Five Point Someone: What Not to Do at IIT

Five Point Someone: What Not to Do at IIT is a popular Indian novel written by Chetan Bhagat. The book was first published in 2004 by Rupa Publications. It was Chetan Bhagat’s first novel and became very popular among young Indian readers. The book is a simple and entertaining story about friendship, college life, academic pressure, love, failure, and the expectations placed on students. Chetan Bhagat is a well-known Indian author, columnist, and screenwriter. He was born in Delhi and studied mechanical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, before completing his MBA at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. His educational background influenced his writing, especially Five Point Someone, which is set in an IIT. His books generally focus on the lives, problems, relationships, and dreams of young people in India. His writing style is simple, conversational, and easy to understand, which has made his books popular among young readers.

The story of Five Point Someone is set in the Indian Institute of Technology, one of the most respected educational institutions in India. The main characters are three close friends—Hari Kumar, Ryan Oberoi, and Alok Gupta. They become friends when they start their engineering studies at IIT. The three boys have very different personalities and backgrounds, but their friendship becomes the most important part of their college life. Hari is the narrator of the story. He is an average student who often struggles with his studies. He is not very confident and sometimes finds it difficult to understand what he really wants from life. Ryan is confident, intelligent, and independent. He does not like following rules blindly and believes that students should enjoy learning instead of simply studying for marks. Alok, on the other hand, is serious about his studies because he comes from a financially struggling family. He feels a strong responsibility to get a good job and support his family.

The title Five Point Someone refers to the academic grade point average of the three friends. They are not among the best students in their class and usually score around five points. At IIT, where academic performance is extremely important, having a low grade point average makes them feel like failures. However, the book questions whether marks alone can decide a person's intelligence, ability, or future. At the beginning of college, the three friends struggle to adjust to the demanding academic environment. IIT is very different from what they expected. There is a lot of pressure from professors, assignments, tests, and competition. The students are expected to work extremely hard, and even small mistakes can affect their grades.

Ryan does not agree with the education system. He feels that students are forced to memorize information instead of understanding it. He believes that education should encourage creativity and independent thinking. Hari and Alok are also unhappy with their academic performance, but they are more afraid of failing. The friendship between the three boys becomes their main source of support. They spend time together, help each other, and sometimes get into trouble together. Their friendship is full of humour and funny situations, but it also becomes important during difficult times. Another major part of the story is Hari's relationship with Neha Cherian. Neha is the daughter of Professor Cherian, one of the strictest professors at IIT. Hari develops feelings for her, and their relationship becomes complicated because of her father. Neha and Hari spend time together, and Hari gradually learns more about her family and her personal problems.

Professor Cherian is a strict and respected professor who expects students to achieve excellent academic results. He represents the pressure of the education system and the belief that high marks are necessary for success. His character also shows how academic expectations can affect family relationships. One of the interesting parts of the book is the way the three friends try to deal with their academic problems. Instead of studying harder, they sometimes look for shortcuts. In one important incident, they decide to steal an examination paper. Their decision creates serious problems and puts their academic careers at risk. This part of the story shows the consequences of poor decisions. The boys are not bad people, but their fear of failure and pressure to perform lead them to make mistakes. The author shows that students can sometimes make wrong choices when they feel trapped by expectations.

The novel also talks about family pressure. Alok's family depends heavily on his future success. His father is seriously ill, and his family has financial difficulties. Because of this, Alok feels that he cannot afford to fail. His situation shows how different students experience academic pressure in different ways. Ryan has a different problem. His family is wealthy, but he does not feel emotionally close to his parents. He does not want his life to be controlled by traditional ideas of success. His character shows that money does not automatically bring happiness or satisfaction. Hari's problem is mainly related to his lack of confidence. He is unsure about his abilities and often compares himself with others. His relationship with Neha gives him emotional support, but it also creates additional complications because of her father.

One of the strongest themes of the book is friendship. Hari, Ryan, and Alok may have different personalities, but they remain close because they support one another. They laugh together, face problems together, and learn from their mistakes. Their friendship shows that good friends can make difficult periods of life easier. Another important theme is academic pressure. The novel presents the stressful environment faced by students who are expected to get high marks. It questions the idea that marks are the only measure of intelligence. The three friends may have low grades, but they have different talents and abilities.

The book also deals with the pressure of parental expectations. Many students are expected to choose certain careers, achieve high marks, and get well-paying jobs. The story shows how these expectations can affect students emotionally and mentally. It encourages readers to think about whether success should be defined only by academic achievement. Failure is another important theme. The three friends are often called “five pointers” because of their low grades. However, the book suggests that a person's future is not decided by one number. People can make mistakes, learn from them, and still become successful.

The novel also highlights the importance of following one's interests. Ryan believes that education should be about learning and creativity rather than simply getting marks. Through his character, the author questions traditional ideas about education and encourages students to think independently. The language of Five Point Someone is one of its biggest strengths. Chetan Bhagat uses simple English and a conversational style. The story feels like a friend is telling us about his college experiences. This makes the book easy to read, especially for young readers and students who may not usually read long novels.

The humour in the book also makes it enjoyable. There are many funny situations involving hostel life, professors, exams, friendship, and college activities. At the same time, the novel has serious emotional moments. This mixture of humour and seriousness keeps the story interesting. The characters are also easy to relate to. Many students may recognize themselves in Hari's confusion, Ryan's desire for freedom, or Alok's family responsibilities. The characters are not perfect. They make mistakes, argue, feel jealous, become afraid, and sometimes make poor decisions. This makes them feel realistic.

One of the main messages of the book is that marks do not define a person. Academic performance is important, but it is not the only measure of intelligence or success. Skills, creativity, relationships, confidence, and the ability to learn from mistakes are also important. The book also teaches that friendship requires understanding and forgiveness. Hari, Ryan, and Alok have disagreements, but they learn to support one another. Their friendship survives difficult situations because they understand each other's struggles.

Overall, Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat is a simple but engaging novel that gives an interesting picture of student life at IIT. Through Hari, Ryan, and Alok, the author explores friendship, academic pressure, family expectations, love, failure, and personal growth. The book reminds us that marks are only one part of life and that mistakes can also become important learning experiences. Its simple language, relatable characters, and humorous storytelling make it an enjoyable book, especially for young readers and students.

- Chetan Bhagat