![]() ![]() “How many of you have already read the book?” he asks. Presently, an emcee appears, delivers his spiel about the bookstore chain that is organising the event, and reassures the gathering, “Ladies and gentlemen, we have the celebrity figure present right here.” A few minutes later, Bhagat, a boyish figure in jeans and a t-shirt, enters to an outburst of claps, cheers and camera flashes.Īccording to the programme, Bhagat is supposed to read from the book. ![]() Cut to Bhagat chiming in earnestly, “I am the poster boy of Indian middle-class success.” After about 20 minutes of this the screen goes blank, bringing hope to the restless audience. A screen loops TV clips of Bhagat: interspersed with upbeat stock music, a breathless voice informs us that after book sales in the millions over the past five years, Bhagat recently quit his ‘well-paid job’ as a banker. The chairs laid out by the bookstore are filled half an hour in advance and people file steadily into the space between racks. Some are young enough to be accompanied by parents others come straight from work, laptop cases slung over shoulders most seem to be college students. Publicity has been minimal-a single message on Twitter is responsible for most of the youngsters trooping in. I AM AT THE BENGALURU LAUNCH of Chetan Bhagat’s 2 States: The Story of My Marriage. ![]()
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