While Chetan Bhagat‘s Half-Girlfriend is all over tinselville, his another ‘One Indian Girl’ is all over the news now. The author, who’s on one hand elated at ‘Five Point Some’ being included (maybe) in Delhi University’s optional syllabus, is also battling with an injunction. Bhagat’s facing charges of plagiarism as claimed by a young author. Here’s a low-down on what’s happened and is happening.
A Bangalore-based IIT-IIM graduate, Anvita Bajpai has filed an official injunction in The Hon’ble Court Bangalore and has claimed that Bhagat had “intelligently copied” her work in his 2016 book, ‘One Indian Girl’.
In a Facebook post detailing the developments, Anvita mentioned how she had, back in 2014 at a college fest, handed her book ‘Life, Odds & Ends’ to Mr Bhagat. The first chapter Drawing Parallels is the one in question to have allegedly “inspired” Bhagat’s book.
“The Hon’ble Court Bangalore has granted temporary injunction restraining Chetan Bhagat from selling the book ‘One Indian Girl’ after Anvita Bajpai filed a suit claiming it to be an intelligent copy of her story ‘Drawing Parallels’ from the book ‘Life, Odds & Ends’.
Details following –
Mrs. Anvita Bajpai, an IIT and IIM graduate, having passion for writing published a collection of short stories in a book titled LIFE, ODDS & ENDS in the year 2014. The first story of the book is titled DRAWING PARALLELS. This story centred on a woman, feminist, non-conventional, adventurously deviant especially in matters of relationships with the opposite sex; and she settles down in her third relationship by finding a balance for her family and other aspirations.
Mr. Chetan Bhagat, a celebrated writer published a fiction called ONE INDIAN GIRL in the year 2016. Mrs. Anvita Bajpai claims that during the year 2014, when Chetan Bhagat had come to Bangalore for BLF’14, she had given him a copy of her book for writing review; though he denied the notice sent by Anvita Bajpai alleging that one Indian girl published in the year 2016 is nothing but a copy of DRAWING PARALLELS and the theme of her story has been intelligently copied.
Anvita Bajpai sent a legal notice on 22/2/2017 to Mr. Chetan Bhagat and asked him to withdraw the book titled ONE INDIAN GIRL and also to pay a sum of Rs. 5 lakhs towards damages. He sent a reply on 23/3/2017 denying all the allegations and has stoutly denied that One Indian Girl is totally a different story and not based on ideas of story DRAWING PARALLELS written by Mrs. Anvita Bajpai.
Mrs. Anvita Bajpai approached civil Court at Bangalore and has filed an Original Suit seeking permanent injunction restraining Mr. Chetan Bhagat and the publisher from selling ONE INDIAN GIRL and also sought for damages of Rs. 1 lakh. The Hon’ble Court, after hearing the advocate for Mrs. Anvita Bajpai, has granted temporary injunction till the next of hearing restraining Mr. Chetan Bhagat and the publisher from selling the Book .The injunction order came to be passed on 19th April, 2017.
PS: Needed formalities and further communications in this matter are in progress.”
Details following –
Mrs. Anvita Bajpai, an IIT and IIM graduate, having passion for writing published a collection of short stories in a book titled LIFE, ODDS & ENDS in the year 2014. The first story of the book is titled DRAWING PARALLELS. This story centred on a woman, feminist, non-conventional, adventurously deviant especially in matters of relationships with the opposite sex; and she settles down in her third relationship by finding a balance for her family and other aspirations.
Mr. Chetan Bhagat, a celebrated writer published a fiction called ONE INDIAN GIRL in the year 2016. Mrs. Anvita Bajpai claims that during the year 2014, when Chetan Bhagat had come to Bangalore for BLF’14, she had given him a copy of her book for writing review; though he denied the notice sent by Anvita Bajpai alleging that one Indian girl published in the year 2016 is nothing but a copy of DRAWING PARALLELS and the theme of her story has been intelligently copied.
Anvita Bajpai sent a legal notice on 22/2/2017 to Mr. Chetan Bhagat and asked him to withdraw the book titled ONE INDIAN GIRL and also to pay a sum of Rs. 5 lakhs towards damages. He sent a reply on 23/3/2017 denying all the allegations and has stoutly denied that One Indian Girl is totally a different story and not based on ideas of story DRAWING PARALLELS written by Mrs. Anvita Bajpai.
Mrs. Anvita Bajpai approached civil Court at Bangalore and has filed an Original Suit seeking permanent injunction restraining Mr. Chetan Bhagat and the publisher from selling ONE INDIAN GIRL and also sought for damages of Rs. 1 lakh. The Hon’ble Court, after hearing the advocate for Mrs. Anvita Bajpai, has granted temporary injunction till the next of hearing restraining Mr. Chetan Bhagat and the publisher from selling the Book .The injunction order came to be passed on 19th April, 2017.
PS: Needed formalities and further communications in this matter are in progress.”
A few hours after that, Bhagat, in his Facebook post denied all allegations and called the incident an unfortunate one. In his own words, Chetan said he is a writer of universal stories and all his stories are original. He further added how he’s never even read the said author’s works.
“Hi Guys,
Just wanted to share something. Today I learnt that someone called Anvita Bajpai has filed a case in the Bangalore lower court and got a temporary injunction stating something about One Indian Girl based on her already published work.
This is deeply unfortunate. This is for one an absolute surprise for me as I have never read any of this author’s works. My stories are always original – including One Indian Girl – and it is unthinkable for me to do anything like what is suggested. Surely, alleging anything like this in the current digital age is strange.
I write universal stories about everyday issues. This could be a misunderstanding and am sure will be clarified as what is being suggested is baseless. My publisher’s legal team will be taking appropriate steps.
My readers’ trust is most valuable to me and I will never, ever compromise that.
Yours truthfully,
Chetan Bhagat”
Just wanted to share something. Today I learnt that someone called Anvita Bajpai has filed a case in the Bangalore lower court and got a temporary injunction stating something about One Indian Girl based on her already published work.
This is deeply unfortunate. This is for one an absolute surprise for me as I have never read any of this author’s works. My stories are always original – including One Indian Girl – and it is unthinkable for me to do anything like what is suggested. Surely, alleging anything like this in the current digital age is strange.
I write universal stories about everyday issues. This could be a misunderstanding and am sure will be clarified as what is being suggested is baseless. My publisher’s legal team will be taking appropriate steps.
My readers’ trust is most valuable to me and I will never, ever compromise that.
Yours truthfully,
Chetan Bhagat”
Looks like Bhagat’s One Indian Girl seems to ‘Drawing Parallels’ from an IIT-IIM Graduate’s work, and Twitter reactions would soon follow.
You can read Chetan Bhagat’s and Anvita Bajpai’s respective Facebook posts.