One Night at the Call Centre by- Chetan Bhagat

One Night at the Call Centre by- Chetan Bhagat

This blog is a response to the questions given below as part of my class room activity. 

Respected Sir,

1 Popular Literature commonly lacks a sustained plot, worked out with close regard to cause and effect.

As it breaks the traditional idea of maintain the plot, many a time it has been replace by flesh- back technique. Chetan Bhagat also took the same way of narrating his novel; the way it begun ‘Chapter: 29’ just after preface and then it starts with chapter: 1. so, basically it doesn’t sustain the plot in traditional manner. 

1 As ‘Self-help’ Book:

A ‘Self-help’ book is one that is written with the intention to instruct its readers on solving personal problems (Wikipedia). This novel also represents the similar idea. Traditionally this term was coined on stage performances as “Deus ex Machina”; which actually involves some superpower on earth (stage); where God as a ‘Messiah’ resolves the plot. Here, Chetan Bhagat also uses the prologue, epilogue for viewers and as in chapter number 29 every characters encounters with God’s call (which later improved into Military Uncle’s words). Here God do not directly comes into the picture, he just gives his advice to all of them; and turn their pessimistic view towards life into optimistic desire. God’s call gives solution of their problems that is also connected with inner call- Voice from the within.

2 Cyberpunk:

Cyberpunk is relates with technology. It is also genre of scientific fiction. In this novel, we find much use of technology like…. Microsoft word, E- mail, F.M. and the call center itself remains for technology. But here in this novel Chetan Bhagat has smartly represented the ‘bug virus’ to threat foreigners. It also taken as plot mover.

3 Anti- American Sentiments:

“Americans may have many things, but they are not the happiest people on the earth by any stretch. Any country obsessed with war can’t be happy.”

Chetan Bhagat has tried to put forth the darker side of America. In today’s India, majority of Indians are engaged with Call center services; where they serve for Americans most of the times. In this novel ‘Vroom’ stands sternly against America. He fluently speaks against America like,

“Meanwhile bad bosses and stupid Americans suck the life blood out of our country’s most productive generation.”

“A thirty-five year old American’s brain and IQ is the same as a ten-years-old Indian’s brain. This will help you to understand your clients. You need to be patient as you are when dealing with a child. Americans are dumb, just accept it.”

“Our government doesn’t realize this, but Americans are using us. We are sacrificing an entire generation to service their call centre.”

This text is much spoken about patriotism and rejected the western culture which is imposed forcefully.

4 Menippean Satire:

Menippean Satire is ‘Seriocomic’ genre in which contemporary issues of any institutions and ideas are criticized. In Chetan Bhagat’s all novels, institutions are target through the use of this satire. Like, in ‘3 Mistakes of my Life’ Chetan Bhagat satires on cricket as wider phenomena. In the present novel he harshly satires on ‘Bossism’ and Bakshi becomes here for specific reasons a central figure; who staunchly criticized by Chetan Bhagat.

Thank You…