Chetan Bhagat's novel Revolution 2020 explores corruption in Indian society through the stories of characters Gopal, Raghav, and Aarti. The novel highlights corruption in the education system, with politicians using funds meant for projects to illegally establish for-profit colleges. It also depicts corruption in politics, showing politicians shielding their corrupt activities by pressuring media organizations. Overall, the novel emphasizes the need for reforms to increase transparency and accountability in governance, business, and society in India.

2. Corruption in Indian Society : A
Revolution 2020 Perspective
-Prepared by Nirali Dabhi

3. Academic Information
Name: Nirali Dabhi
Roll number: 13
Enrollment Number: 4069206420220006
Sem: 4 M.A
Paper number: 207
Paper Code: 22414
Paper Name: Contemporary Literatures in English
Topic: Corruption in Indian Society: A Revolution 2020
Perspective
Submitted to: Smt S.B. Gardi, Department of English, M.K.B.U
Email: niralidabhi95@gmail.com

4. TABLE OF CONTENTS
01
04
02
03
Introduction of
Writer
Introduction of
Novel
Corruption in
Education
Corruption in
Politics

5. Brief Introduction of Chetan Bhagat
Chetan Bhagat (born 22 April 1974) is an Indian author, columnist, and
YouTuber. Chetan Bhagat has authored several bestselling novels, including
"One Night @ the Call Center," "The 3 Mistakes of My Life," "2 States,"
"Revolution 2020," "Half Girlfriend," and "The Girl in Room 105." His works
often explore themes such as love, friendship, ambition, societal norms, and
cultural clashes, offering a blend of romance, drama, humor, and social
commentary.
Chetan Bhagat is also a columnist, screenwriter, and motivational speaker.
He writes columns for leading newspapers and magazines, addressing a wide
range of social, political, and cultural issues. Bhagat's writing style is known
for its simplicity, accessibility, and ability to connect with a diverse audience,
making him one of the most influential voices in contemporary Indian
literature.

6. About Novel Revolution 2020
● "Revolution 2020" published in 2011. Set in the backdrop of Varanasi, a city in
northern India, the novel revolves around the lives of three main characters - Gopal,
Raghav, and Aarti - whose aspirations, dreams, and ambitions intersect amidst the
backdrop of corruption, education, and love.
● Gopal is a young man from a lower-middle-class family who dreams of becoming rich
and successful. To achieve his goals, he becomes embroiled in corrupt practices,
including manipulating the education system.
● Raghav, Gopal's childhood friend, is an idealistic and passionate young man who
dreams of bringing about social change. He becomes involved in activism and fights
against corruption, aiming to make a difference in society.
● Aarti, a talented and intelligent young woman, is caught between the affections of
both Gopal and Raghav. Her journey explores themes of love, sacrifice, and personal
integrity.
● The characters navigate through the challenges posed by corruption in the education
system and society at large. The novel delves into the complexities of morality, ethics,
and the pursuit of one's dreams in a system rife with corruption and injustice.

7. Understanding Corruption
● Definition of Corruption
● Corruption is a difficult concept to define. A proper definition of corruption
requires a multi-dimensional approach.
● Corruption is when someone in power or authority misuses their position for
their own personal benefit, like taking bribes, cheating, or favoring friends
or family unfairly.
● Corruption is when a person in power abuses their power for personal gain.
It can lead to distrust between the parties involved. It is not suitable for a
country as it can weaken the system and hinder the economic growth of
the country.
● Corruption can occur in both public and private sectors, impacting
governance, business, and society as a whole.

8. Public sector - Private Sector
● Judicial
● Military
● Political
● Police
● Education
● Medical
● Bureaucracy
Types/Sectors of Corruption

9. Graph of Corruption in India

10. Corruption in Education
● The character of MLA Shuklaji uses corrupt means like black money and bribes to fund
and set up the engineering college Ganga technology.
● Processes like UGC and AICTE inspections meant to ensure quality are compromised
through bribes paid to inspectors to overlook shortcomings.
● The character of Raghav exposes the scams and illegal approvals given to institutes
like Gangatech through his newspaper Revolution 2020.
● The novel critiques how the education system has become deeply corrupted from top
to bottom, with a profit motive overriding ethics and quality.
● All corrupt educational institutes have started making money through entrance exams.

11. Examples Corruption in Indian Education
‘’आज राजा का बेटा राजा नह ीं
बनेगा। राजा वह ींबनेगा, जो
हकदार होगा। उठो पढो, लडो, बढो
और हकदार बनो।’’(Bahl)
Corruption in medical education
NEET (Jain and Handa)
● The corruption and malpractice in medical
colleges, where seats are allegedly being sold
to underachieving students who did not qualify
for admission based on merit.
Aarakshan explores the
misuse of the reservation
system, while Super 30
focuses on the exploitation of
students by unscrupulous
coaching centers. (Jha)

12. The MBBS seats sold between 12 lakh to 40 lakh rupees by two private colleges in
Chennai. The scam gets bigger as the post graduate in medical field that are
necessary for a successful career. The price for a postgraduate seat in radiology in
most leading private colleges across the country is 2 crore rupees while in
cardiology, gynecology and orthopedics are priced around rupees 1.5 crore
(Narayan)

13. Corruption in Politics
● The novel portrays how politicians like MLA Shukla are involved in
corrupt practices like misusing funds meant for projects like the Ganga
river cleaning initiative to instead build private educational institutions
for personal profit.
● Politicians and builders are shown getting into shady deals to convert
agricultural land illegally into land for educational institutions by bribing
authorities and circumventing regulations.
● The novel shows how politicians have ties with newspaper companies,
offering them advertisements in exchange for positive coverage and
suppressing reports of their corrupt activities.
● The protagonist Raghav, an idealistic journalist, faces harassment from
politicians for trying to expose corruption scandals through his reporting
in the newspaper Revolution 2020.
● MLA Shukla is the representative of those dark enemies in this section
of narration. Like him, the big guns always deceive the society in the
name of social welfare.

14. ● In the Novel, we see that MLA starts establishing a new college named “Ganga
Technology ” in a no fly zone. It is completely against the contemporary law to use
an agricultural land for establishing any educational institution. But, it is a game of
chess to the MLA for the reason that he has the CM (Chief Minister) in his hand.
Nothing will be a problem before him.
● The MLA says to Gopal, “Show her mother your car and money. Don’t take dowry.
Even if the daughter does not agree, the mother will.” Here rises the emotional
corruption. (Bhagat)

15. ● Nikhil Wagle from TV9 Marathi, a popular
television channel, amid allegations of
political pressure leading to the cancellation
of his show.
● The cancellation of Wagle's show,
"Maharashtra's Maharathi," amid allegations
of pressure from the ruling political party
suggests attempts to suppress dissenting
voices and control the narrative presented
in the media. (Torgalkar)
Examples Corruption in Indian Politics

16. Conclusion
"Revolution 2020" by Chetan Bhagat highlights the pervasive corruption in India's
governance, business, and society. Through the story of Raghav, a journalist
fighting against corruption, Bhagat emphasizes the urgent need for
comprehensive reforms to promote transparency, accountability, and ethics. The
Corruption in Education and politics both are telling the story of Gopal and MLA
Shuklaji.

17. ● Bahl, Vikas, director. Super 30. Phantom Films, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment ,HRX Films,
July 2019.
● Begovic, Boris. “(PDF) Corruption: Concepts, types, causes and consequences.” ResearchGate,
2005,
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265364211_Corruption_Concepts_types_causes_and_con
sequences. Accessed 31 March 2024.
● Bhagat, Chetan. "Chetan Bhagat - Official Website." Chetan Bhagat, n.d.,
https://www.chetanbhagat.com
● Bhagat, Chetan. Revolution Twenty20 : Love . Corruption. Ambition. RUPA PUBLICATIONS INDIA
PVT Limited, 2014.
● Chakkaravarthy, Nivas. “(PDF) CORRUPTION IN CHETAN BHAGAT'S REVOLUTION 2020 | BEST
Journals and nivas chakkaravarthy.” Academia.edu, 2015,
https://www.academia.edu/21819102/CORRUPTION_IN_CHETAN_BHAGATS_REVOLUTION_2020.
Accessed 31 March 2024.
● Chaudhari, Dr. Sunil. “The Major Themes in Chetan Bhagat's Revolution 2020.” IJOES, 2022,
https://www.ijoes.in/papers/v4i3/24.IJOES-Dr.%20Sunil(106-110).pdf. Accessed 31 March 2024.
RESOURCES

18. ● Jain, Nitin, and Ekta Handa. “India Today Expose: How medical colleges scam NEET, sell seats to
underachievers.” IndiaToday, 17 July 2018, https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-today-expose-
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20. Thank You