Five Point Someone - Chetan Bhagat

     Seldom has a book captured the imagination of book lovers as the one released in 2004 by a first time author with a title which can be easily confused to be a help guide for IIT JEE. No other book written by an Indian enjoys the cult status as this one and justifiably so. The book is one of the highest selling English novels ever published in India and continues to be a best seller and a selling point for the author 5 years down the line.

     The first thing one would notice about the book is the colloquial style of writing which is panned by the literary critics. The irony is, this very style is one of the major reasons for its universal appeal. The humor in the book is incredibly funny yet never hits you below the belt. The novel set in IIT Delhi takes you on the adventures of its three protagonists - Hari, Alok and Ryan. 

     The book is a first person narration through Hari but there are passages by others as well which are one of the highlights of the book. The humor in the book is never surreal and takes a dark turn on more than one occasions. IITs for decades have been revered as the pinnacles of tried and tested Indian Education System. This book challenges that perception with poignant examples of how creativity is seen as a sign of rebellion and archaic pedagogy as a form of religion in these esteemed institutions. 

     The book did not achieve its current stature because of its dark humor or for the connection it establishes with the reader irrespective of his/her background in education but for the ripples it creates in their minds who have been brain washed to think that IITs have a dynamic and vibrant system of teaching which is of course, far from the truth. It shows us that the cream of the country's intelligentsia go to these holy institutions not for the love of science but for security of their future and if there are rare exceptions who do go there for discovering the beauty of science and benefits of unadulterated research (pun intended), they are thwarted at the budding stage.

     This is not to say it offers a pessimistic view of our education system through IITs but on the contrary, an optimistic view of how a change in our mindset can do wonders for the system. There comes a time during the journey of the three protagonists in the book when Ryan questions the other two about the lack of inventions from the IITs? Why are the breakthroughs happening in other universities of the world (Ivy league, Oxford, Cambridge) and not in IIT? when they are considered to be of similar stature. From a personal point of view, this book gave me the motivation when I needed it the most. For people who are not fortunate enough to be an alumni of the IITs, it is a startling revelation that even the IITs are moribund in their approach to learning.

     The fact that these things come from an author who is himself an alumni of the IIT and IIM makes this discovery all the more authentic. Few books leave a lasting impression on our minds and have the power to change our mindset, this is one such book. If you have not read this already, you are missing something very important in your life. If you have, read it again. I have read this book 7 times so far and each time I have read something new between the lines. It is an inspiring story which is sure to make people with even the most rudimentary sense of humor fall off their chair laughing. 

     The book claims to be a guide of what not to do in IIT, but it contains all the elements of a best seller and is rightfully considered to be one of best contemporary works by an Indian. The lines used by the characters have become a part of our vocabulary but its moral is yet to become a part of our life. Next time you meet a person, don't judge them by their success, or lack of it but by their intent  to learn or lack of it. I used this gospel to keep myself going when I lost my belief on our education system. I realized that you don't need someone else to move your cheese, you can do it yourself.

--Rj