Twitter: Chetan Bhagat blocks two
By Shalini Singh

Chetan Bhagat is one of our hottest young writers. IIT trained, he gave up a successful career to pursue his love for writing.  Chetan’s book ‘One Night at the Call Center’ is a huge hit in our IT-ITES sectors.  His recent book ‘2 States’ has also been well received. Chetan has now banned popular young cartoonist Saad Akhtar from following him on Twitter.

Saad Akhtar in an interaction designer by profession whose brilliant comics at Flyyoufools.com have developed a cult following.

Both Chetan and Saad represent all that is good in the new India – intelligent, bright, expressive and not hesitating to make a point on the world stage. In this case the international stage is Twitter.

It all started with Chetan Bhagat tweeting on Dec 7 that “anyone reading my pirated books can afford the original. It hurts me personally. Piracy kills domestic literature giving incentives to writers to move westwards”.

Soon, things got heated. When the dust had settled Chetan had blocked Saad as well as respected journalist Joji Philip of powerful newspaper Economic Times.

The following is Saad Akhtar’s Tweets to Chetan Bhagat up to the point that Chetan blocked him on Twitter.

“
Ouch! Chetan! YOU BLOCKED ME! FML (can't see his updates anymore). http://is.gd/5eQUn <- @brainstuck comic. Now he'll be banned too -
about 19 hours ago from TweetDeck
Reply Retweet    My 15 mins of fame - "RT @.chetan_bhagat: @flyyoufools buddy, one more smart one and u r blocked. ok? "
about 19 hours ago from TweetDeck
Reply Retweet    @chetan_bhagat In a bad mood today, aren't we? Let me guess: Royalty check came in?
about 19 hours ago from TweetDeck in reply to chetan_bhagat
Reply Retweet    If you are not reading/promoting webcomics you are not helping the national cause. IS THIS THE INDIA YOU WANT?? [inspired by someone] -
about 19 hours ago from TweetDeck
Reply Retweet    @chetan_bhagat Tying everything to India's progress today, aren't we?
about 19 hours ago from TweetDeck in reply to chetan_bhagat
“

There was much Twitter support for both sides.  Some accused Chetan of being heavy handed on dissenting views. Others felt Chetan was totally in the right. Chetan tweeted this morning: “If that made you doubt my commitment to free speech and liberty, I am sorry. It isn't the case.”

A highly regarded writer blocking a highly regarded cartoonist on Twitter! Was it just a bad day or was there something more sinister?

My Techgoss colleague Techgirl, who is a great fan of Chetan, feels that it is totally out of character for Chetan to block anyone.  Techgirl insists that Chetan has always enjoyed healthy debate and discussion.  She feels that as Chetan follow her nemesis Shashi Tharoor on Twitter, he is under a bad influence.  Techgoss readers will remember that Shashi Tharoor’s aides got Techgirl’s satire account evicted from Twitter.