In recent weeks, for instance, he has been ridiculed for his criticism of writers and filmmakers returning their national awards to protest against what they perceive to be growing intolerance in India.
Just as a gun incident in US doesn't make every American a gun toting murderer, a few unfortunate incidents don't make Indians intolerant.
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) October 30, 2015
Return your award. Go for it. But be clear what you are returning it for. Are Indians intolerant? Or is the govt intolerant?
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) October 30, 2015
On Friday, he put his proverbial foot in the mouth again by addressing the protest by 53 of the country's leading historians the previous day.
What do historians do? I am genuinely curious. This happened. Then this happened. Then this. Ok work done for the day.
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) October 30, 2015
"Differences of opinion are being sought to be settled by using physical violence. Arguments are met not with counter arguments but with bullets," the historians said in a statement endorsed by such popular names such as Romila Thapar, Irfan Habib, KN Pannikar and Mridula Mukherjee said. While it is unclear if Bhagat’s tweet was supposed to be a funny one or a serious question he wanted answered, Twitter took the challenge head on. Here’s a selection:
Chetan Bhagat, trying to climb back to the bhakt/sanghi/RW side. pic.twitter.com/yoqGkk7GvX — OutrageRatty (@YearOfRat) October 30, 2015
.@chetan_bhagat I want to return your books to you. Address please? — Chicken Biryani (@ChickenBiryanii) October 30, 2015
@ranjona tennis players - serve here, receive there, done. Chefs - boil here, chop there, done. @chetan_bhagat — Indraneel Majumdar (@indraneelm) October 30, 2015
If you replace each 'this' with 'Sex', it starts looking like the summary of a Chetan Bhagat book on historians. https://t.co/U8PmlO45Ie — Mr. Tippler (@MrTippler) October 30, 2015
Pretty much what fiction writers also do. https://t.co/qEDqaTWUJy — Sapan Verma (@sapanv) October 30, 2015
What do athletes do? They put one foot forward, then the other foot, then repeat 200 times. Ok work done for the day https://t.co/29WZwmSfF0 — Rohan (@mojorojo) October 30, 2015
Seriously considering a https://t.co/DKwnaatgTh petition to take Chetan Bhagat's twitter away. Worth a shot no? — Vidya Krishnan (@VidyaKrishnan) October 30, 2015
What do scientists evn do? They science here. Then some science there. Ok. Now? — Tanmay Bhat (@thetanmay) October 30, 2015
@chetan_bhagat What do authors do? I am genuinely curious. Judge one talent show, then judge one dance show. Ok work done for the day. — Akshar (@AksharPathak) October 30, 2015
.@chetan_bhagat Sir its been about 40 mins since you posted this. Safe time to post the "Oh my account got hacked by friend/nephew.." tweet. — The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega) October 30, 2015
@chetan_bhagat What do writers do? I am genuinely curious. Adha-Paav girlfriend, then full girlfriend. Ok work done for the day. — Zeeshan Mhaskar (@MhaskarChief) October 30, 2015
After the scathing attack, Bhagat once again took to Twitter to clarify that the whole thing was indeed a joke.
In case it was not blatantly obvious that historian tweet was a joke. Made a million of them on writers and engineers before. Duh!
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) October 30, 2015
I respect all who have returned awards and their views,just clarifying how I feel as a writer here,before foreign media reaches conclusions.
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) October 30, 2015
Of course, that merited a retort.
What does Chetan bhagat do? I am genuinely curious. Talk stupid. Then talk stupid again. Then again. Ok work done for the day.
— Priyashmita Guha (@priyashmita) October 30, 2015