You’d be lying if you say that you have NEVER read/tried reading Chetan Bhagat! I remember stepping into teenage and reading everything that Bhagat had to write about – from his blogs to social media posts, columns – everything. Because at 13, my librarian wouldn’t let me read Sidney Sheldon and Chetan Bhagat was my only way of feeling “like an adult”. Of course, soon I grew out of it…thankfully.
Chetan Bhagat has stirs a lot of controversies online from time to time for which he does face a nasty amount of backlash. However, this time he went on to tweet something rather sweet and heartwarming!
Bhagat recently posted a video of how a street hawker tried selling his own book to him at the traffic signal. Even though the book was pirated, Bhagat engaged in a jovial conversation with him, asked him about how the book was selling and was the author any good.
The boy handed Bhagat his recent book saying, “Nayi wali ayi hai. Bohot acchi bikti hai.”
Bhagat checks the book out and asks if it’s real or fake.
“Online ka copy hai, Sir”, he replies.
According to sources, pirated copies are xeroxed versions of a copy of the e-books available online.
Chetan, however, buys the book anyway and introduces himself and shakes the hawker’s hand!
“I don’t support piracy (hurts me directly) but I also know it helps people like him make a living”, he writes.
Watch the video here:
This guy sold me my own book !😂 His reaction when he found out was so sweet. ♥️. I don’t support piracy (hurts me directly) but I also know it helps people like him make a living. I’d rather they sold original books at signals instead. Many do now! pic.twitter.com/UEK4gfqxVH
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) August 7, 2019
Netizens are gushing over how well Bhagat treated the hawker and the video is winning hearts!
Love the way you treated him.
He will remember you for the rest of his life.— Srishti (@jaihind100) August 7, 2019
If you want to measure your success then this is the scale
— Rohit Varshney (@sir_rohit) August 7, 2019
😍😂. One of the best moments of life, for both of you.
— malcolm (@malcolmquatre) August 7, 2019
Hahaha so nice of you sir
— Prem Kumar Amancha (@premkum98612845) August 7, 2019
Hi. Nice of you Chetan sir. Please don't blame him. He is just trying to earn his bread for the day. Also a humble request to call him 'aap' instead of 'tum'. They might be younger than you but they may have seen more in life than many of us. Thanks for being so accepting & kind
— Ashwini Kelkar #BLM 🌺 (@AshwiniKelkar1) August 7, 2019
Heart touching seriously this quality is rare being so popular u r so down to earth 👌
— Ammey (@Amitasethimahi) August 7, 2019
In the past, a street hawker in India tried selling the famous Paulo Coelho his own book. He posted the hawker’s picture and said and wrote: “People call this “pirate” editions. For me this is an honour, an honest way for this young man to make money.”
They sell because people buy them. People further negotiate the price with them. The situation compels them to. You rightly pointed out… "It helps people like him make a living".https://t.co/Tfc954sCdB
— Sashank Mishra (@imSashankMishra) August 7, 2019
Street hawkers might sell you pirated versions of books, but it is their only way of making a living. They don’t understand how it is a loss for the authors. Bhagat’s gesture towards the hawker is truly touching!