Chetan Bhagat delivering his speech to youths at Bapu Sabhagar in Patna on Sunday

PATNA: Well-known author Chetan Bhagat on Sunday said publishers and writers in the country have the problem of 'elitism' due to which some of them are yet to accept him as a writer since he uses simple English and is rooted to the ground.

Bhagat was in Patna for a few hours to deliver a motivational speech to the youth for skill development and attaining success in life during which he made this statement. He said that people sometimes don't even accept him as a writer and he regularly faces abuses on social media which has become a part of his life now. Bhagat has authored around a dozen books till now some of which have been adapted to make Bollywood movies also.

Bhagat's programme was a part of a three-day event encouraging skill development which was organised under Bihar Skill Development Mission of the state government at Ashoka Convention Centre in the state capital. The programme would end on Monday.

Bhagat had an interactive session with media persons where he was asked that if he was yet not accepted as an author due to his background or for some other reason.

Responding to the question Bhagat said that, "Elitism is a problem in our country and especially among publishers and writers who write in a high class English. Till the time you maintain eliteness, you can't connect to common people. This is unfortunate for our country." He added that he tries to write for the youth in simple language and tries to remain connected with them.

"We want sahitya award and that is to be returned. I have not received such an award yet but if I get one, I am not going to return it," he said.

Bhagat also said he paid tax to the government equivalent to fees of 100 seats of engineers. "If I would have been just an engineer then this would not have been possible," the writer said.

Bhagat also said that in India, there is less respect for skill and more for a degree. "Aboard, one with high skills gets more respect and is paid more. Such mind-set has still not developed in India and will not come easily here," he said.

Continuing on the issue, Bhagat said "Now there is large middle class section in country. What will they get only from degree. They require knowledge of artificial intelligence and other skills now."

Bhagat during his one hour long session with the youth, encouraged them to cut down time spent on cellphone and social networking and use it to achieve their goals and develop skills.

The engineer turned writer also urged youths to not become a 'majnu' if they suffer breakups in love-life. "Spend crying a day, week or a month, but after that pick up yourself and dedicate yourself to achieve life's goal. UPSC exam dates won't change as your relationship ended," he said.

Bhagat also encouraged youths not to fear failure but to start again. "If you don't want failures then don't go for success. If you go for success then failure will meet on the way but you have to deal with emotions. There is no successful person who has not faced failures," he said.

Bhagat was in awe after looking at the convention centre. At least twice he mentioned that looking at the venue it seemed that he was either in Paris or somewhere else in world.

