Half Girlfriend : A Thematic Novel Motivating India’s Youth To Strengthen Communication Skills In English
Journal Title: Notions A Journal of English Literature - Year 2017, Vol 0, Issue 4
Abstract
Abstract This research is based on Chetan Bhagat’s interview on Half Girlfriend broadcasted on NDTV, a prominent TV Channel in India. The book Half Girlfriend is dedicated to non English types rural Indian youth who suffer badly in social life for want of adequate skills of Communication in English. The book portrays hurt sentiments and day to day linguistic struggle of Madhav Jha, a backward rural Bhojpuri-laced Hindi-speaking boy from Bihar who enrols himself at the prestigious English-medium St. Stephen’s College, New Delhi, and falls in love with a high class English-speaking rich Delhi girl, Riya Somani. The girl issions to children of elitist families only. The novel portrays problems Madhav Jha comes across due to his poor communication skill in English and his love for his college-mate Riya Somani. Madhav’s studies, love and social life suffer due to his poor communication skill. According to Chetan Bhagat, Half-Girlfriend represents a unique Indian phenomenon, where boys and girls are not clear about their relationship status with each other. A boy may think he is more than friends with the girl, but the girl is still not his girlfriend which justifies the title ‘Half girlfriend’ by the author. Like other novels written by Chetan Bhagat, Half girlfriend is a thematic novel urging Indian youth to pay adequate attention on developing skills in English communication if they want to benefit from education, secure good employment and lead a complete life of unfettered love and promote social contacts by exploiting their communication skills in English. Strengthening skills of communication in English can help youngsters to develop career and lead a decent life. It is not anti-patriotic to develop skills in a foreign language as many unscrupulous politicians have the tendency to preach with ulterior motives. Acquiring skills in the mother tongue may be beneficial but not the perfect substitute for skills of communicating in English which essentially is the international language for global business and interaction with the elitist world. The broad purpose of the research Paper is to analyze, interpret and understand the apparent and hidden objectives of the immortal work Half Girlfriend, and its message to youth of the country to help them to face rough and tumble of the environment in India.
Authors and Affiliations
Dr. Rafat Khanam, Pooja Awasthi Vyas
Keywords
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