Chetan Bhagat - An Indian to be proud of

Well despite his best of efforts, Al Pacino couldn't pocket the most coveted "5 Diamond Award" thanks to the Ocean's 13, but my favorite author did it again and I feel honored to present him the "5 Diamond Award" (just in theory of course)

I just don't understand, how can this author give 5 good books in a row. From his debut "Five Point Someone" to his "Revolution 2020" in '11. But he has done it. 5 books so far and all 5 feel good to read, give a sense of greatness (kindof) once i get past the last page and close the cover of the book (pretty good cover designs, on all 5 of them).

I was in college when i started reading his books. With the limited money, i could only borrow the "Five Point Someone". Same goes for the "One Night @ the Call Center". Amazing love stories in both of them.

I was in my final year when i bought "The 3Mistakes of My Life", a cheaper second hand version from  a road side vendor (i had a generous pocket money flow, thanks to my final year project :P ).

2 states cost Rs.95 if i'm right, and that was as soon as i finished my college and was waiting for my call letter. I bought 3 copies. 1 as a gift, 1 for myself and 1 to lend (anyways ended up lending them both, and haven't got em back yet :/ ) (planning to buy another one for my shelf :( )

Revolutions 2020 cost me Rs.140 (started working so i can easily afford it now :D ). Bought 2, 1 for myself, 1 as a gift. (Trust me, it does feel good when u gift someone with a nice book such as this one, especially when u gift it already and later find out it was not a wrong choice for a gift)

I know this blog does not talk much about the author, but i had to give such a vague lead story for this punch line that follows this dot. "To my future generations, I can proudly say that I saw this author grow, that i was there when he published his first book and he didn't disappoint me in his successive books".

Yes, I do feel proud to say that i grew up along with Chetan (the writer, not the person himself, he's elder) and he was my inspiration, to write (i mean, this blog) and to my courage to express whats on my mind in an (almost) witty, non-offensive way. I would like to say this again, "Chetan Bhagat is an Indian to be proud of".

And i must admit this, i fell in love with the lead girl characters from all his books, within the first few lines that describe them as a person, but in this book, (apart from falling in love with Aarti) i respect Gopal (never felt so much respect for a character in a book).

P.S.:- I think its good that they have included the new symbol for Rupee on the back cover for the book's price. Don't know if the author had his hand in this, or it was mandatory to use it, but i appreciate the thought to include it, given the ideas expressed in the book. (i know, i notice a lot, another potential advantage of reading, Chetan Bhagat :P )

People i wud like to have a coffee with

With the 4 other people of our 5 member gang (boy do i miss dat)

With the 31 other people from my Pune Training Batch (who gave me wht i missed in college, a good time)

A soldier from the Indian Army (had the chance to talk with and army man once, not over coffee though. He was a good man, a proud one for that matter)

A pilot from the Indian Air Force

A Sailor from the Indian Navy

Joel Osteen (he preaches life and its practicality)

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam (a beautiful mind)

Dr. Irai Anbu IAS (one of my role models growing up)

Anchor Gopinath (the one person i know, who really understands his "freedom of speech")

Periyardasan (the expertise in his field and the way he's expressing it, mesmerizing)

Bastian Babu (such profound thoughts and a very practical man)

A. R. Rahman (if photography changed my view of the world through my eyes, i'm sure one coffee with him will change the way i listen to the world through my ears :) )

Hans Zimmer (the only person who can give me peaceful sleep (his music) after a bad day at office, which is, well, quite often :P )

Enya (guess she's the only woman on this list (if dats her real name), except if the soldier, sailor and pilot are all men :P )
(hopefully, the pilot wud be a girl, i wud luv to sit and chat with a woman pilot from the IAF :) )

Sachin Tendulkar (a man who knows how to learn, knows how to teach. And i wud like to learn that frm him)

Barack Obama (the one person i see, as the definition of "change")

Rajinikanth (I have one question for him, just one :) )

Jim Carry (a man who wud fall, fight, cry, even die, just to make us laugh)

Al Pacino (the one and only Godfather. Still going strong)

Hugo Weaving (the second reason for my lov for English as a language, first being The Bible :) )

Gautham Vasudev Menon (the only movie director that made this list??)

Vincent Versace (understanding natural light, he changed my view of the world through my lens, the whole perspective)

Micheal Jordan (definitely need a photograph, standing beside him :P )

William Henry Gates (who wouldn't)

Larry Page & Sergey Brin (ditto :D )

Mark Zuckerberg (well, after watching social network, if not a coffee, couple beers will do  :P )

The Bucket-List (when I was 22)

1. To find one more perfect girl and fall in love with her (don't even try to guess who the first one was, and its definitely not my mom, don't take me for a sentimental BS'er :P )
2. To have my photograph featured in any one of the world's top 10 photography magazines (preferably on the cover or the middle page..)
3. To have one of my photographs of my city hanging in any of the city's top cafes' "wall of fame"
4. To write a book. (yeah exactly like him, even if i'm not gonna get so famous :P )
5. To have tasted all that is edible in this world. (process already started actually, must get there soon)
6. To wear my favorite pair of jeans again (its a size 28, as if dats ever gonna happen.. :/ )
7. To fly.
8. To drive through the streets of Barcelona.
9. To spend a month on the Fiji islands. (without my cell phone)
10. To die of a heart attack. (i don't have the looks already, whtever i currently have, won't survive a cancer or even an accident :D )