Assignment 207 Contemporary Literatures in English
Academic Information :
Name: Reshma Bilakhiya
Roll No: 23
Semester: 4 (Batch 2023-25)
Enrolment number: 5108230008
Paper No: 207
Paper name: Contemporary Literatures in English
Paper code: 22414
Topic: The Major Characters and Themes of the Novel Revolution 2020
Submitted to: Smt. S.B. Gardi, Department of English, MKBU
Email id : reshmabilakhiya21@gmail.com
Date of Submission : 17th April, 2025
Introduction
Chetan Bhagat
Chetan Bhagat is a prominent Indian author, columnist, and YouTuber. He was born on April 22, 1974, in New Delhi, India. After completing his master's degree in business administration in 1998, he started his career in the corporate world. He worked with top-notch firms such as Peregrine Investments Holdings in Canada and Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong. However, his passion for writing led him to pursue a career in writing.
Chetan Bhagat started writing his debut novel "Five Point Someone" while working at Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong in the early 2000s. The book was published in 2004 by Rupa Publications, Delhi. It tells the story of three students who consider themselves to be below average among their peers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). The novel received widespread critical acclaim and was later adapted into a successful Bollywood film named "3 Idiots."
Bhagat's success with his debut novel paved the way for his subsequent works, including "One Night @ the Call Center," "The 3 Mistakes of My Life," "2 States," "Revolution 2020," "Half Girlfriend," and "One Indian Girl." His books have been translated into several languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. In addition to his writing career, Chetan Bhagat is also a renowned motivational speaker. He has spoken at more than 800 organizations in 1000 cities worldwide. Bhagat's works have been recognized and appreciated globally. He was included in Time magazine's list of the World's 100 Most Influential People in 2010.
Chetan Bhagat's notable works with their published year :
Five Point Someone (2004)
One Night @ the Call Center (2005)
The 3 Mistakes of My Life (2008)
2 States (2009)
Revolution 2020 (2011)
Half Girlfriend (2014)
One Indian Girl (2016)
The Girl in Room 105 (2018)
One Arranged Murder (2020)
400 Days (2021)
Revolution 2020
Revolution 2020 is a novel published in 2011, is set in the city of Varanasi, India, and tells the story of three childhood friends, Gopal, Raghav, and Aarti, as they navigate through life in the midst of corruption, politics, and societal pressures. The novel revolves around the central theme of the Indian education system and its drawbacks, as well as the political and social corruption that plagues the country. The characters in the book are relatable and their struggles resonate with the readers, making it an engaging and thought-provoking reading.
Major Characters
Gopal Mishra
Gopal Mishra is the protagonist and the narrator of Revolution 2020. His voice guides the readers through the emotional and moral journey of the novel. Born into a poor family in Varanasi, Gopal grew up facing financial difficulties and social limitations. He is deeply affected by his father's struggles, who works as a schoolteacher and dreams of giving his son a better future through education. From a young age, Gopal develops a strong desire to escape poverty and live a life of wealth and respect.
Driven by this ambition, he says,
"I wanted to be rich. For that I was willing to do anything."(Bhagat)
This quote sums up his mindset and becomes the turning point in his life. After failing engineering entrance exams and losing his father, Gopal finds an opportunity through MLA Shukla-ji, a corrupt politician, who helps him establish a private engineering college. In doing so, Gopal steps into a world of bribes, manipulation, and political favors, quickly becoming successful but at the cost of his morals.
Despite achieving everything he once dreamed of—wealth, power, and social status—Gopal feels empty inside, especially because of his unfulfilled love for Aarti, his childhood friend. In the end, realizing that Aarti truly loves Raghav, Gopal makes the painful but noble decision to sacrifice his love and let them be together. This final act shows his personal growth and the emotional conflict between love and ambition, making him a deeply human and relatable character.
Raghav Kashyap
Raghav Kashyap is Gopal’s childhood friend and later his main rival, both in love and in ideology. Unlike Gopal, Raghav comes from a more privileged and well-educated family and secures a place at the prestigious IIT. However, instead of pursuing a lucrative career in engineering like most of his peers, Raghav chooses a different path. He follows his passion for journalism and dedicates himself to exposing the flaws in the political and educational systems of India.
Raghav is portrayed as an idealist and reformer, someone who believes in positive change and is willing to fight for it—even when it costs him personally. His work as a journalist in Revolution 2020 puts him in conflict with powerful people, including Gopal and Shukla-ji. His determination and moral stand are reflected in his powerful statement:
"I want to change the system, not become a part of it."(Bhagat)
Raghav’s character stands for truth, revolution, and social change, making him a symbol of hope and integrity in the novel.
Aarti Prathan
Aarti is the daughter of the District Magistrate (DM) and a childhood friend of both Gopal and Raghav. She plays a central role in the emotional storyline of the novel, acting as the connecting thread between the two male leads. Aarti is warm, caring, and expressive, but also struggles with making firm choices in matters of the heart.
As the story progresses, Aarti becomes emotionally torn between Gopal and Raghav. She shares a long-standing bond and comfort level with Gopal, but finds herself inspired and drawn to Raghav’s passion and idealism. Her shifting feelings represent more than just romantic confusion—they reflect the pressures of society, family expectations, and internal emotional conflict.
Her conversation with Gopal reveals her perspective clearly:
"I never thought of you that way, Gopal. You were always my best friend."(Bhagat)
Aarti becomes a symbol of inner struggle, trying to balance friendship, love, and societal norms, and her decisions deeply affect the paths of both men in the story.
MLA Shukla-ji
MLA Shukla-ji is a powerful and corrupt politician who plays a significant role in Gopal’s rise to success. As a seasoned manipulator of the political system, Shukla-ji uses his influence to bend rules, buy approvals, and ensure that Gopal’s college project becomes a reality. For Gopal, he becomes both a mentor and a reminder of the moral compromises required to achieve success quickly in a corrupt society.
Shukla-ji’s interactions show how corruption is normalized in the system, and how those in power often justify their actions as part of how the world works. He proudly states:
"The system doesn’t work without greasing hands, Gopal."(Bhagat)
Through Shukla-ji, the novel highlights the dark side of Indian politics and the dangerous ease with which youth can be drawn into corruption when success is seen as more important than ethics.
Major Themes
Corruption
One of the strongest and most recurring themes in Revolution 2020 is corruption, which is shown deeply rooted in the fields of education, politics, and business. Gopal’s journey from a poor, struggling student to the rich director of a private college is paved with bribes, manipulations, and unethical shortcuts. He becomes involved with corrupt political leaders like Shukla-ji, who guide him on how to use the broken system for personal gain.
His success story, while impressive on the surface, is entirely built on dishonest practices and backdoor dealings. Gopal himself admits the widespread nature of corruption in his line of work, saying:
"Every aspect of running a private college involves bribing someone." (Bhagat)
This theme reflects the sad reality of how success in modern India often comes not through merit but by navigating a system full of corruption.
Love and Sacrifice
The theme of love and sacrifice runs at the emotional core of the novel. The story is centered around a love triangle between Gopal, Aarti, and Raghav. While Gopal deeply loves Aarti and does everything to win her over, Aarti is emotionally drawn toward Raghav, whose passion for justice and truth attracts her.
Though Gopal initially tries to win Aarti’s heart using his success and charm, he eventually realizes that true love is not about possession but about letting go. In a powerful act of maturity, Gopal chooses to step away from Aarti’s life so she can be with Raghav—the person she truly loves. This ultimate sacrifice marks Gopal’s emotional growth and reveals a softer, more selfless side of his character that had been hidden under his ambition and bitterness.
Ambition and Morality
Another significant theme in Revolution 2020 is the conflict between ambition and morality, which is clearly reflected through the contrasting journeys of the two main male characters, Gopal and Raghav. Gopal represents ambition that is driven by personal gain, without concern for ethics or values. His only aim is to become rich and successful, and he is willing to take any path—even if it involves corruption, dishonesty, and manipulation—to achieve that goal. In contrast, Raghav’s ambition is rooted in idealism and integrity. Though he has the opportunity to pursue a high-paying career after graduating from IIT, he chooses to become a journalist so he can challenge the corrupt system and work for societal change. These two characters stand on opposite ends of the moral spectrum—Gopal chasing wealth at any cost, while Raghav uses his intelligence and education to fight for justice. Their opposing paths highlight the central question of the novel: should ambition be guided by values, or is it acceptable to sacrifice morality in the pursuit of success? Through this contrast, the novel encourages readers to reflect on the true meaning of ambition and the price one may pay for choosing the wrong path.
Revolution and Change
The title Revolution 2020 itself reflects the novel’s call for revolution and social change. This revolution is embodied most clearly in Raghav’s character, who uses the power of the media to speak out against injustice. Through his newspaper, also named Revolution 2020, he tries to uncover the wrongs in politics and education.
Although his revolution doesn’t take place through protests or violence, his words and ideals symbolize a quiet but powerful stand against corruption. Thus, the revolution in the story is personal, moral, and societal—reflecting the hope for a better India.
Conclusion :
Revolution 2020 is more than just a love story—it is a thoughtful reflection on the struggles of modern Indian youth. Through the lives and decisions of Gopal, Raghav, and Aarti, author Chetan Bhagat presents a rich commentary on how love, ambition, and integrity often collide in real life.
The novel does not offer simple answers but instead encourages readers to question the values we hold as a society. Whether it's Gopal’s fall into corruption, Raghav’s fight for truth, or Aarti’s emotional confusion, each character’s journey highlights the complexity of life in a fast-changing India. The blend of personal choices and societal issues makes the story both engaging and thought-provoking, giving voice to a generation caught between dreams and reality.
Words Count : (1887)
Image (2)
Work Cited :
Bhagat, Chetan. Revolution 2020: Love. Corruption. Ambition. Rupa Publications India, 2011.
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