On 6th April, Shekhar Gupta’s digital venture, ThePrint, published an article which talked about how male authors ‘fail’ to create ‘real women characters’. The author of the article, who previously wanted Prime Minister Modi assassinated, mocked Chetan Bhagat for writing the book One Indian Girl in first person narrative from a female perspective.
From Chetan Bhagat to V.S. Naipaul: Why do male authors fail to create real women characters?
Harnidh Kaur @PedestrianPoet is provocaive as usualhttps://t.co/5SRPWnzLWY— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) April 6, 2018
Bhagat, who often gets backlash for his books, didn’t take it too well. Bhagat lashed out on the author for hiding the fact, thereby either showing that she lied or her incompetence.
I also interviewed a 100, yes a 100, women over the course of a year before I wrote that book. waxing was a lighter moment. By hiding that fact, that journo has either lied or shown her incompetence. Negates premise and hence the whole article. Does disservice to feminist cause.
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) April 6, 2018
The author of the post then condescendingly told Bhagat how he still got a ‘male character to explain feminism to female protagonist’. Bhagat, in turn again called Kaur unethical and biased while continuing to lie.
Nobody explained. They discussed. Each presented their side. Again you are lying. Not to mention shifting your original charge. U r biased and unethical. And maybe a hater. Anyway. Made my point. Tc
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) April 6, 2018
He even accused her of intentionally hiding his research on the book.
It was @ShekharGupta ‘s publication who I admire a lot. Had to alert this writer had intentionally hid my research on the book. That’s what I said first place. Staying silent when people lie about u isn’t also the best thing to do. Am not foolish to display emotions on twitter.
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) April 8, 2018
