Writer Chetan Bhagat on Wednesday shared a video of his conversation with a hawker selling books at a traffic signal. The video showed Bhagat buying his own book from the hawker, who had no idea that person buying the book was the author himself.
While sharing the video, Bhagat wrote, “This guy sold me my own book !? His reaction when he found out was so sweet. ♥️. I don’t support piracy (hurts me directly) but I also know it helps people like him make a living. I’d rather they sold original books at signals instead. Many do now!”
This guy sold me my own book !? His reaction when he found out was so sweet. ♥️. I don’t support piracy (hurts me directly) but I also know it helps people like him make a living. I’d rather they sold original books at signals instead. Many do now! pic.twitter.com/UEK4gfqxVH
— Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) August 7, 2019
No sooner did Bhagat share the video, it evoked an overwhelming response from Twitterati with many showing praising the Indian author for his kindness towards the hawker even though he was selling a pirated copy of his book. Others advised Bhagat that he ought to have gifted him a signed copy of his book so that he could have sold it to the highest bidder.
Love the way you treated him.
He will remember you for the rest of his life.— Srishti (@jaihind100) August 7, 2019
They sell because people buy them. People further negotiate the price with them. The situation compels them to. You rightly pointed out… “It helps people like him make a living”.https://t.co/Tfc954sCdB
— Sashank Mishra (@imSashankMishra) August 7, 2019
Should have given him an autographed original and told him to sell it to the highest bidder. Wouldn’t dent piracy but would make him realise the value in originals…change happens one person at a time. https://t.co/mYUUFK4eYC
— Shilpa Anand (@shilpaanand) August 8, 2019
If you want to measure your success then this is the scale
— Rohit Varshney (@sir_rohit) August 7, 2019
Hi. Nice of you Chetan sir. Please don’t blame him. He is just trying to earn his bread for the day. Also a humble request to call him ‘aap’ instead of ‘tum’. They might be younger than you but they may have seen more in life than many of us. Thanks for being so accepting & kind
— Ashwini Kelkar (@AshwiniKelkar1) August 7, 2019
As one user wrote, the hawker will never forget this memorable encounter of selling a pirated copy of Chetan Bhagat to the author himself.