

Bhagat said his success is helping shake elitism out of literature. “I feel that my popularity scares those ‘elite’ people who think that if this guy who has engineering background and has no prior exposure in this field can be so successful then it is a cause for concern,” he said.

He said the division between ‘elite’ writers and ‘lesser mortals’ was holding Indian literature back. “Moreover, this division can actually have a negative impact on the reading habits among people which is on a downward spiral,” Bhagat added.

He said children today spend hours on social media but the accessibility of writing can draw readers away from their phones and computers, and spark an interest in books. “If a kid reads my book one day and takes a liking to it, then somewhere my book is helping take interest in reading. Tomorrow they might take to reading some other authors like Shashi Tharoor or somebody else,” he said.

“Now, when a parent then tells them to stop reading Chetan Bhagat, then the kid goes back to YouTube/Instagram quitting reading altogether. So ask are you helping literature or are you hurting literature?” he said. “So, just for the heck of discouraging teenagers from reading Chetan Bhagat and make them read something ‘elite’ don’t make them stop reading altogether.”

In the face of criticism and trolling, Bhagat said he has developed a thick skin over time. “Initially it bothered me a lot. Some of them used to stick with me, get angry, and maybe react. Gradually over the years, I have realised that critics will criticise about me and I have made peace with it,” he said.

Bhagat added that he thinks his success story can motivate others to set higher goals for themselves. “When others see me, they think, ‘If this guy can do such things, maybe we can do so, too.’ So, in a way I am inspiring others,” he said.