The Book and Film Versions of Chetan Bhagat's Five Point Someone: a Cultural Study Bemi
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
International Journal of English Literature and Social Sciences (IJELS) Vol-3, Issue-2, Mar - Apr, 2018 https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijels.3.2.2 ISSN: 2456-7620 The Book and Film Versions of Chetan Bhagat's Five Point Someone: A Cultural Study Bemi. C. M Assistant Professor, Department of English, Loyola College, Chennai, India Abstract--- Cultural Institutions are elements within a historical sense and scientific training, the culture or subculture that are perceived to be important values they appreciate, the quality of life they to, or traditionally valued among its members for their admire. All communities have a culture. It is own identity. Examples of cultural institutions in modern the climate of their civilization. (Lippmann western society are museums, churches, schools, work “What is Culture?”) and the print media. Experts commonly name the Cultural institution means a public or nonprofit following five cultural institutions as needed (at least in institution within the state which engages in the cultural, some way) in any society in order to survive: education, intellectual, scientific, environmental, educational or economic system, government, family, and religion. This artistic enrichment of the people of the state. It includes, paper examines the cultural institutions in Indian society without limitation, aquaria, botanical societies, historical which prevent the growth of the youngsters. The cultural societies, land conservation organizations, libraries, institutions dealt in this paper are family, education and museums, performing arts associations or societies, marriage. Parents themselves make choices for their scientific societies, wildlife conservation organizations children’s higher education. They fail to consider their and zoological societies. Cultural institution does not children’s interest. They pressurize their children into a mean any school or any institution primarily engaged in crazy race for more marks, a race which has never religious or sectarian activities. benefited anyone. The modern trend among people is to In Indian society, there are many cultural make their daughter a doctor, and son an engineer, institutions which detriment to the growth of the young influenced by the society. generation. It is often said that the Indian culture and Keywords— Education, Institution, Marriage, Parents, heritage is so powerful that it has acted like a strong Youth. backbone and has made Indians stand tall through tough times. However, the generation of today, does not A Culture is a system of shared beliefs, values, conform to customs and traditions any more. They believe customs, behaviours, and artifacts that the members of that cultural values are very rigid and highly orthodox and society use to cope with their world and with one another, they hypocritically stop them from moving forward. and that are transmitted from generation to generation Gradually one can see the generation of today shedding through learning. Culture is made up of the common layers of our ethnic values. There are many unanswered things that members of a community learn from family, questions raised on formalities and ritual ceremonies friends, media, literature, and even strangers. followed during festivals, marriages and several other According to the article “Culture of India” in social events. Wikipedia, the culture of India refers to the religions, Educational institutions in India are also the beliefs, customs, traditions, languages, ceremonies, arts, products of the society’s cultural mores. Students are values and the way of life in India and its people. India's pressurized to learn the answers by heart and reproduce languages, religions, dance, music, architecture, food and the same in their examination papers. It should not be so. customs differ from place to place within the country. Its Education must make the student think. It must make culture is often labeled as an amalgamation of these them invent new ideas and not reinvent the same wheel. diverse sub-cultures spread all over the Indian There are teachers who enter classrooms and teach in the subcontinent and traditions that are several millennia old. most uninspiring manner without an iota of a passion to It has been rightly said that: change lives or to make education entertaining and Culture is the name for what people are interesting. They transform the most interesting subjects interested in, their thoughts, their models, the into disastrously painful experiences. Parents dream for books they read and the speeches they hear, their children and in order to fulfill these so-called their table-talk, gossip, controversies, dreams, they pressurize their children into a crazy race for more marks, a race which has never benefited anyone. www.ijels.com Page | 130 International Journal of English Literature and Social Sciences (IJELS) Vol-3, Issue-2, Mar - Apr, 2018 https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijels.3.2.2 ISSN: 2456-7620 Chetan Bhagat’s Five Point Someone and the agonies, frustration, dilemma and expectations. In Five adapted films 3 Idiots and Nanban challenge the present Point Someone Neha’s brother Samir commits suicide trends in education, the narrow mindedness of teachers because of his bullying father who forces him to join IIT and parents in forcing the children to choose the while his own intension is to become a lawyer. As a result profession which they consider suitable, keeping in view of his disinterest he fails to get into IIT. Prof. Cherian the prevailing perception in society regarding that fails to understand his son’s real interest and talents. profession. Moreover, the movies also criticize the glaring Dominated by his father Samir remains voiceless and is anomalies in the Indian education system which needs to not able to express his intention. This leads him to be rectified. They highlight the challenges in our present commit suicide. In his letter to his sister, Samir states: “I education which emphasizes on rote learning and have tried three times to get into IIT and each time I have memory. 3 Idiots and Nanban are eye openers for parents, disappointed dad. He cannot get over the fact that his son teachers and educational institutions to know the real cannot handle physics, chemistry and maths” (166). pulse of students and act accordingly The letter of Samir is also a kind of treatise Youngsters are moulded by their parents. Very which presents the hopes, expectations and aspirations of often their attitude is changed depending upon their the parents in the materialistic age regarding their parents. While some parents provide maximum support children. Even though Samir does not blame his father for and love towards their children, some fail to provide the suicide, anyone can understand his situation. Some part of right guidance and love. Conflicts occur between parents the letter can again be quoted here and teenagers because of misunderstanding, over He has seen thousands of IIT students in his protection, dominance, negligence and lack of life and cannot see why his own son cannot communication. In this present age most parents make it. Well Neha, he sees the students who themselves make choices for their children’s higher make it, but he does not see the hundreds of education. They fail to consider their children’s interest. thousands who don’t make it. He has not The modern trend among people is to make their daughter even talked to mom properly because of me. a doctor, and son an engineer, which gives social prestige What can I do? Keep trying until I die? Or in society. Middle class Indian parents fear that their kids simply die?. (167) will lead a life of hardship if they don’t get into Like Samir, hundreds of young people are agonized by engineering or medicine degree. A dialogue in the movies parental pressure and some even go to extent of 3 Idiots and Nanban reveal this: committing suicide. His letter may be treated as a severe Mona: When you were talking, he kicked, criticism against the educational system of the country. first time. The writer is not only critical about the system of Rancho: He? How do you know it is a he or IIT entrance exam, but also of the grading systems in the she? technical exams. He admits the fact that the greatest Mona: Papa asked the astrologer if we would minds are spoiled in their youth. It also makes them get an engineer frustrated and cut off from the main stream. or a doctor. Neha’s character is a sensitive portrayal of what Rancho: Meaning? it is like to be young and female in an overprotective, Pia: Boy becomes an engineer, girl a doctor. patriarchal world. When Hari gains her trust, she falls in Rancho: champ, better stay inside, out here is love with him and even goes to the extent of having a circus, your physical relationship with Hari. Her father strictly insists grandpa is the ringmaster, He will crack his on her avoiding boys but she meets Hari often. Prof. whip. Cherian is also strict about her receiving phone calls from The pressure does not stop at being an engineer, but to boys. Protection is needed to some extent but add an MBA as that degree becomes part of an elusive overprotection and restriction lead children naturally to group, although it’s becoming too common now. This move beyond their limit. But at the same time children reference is captured in the movie where Rancho tells Pia: fail to understand the reason behind their parent’s “Your boy friend is an ass. He first did his engineering conditions because of their immaturity. and then did an MBA and now works in a bank. If he In the films, Pia/Ria falls in love with wanted to work in a bank then why did he choose to Rancho/Pari, whom her father considers as his enemy. become an engineer.” She endures everything at the beginning out of respect for Chetan Bhagat vividly portrays the realities in his father, but at one point, Pia/Ria denounces her father the life of youngsters in Five Point Someone: What not to in the same way that Rancho/Pari did over the suicide of do at IIT.