When I started reading Chetan Bhagat’s The Three Mistakes of My Life, someone told me, “Please don’t read that book. You’ll hate him for this book.” Yet, I read the book and don’t regret it now.
Chetan Bhagat’s The Three Mistakes of My Life, is in many ways better than his One Night at the Call Center. Though filled with scenes apt for a Bollywood masala, the novel stands apart for some insightful scenes and spiritual undertones.
The novel opens with a note to author’s personal experience that gives a suggestion that the story is real. The story is told to the author by the protagonist Govind and revolves around his life in the small town of Ahmedabad.
Govind, Ishaan and Omi represents the young generation of India in small towns. The scenic description of Ahmedabad and its core culture make the reader feel like in the town. Aspirants to achieve something in their own life, the three friends begin a business of their own by investing their own talents, experiences from Indian middle class families and the small finance.
The business flourishes as it could be in a small town. Yet, so many unexpected events come in their way like the 2001 Gujarat Earth Quake, distractions among the group and finally the riots after the Godhra attack. Things never become normal after Omi’s death and the dispute between Ishaan and Govind.
The writer comes into the scene when Govind is in deathbed after a suicide attempt. As expected, he lends a role in mending the troubles in the protagonist’s life and extracts the story for the public.
If we keep aside the dramatic and romantic scenes, the story attracted me for its theme. The story directly addresses the spirit of Indian youngsters in small towns, who dream to achieve high in lives. The novel also revolves around three intrigue factors that control the country-religion, business and cricket! The rage for these three intrigue factors in India is depicted through three characters-Mama, Govind and Ishaan respectively.
In the race to achieve their goals in the interested fields, mistakes happen. Though the novel numbers the only the mistakes of Govind others are not free from mistakes too. The question is, “Do these mistakes are really mistakes?” The answer changes in each one’s eyes. In any case, forgiveness takes much time. The words of Govind’s mother addressed to her son and Ishaan not only make them think but also make us contemplate on the mistakes and non- forgiveness in our life too.
“Life will have many setbacks. People close to you will hurt you. But you don’t break it off. You don’t hurt them more. You try to heal it. It is a lesson not only you, but our country needs to learn.” (p.255-256)
Overall, the book does justice to the time we invest in!
