Chetan Bhagat might soon be part of Delhi University syllabus!
If all goes according to plan, Delhi University students who take up the Popular Fiction elective paper in their second year might soon be studying Chetan Bhagat's Five Point Someone. If the recommendations of the Choice-Based Credit System (CBCS) committee of the English department are approved, Bhagat's debut novel will be taught alongside books by Louisa M. Alcott, Agatha Christie and J.K. Rowling.
JK Rowling, Agatha Christie, Louisa M. Alcott... and Bhagat
Delhi University offers Popular Fiction to second-year students pursuing honours and programme courses as part of the CBCS. However, though the English department will teach the subject, it won't be offered to those pursuing English honours. Other books that will be taught are Little Women (Alcott), Murder on the Orient Express (Christie) and Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone (Rowling).
Feedback from teachers awaited
The English department has sent a copy of the proposed syllabus to all colleges. Teachers have to give their feedback by May 1. The recommendations will then have to be approved by the Academic Council and Executive Council.
Teachers undecided on proposed plans
There were mixed reactions from teachers. "There is some sense to add these novels as students might have read them already and have seen movie adaptations," said Sanam Khanna Meanwhile, Sachin N said, "The way these modifications have been done has limited or no participation from teachers. There is no framework on how we are supposed to teach the popular fiction paper."
NewsBytes's take
It might be disappointing for many, but Bhagat's commercial, often misogynistic and shallow potboilers sell like fire in the Indian market. The language he uses isn't commendable either. However, quality of literature is subjective; despite widespread criticism by 'elites', Bhagat's fan following is massive. We have to thank our stars that the committee didn't propose it as a part of the English honours course.
