Not even a fake news article had attracted so much of traffic and reaction in a single day as my open letter to Arundhati Roy did (I’m not patting my back but mere stating a fact that might be insignificant for you). While most of the reactions were on expected lines (I knew many people were hell irritated with Roy calling India “bhookha nanga”, and they would lap it up), some of the reactions amused, shocked and disgusted me.
There were comments, again on expected lines, on both the facebook page as well as here on this blog, which were abusive (towards Ms. Arundhati Roy, me, or to fellow readers); that was disgusting, but as a rule, I would ignore them and not comment upon their “merits”.
The other reaction, rather criticism, was that the language I used was unfair, unkind and uncouth (?). Hello! This article was published and categorized in “Rants” to begin with. When I shared it on twitter and facebook i.e. when I “solicited” readership, I put that “rants” and “strong language” disclaimers upfront. If you were not comfortable with “rants”, you should never have bothered to read it. If you click a link with NSFW disclaimer at your workplace, only you are to be blamed if you lose your job.
The third reaction, which was the most important for me and because of which I’m writing this follow up article, was the confusion whether the article was just on Arundhati Roy or about the wider Kashmir issue. I replied to a couple of comments, but I thought I should make that clear to each and every one, and hence this article.
Well, my open letter to Arundhati Roy was “only” about her ubiquitous claims of being a rights activist and NOT at all any commentary on the Kashmir issue. It was a “rant” against her, and not against the Kashmiris, not even against the “separatist” Kashmiris.
But why, you may ask, why this rant?
I would ask you, why does anyone rant? When one is upset, angry, irritated or hurt. I was hurt. And I was hurt by a “truth”.
Yeah, it might appear as if I’m making a U-turn, but of course, the issues that Arundhati Roy regurgitated (not “raised”, mind you) surely has tinges of truth that hurts one’s “national pride”.
And that “truth” is that there are thousands in this country, some would claim millions, living in that state called Jammu & Kashmir, who simply don’t feel like “Indians”, even as rest of us scratch our heads and feel clueless over what so horrible have we done to them to make them feel that way (I know many of you activists types are itching to recite the list of “atrocities” performed by the Indian state over Kashmiri people, but just hold on for a few minutes).
So Arundhati Roy deserved that “rant” for speaking the “truth”? Not really. As she herself wrote in her statement, “I said what I, as well as other commentators, have written and said for years.”
One is inclined to ask, why no rant against those “other commentators”, why pick on Arundhati?
Because Arundhati Roy is a charlatan. She “pretends” to be what she is not. And this is exactly why I don’t like India TV, which pretends to be a “news channel” but is not, or Arindam Chaudhuri, who pretends to be “an educator” but is not; those who had been following Faking News would know that these two have often been at the receiving ends of my “rants”.
And that’s why I don’t “dislike” Chetan Bhagat, because he doesn’t pretend to be a “literary writer”, which he is not, and calls himself an “entertainment writer”. A couple of his interviews that I have read, he has candidly admitted that he writes “for the masses”. And hence I was not being too sarcastic in my open letter, when I said, “Today I’m proud of Chetan Bhagat, seriously.” Yeah, but I hate his ToI editorials; he should stop “pretending” there.
Anyway, coming back to Arundhati, I don’t like her (and ranted against her) because she is intellectually dishonest and an attention seeker. My rant was more an attempt to show the hollowness of her “support” to a cause than the “cause” itself. Maybe if you read it ignoring the swear words, if you are not comfortable with them, you’d come to know what I mean.
e.g. when I ask her why she didn’t care to visit the house of any Kashmiri Pandit in Delhi even as her “statement” makes a claim that she was fighting for their cause, I am attempting to show her “intellectual dishonesty”, and when I say, “Absolutely, you have NEVER said or written anything NEW. You just pick up issues, after reading the morning newspapers, and join the bandwagon”, I am hinting at her “attention seeking” character. I am neither commenting on the plight of Kashmiri Pandits nor am dismissing the “bandwagons” she jumps over as being frivolous ones.
Now some of you may argue that even if she was intellectually dishonest or attention seeking, at least she “raises” some issues and makes people and the establishment take notice of them.
Seriously, you believe that?
What great help has she done to any “movement” or “cause” she has supported till date? In fact, she weakens the arguments and causes of those with whom she sides, thanks to her hyper-exaggerated and ridiculous statements.
Don’t’ believe me? Because I call myself “Pagal Patrakar” (and not “pretend” like Madam Arundhati to be sane)? Fine, I’d quote others, who are not “pagal” and make you see the point:
Roy’s early essays were written in a voice that some progressive Americans would call “prophetic,” but like many prophets she tended to overstate her case. There are no small things anymore. This stridency tended to make her writing less agreeable, too. What came next was predictable: September 11, which deranged many things, had the effect of turning her into a zealot.
This is not written by some agent of Brahminical India, this is the opinion of Isaac Chotiner, one of the executive editors of The New Republic, an American magazine of politics and the arts, which is acknowledged to be supporting “liberal social and social democratic economic policies”. Isaac makes these comments while reviewing one of her books/essays, and further notes:
But this book is not a plea for a more humane capitalism (something we urgently need). Instead, it is an attack on many of the good and democratic aspects of modern Indian life. Even worse, it is an assault on democracy itself. Roy’s status as a famous woman of the far left has obscured the fact that she is an outright reactionary.
Precisely! Arundhati Roy doesn’t attack any “capitalist” “corporate” or “Brahminical” establishment through her ridiculous statements, but she attacks “democracy” itself, and that makes her a text-book case of a “reactionary”. You can read the full article here.
That was a “liberal” and “progressive” American calling her a “zealot” and “reactionary”, and that American is not “pagal”, unless Arundhati fans choose to call him that (and they may, for they love her so much and hate America so much!). Fine, if poor Isaac is termed “pagal”, I’d now quote someone who calls himself “great” – The Greatbong.
For the religious fundamentalist the villain is anyone who does not accept his God(s) as their savior(s). For Roy, the principal evil agents are the “oppressors”—— USA, UK, Israel ,India, and corporations (not specifically in that order) with her animus being directed specifically towards upper-class so-called “Brahminical” Hindus.
That’s Arnab Ray, a famous blogger and author, who blogs with a penname Greatbong. Unfortunately he calls his blog as “Random Thoughts of a Demented Mind”, but in this article, he clearly betrays the “demented mind” of Arundhati Roy (before the guardians of good language and civilized behavior pounce on me, I’d like to clarify that I have used “demented” as a synonym for “irrational” or “unreasonable” for Ms. Roy, not “crazy”, which I have kept for myself, not sure what Arnab means for himself).
One of the sermons I received for ranting and using “bad language” against Arundhati from the pro-Arundhati gang was those famous lines by the German anti-Nazi activist, Pastor Martin Niemöller: then they came for me — and by that time no one was left to speak up.
Niemöller talks about Communists, Jews, Unionists and Catholics in his famous statement, but he doesn’t call upon people to speak up for the rights of “zealots”, “reactionaries” or “fundamentalists”.
And seriously, I’m dismayed that people think that Arundhati Roy can make any difference to the Kashmir issue. She raised a stink over the tribal/Naxal issue, and when the government asked her to be a part of the solution, she backed off. That’s her contribution to one of her pet-causes.
Here in Kashmir, more than 100 people were killed in the last couple of months, and the government was forced to appoint “interlocutors” to solve the problem. Geelani might dismiss the appointment of interlocutors as an eyewash, but when did you hear a nation appointing “interlocutors” to talk to its own citizens? This term is usually used to refer to people helping nations talk to each other. Remember Shashi Tharoor had got in some “controversy” over its use?
Was the government pushed to take that step due to the assays or essays of Arundhati Roy? In fact, once she came into the picture, poor Geelani faced the threat of being arrested over sedition charges! That’s her “Midas touch” to a problem she espouses, or “pretends” to espouse.
Nonetheless, Arundhati has EVERY right to say what she told, and NO WAY should sedition charges be initiated against her. She has been “ranting” against the Indian state for long and daring them to arrest her. She shouldn’t be arrested, for “ranting” is no crime.
And fans of Arundhati, please give me some rights to “rant” against her, especially when I don’t “pretend” to be indulging in anything else but in a rant.
And you know, fans of Arundhati, you were not hurt by my “rant” or “bad language”, you were hurt because truth hurts. The truth about your dear Arundhati hurts, I know. I’m sorry to have hurt you.
Now I wonder if I should “clarify” what my take is on the Kashmir issue, because a couple of those who commented on the article asked me to do so. I feel like putting my two cents here, but I won’t do it due to two reasons – it merits a different article in itself, and secondly, unlike Arundhati, I don’t want to poke my nose in something that is poised at a very delicate stage (as if my views would change anything, still, maybe someday later).
PS: (added at 10.40 AM on October 28, 2010) No way this follow up article should be taken as any reversal of points I earlier made in my open letter to Arundhati Roy. I stand by each and every word I wrote, including the swear words! I’d not have normally “clarified”, had some people who matter, e.g. a few good friends, not failed to see the point, and this explanation was more for them than to the fans of Arundhati.
Great! second slap on the face of that drama queen Arundhati Roy is as many days, and don’t be bothered by barking of Arundhati’s supporters pagal, you have got more fans than hers! Looking forward to more articles by you.
+1
Well said!
Arundhati is a follower of Gandhi (remember Gandhian with Guns?), so when she is slapped on one cheek, she offers other. PP slapped on the other cheek too. Now she might offer her ar**, I think PP is a bad guy, he might.. you know..
very rightly said, she is just a publicity hungry jobless woman, who has not helped a single ngo or movement genuinely. pity the people who think she’s of any use…
Ok, Pagal we can agree to disagree whether her support for kashmir is genuine or not. I give you my reason why i think it is.
Her essays and books always supports the underdogs. She doesnt feel part of India (something which isnt that uncommon a lot of people feel no affinity to a particular race, religion or nationailty)but is more concerned about people. Does that make her a more moral person is open for debate. What is more important in todays world the people or the nation they represent ????
Our country is full of people who have been left out by the system and she seems to be one of the people carrying the torch for them. The means she is using are letters, essays and holding occasional rally all of which are rather non voilent. She was speaking about kashmir ever since 2000, she hasnt joined the bandwagon now and her stand has consistently been the same. Now the media seems to joined the cause now and sees the plight of kashmiri now when the valley has had previous calls for azadi have largely been ignored by the mainstream media. The media seems hell bent of portaying her the villian when they are ones giving her the coverage. She hasnt said anything orginal in that particular rally that she hasnt mentioned before. So why call her publicity artist now.
The problem with Ms roy is her views is very left (almost militant) and there are very few people who would support her on those issues. And many of these people in various other country who have similar viewpoint to Ms roy are hated with vengence they are always against all popular conventions. (that what i think i atleast for eg naom chomsky, howard zinc, george golloway, george carlin). But read her books, essays and she very eloquently destroys credentials of people and organisation who we dare not talk about. (the supreme court, the delhi police). Surely it is more courageous than just being a “charlatan”
I was with you until you compared her to George Carlin. Sure, George Callaway and Noam Chomsky fit her bill more. The thing is, George Carlin was so incredibly honest that he blows even Noam Chomsky out of the water in the area of intellectual honesty. Maybe because he never had any emotional stakes in any of the issues and he approached them as a comedian. The author of this blog might be a bit harsh on Mrs Roy, but she has a point. Arundhathi Roy mimics the western marxist elites when she criticizes Indian problems with a sheer lack of historic information and near-sightedness(just like a typical American professor would do). She is not original even in her rants. How can anyone take her seriously?
And her willful ignorance to the other-side of the argument is mind boggling. For example : She called the bloodthirsty lashkar-e-toiba insurgents who mercilessly selected Hindu pundits and massacred them, “Non-official combatants” in front of clueless Western audience. Shame on her! She doesn’t give a flying fish about the plight of farmers, tribals or kashmiris. She is just another narcissistic intellectual anarchist who loves the sound of her own voice.
I am not sure of what to make out of this article but all I can say is Open Letter to Arundhati Roy was just perfect. A reply to Arundhati in her own language with a similar tone.
I dont see any reason why PP should have clarified his stand on the same.
ChamatkariBaba
true! no need to clarify anything PP. the fact that your open letter blew the lid off the hipocricy of Arundhati and her supporters proves your open letter was just perfect. you are right, your plain-talking hurt their asses and they indulged in name calling and digression, making u write this follow up. but you again showed them their worth
Hey is that you? Rahul Roushan from Bihar
I won’t say it was perfect, it should have been even more harsh! give it to her really hard, she likes it that way!
Anyone who thinks Arundhati Roy makes any sense or is “intellectual” is the real PAGAL!
Kalmadi, Arundhati roy, mf hussain, Medha patkar, teesta setalvad are all time hero. They always trends.
You forgot Lalit Modi!
and Mr. Conflict of Interest (Srinivasan), and Sharad Power.
PP, we live in a nation amidst people, who think of explanations as a sign of weakness, even if there’s a genuine intention to clarify your stance. Any follow up, reply, etc is seen as a reversal in stance. By explaining yourself, you are only giving such people more opportunities to insensibly cry hoarse. A good friend won’t need an explanation, an enemy won’t buy an explanation.
Looking at your article from an artistic angle, (no I’m no artist), it is very logical. The reason why this article grabbed so much attention, and in turn brought to light the cheap publicity gimmicks that people like Arundathi Roy use, is because of the strong words. Like cinema needs some dramatization, for an article to reach masses, it needs something similar.
Keep up the good work. It is impossible to satisfy everyone. Just remember that you have our support.
Cheers, keep rocking =)
Point taken! And valid points.
I’d not have normally “clarified”, had some people who matter, e.g. a few good friends, not failed to see the point, and this explanation was more for them.
And in no way this follow up article should be taken as any reversal of points I earlier made in my open letter to Arundhati Roy. I stand by each and every word I wrote, including the swear words!
Pagal Patrakar,
I’d just been reading your parodies on the main faking news web site. There was never a doubt about your intelligence, knowledge and wisdom. I read your two blog posts on Arundhati Roy, and am left further impressed!
It was nice to see you write on such poignant note. But I also felt that this followup post sounded defensive, which it need not have.
Apart from the reasons you pointed out, the reason I dislike Arundhati Roy’s not that she does not try to solve problems, but that she just doesn’t have any solutions! Read between the lines what she writes and she’s a thorough anti-human person. She’s against the most important thing that makes humans what they are – intellect. Her ideas as a corollary are also attacks against (science and) technology. I cannot take any person who is against science and technology to be part of a ‘solution’.
Keep writing!
Nice… somehow I wonder what’s the difference between a Pravin Togadia and an Arundhati Roy. Both right and left wing extremists use ‘reactionary’ language and use half-truths to make their outrageous points. Both are not too happy with democracy and shows direct or indirect appreciation of fascism (right) and communism (left). Finally, supporters of both memorize and parrot out what their leaders have to say while closing their minds to saner schools of thought.
Ram Chandra Guha Rightly called her,” Arun Shourie of left”
BY the responses and the comments stated above, Dear PP, you exactly know how people stand on your open letter to that lady(write her name is a shame), Keep it Up, buddy, No need to clarify to nobody, Keep rocking the fanatics, You are one of the very few heroes of our nation, And we need more. And seriously hates off to you, Not just for the article on that Lady , but for most of your efforts. PP zindabaad.
Lovely….
Arundhati is actually “Bhooki Nangi” for publicity..
Hi Pagal,
I sort of like your writing, and appreciate your humour.
Although I’m sure you already realize this, let me say this again for you, apart from some highly intelligent people, your readership also contains, people who are, what I call, “internet whores”. They’ll just comment on anything, because internet is new to them. And they’ll run after cool. Unfortunately, the cool thing right now is criticizing Pagal Patrakar, because he’s, sort of, famous, and well because some people consider him cool and I’m cooler than them, so I’ll criticize him.
Although I’m sure you would yourself never in your dreams compare yourself with SRT, neither would I, however, I’m sure you can see the similarity, people criticize him because they thinks that’s the cool thing now.
I’m of the view that wisdom and academic performance(especially when you’re from cmi/imsc(which one I don’t remember)) are highly correlated, and hence I’m sure you already know this and must have braced yourself for comments from such people. I read your reason of explanation, but still I thought that I should comment too, just to express my angst against people who just run after cool and don’t have any original thinking required to analyze stuff.
Whats even more pitiful is this, that some of them think that just because they’re good with words and sentence formation, they are now the king of commenters/bloggers and whatever they say shall pass as an awesome literary piece. And although I’m from India, and no, I don’t mean to be elitist, but I believe that this is a prevalent tendency in a lot of people from India. They’ll criticize anything and anyone and think that they’re cool.
Again, maybe its my person idiosyncracy, but an example would be gkhamba, he’d criticize just about anyone on completely illogical grounds. I bet he just gloats over all the comments that praise his “writing”. Again, no insult to anyone, but this is unfortuntaely the way internet is running these days.
I would propose banning internet for 18- kids, come-on, since when has internet been cool?? In India, only maths was cool. Get back to books kids and stop commentting. (And no, I’m not from either for the aforementioned maths institutes, they are only for real smart people).
@Aka , dude, are you aka Chetan Bhagat?
Haan ye Chetan Bhagat hain. On line 5 the placement of W is very similar the placement of W in his 3rd book 4th page 4th line. Same with the rest of the letters.
Case solved. Good job Daya. C.I.D band karo, Crorepati khelo.
LMAO!
mather chod …..tere gand me kyu mirchi lagi hai. …..i am 603 year old ghost …. i ll haunt u…….
totally agree with u AKA!.. people think they are cooler when they criticise people who are famous…
very well written! and guys, do read these two articles too that prove how Arundhati is nothing but a fraud publicity monger –
http://www.dailypioneer.com/292729/Intellectually-dishonest.html
http://www.dailypioneer.com/292726/Ignore-her-she%E2%80%99s-a-nuisance-not-a-menace.html
thanks for sharing! nice article!
“I am on this side of line. I do not care…pick me up put me in jail.”..
That’s what she often says.. it is her ambition to become famous like Dalia Lama or Aung San Suki.. and she don’t care if it is at the cost of her motherland..
She wants the govt to arrest her put her in jail then there should be a hue and cry by the human right activists, all the international focus should be on her, international media to be talking about her..
Anyways this how the world is, cant help it but the world knows and remembers the people who unite humans, bridge the differences between them, give them the message of love..
Kashmiris don’t need yet another leader who would incite them for war against India, they need a person who would heal their wounds, put actual efforts to reduce suffering, and not for posturing in the public eye..
They need a Mother Teresa who wd unite them and soothe their pains and not someone like Roy who is happy to see people pick up guns and kill each-other..
And how true is what Mother Teresa often said “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other”
and arundhati is wanting the kasmhiris to believe exactly the opposite.. is she working for peace? the answer is obvious..NO
Shame on Arundhati..
Old generation writers/activists/politicians are not able to keep with todays pace and ideology. Its human psychology not to accept new ideas,and it strengthens with age.They should now let new generation to adopt new ideas, and not create debates with their concepts.It wastes time and energy for both. Well written PP,and proud that we have someone like you to represent us.
I liked what you wrote, also pointing towards what you said earlier in your article “there is tinge of truth in Roy’s statement”.
I don’t know why people fail to see the intricate point in her statement?
I agree that she is hungry for publicity and all, but that doesn’t make her statements less true. As you said, the statements might hurt you because your national pride comes in a way or rather don’t want to listen to it.
But ask me, and I’ll also say that India should take firm stand on Kashmir issue. Forget Arundhati and whatever she said for a moment and you’ll come to a point where it becomes necessity to support Kashmiri’s. In this rant game the basic cause or reason or victims (thats kashmir people are swaying away from the focus)
What i want to say is, don’t look at Arundhati’s statement as harsh and brutal but think it as other side of coin. Because stating a dissent is as much important in democracy as marking an assent.
There’s one old saying “Those who say bad things about us, should stay right next to you” because only that brings you close to reality.
I am not at all supporting Arundhati Roy, but just her statements seem “true” to me from the perspective of India as a whole and not only keeping Kashmir in point of view.
That’s exactly what PP tried to say. This Arundhati Roy has hogged all limelight and shifted the focus from Kashmir issue to her ugly face. Is that how you want Indians to debate and solve the Kashmir issue? She trivializes the Kashmir issue with her outlandish and ridiculous statements.
Yeah, ridicule her but not her statements. I said whatever she is, take note of her statements and see to it that you bring calm and serenity in the valley.
Anyways, everyone has a unique way of saying things. At times, celebrities and journalists say some bad things which are not expected from them, but then we don’t rant against them.
Today’s media has become lame and useless. They only showcase high profile weddings, some celebrity’s private life and all the masala, why not rant about them then? They are also equally guilty of not spreading the necessary news.
But at the end of it, lets focus on Kashmir
Keep Geelani, Arundhati at bay and all the extremists in some corner of the world. But thats it, those are the only doers, we can’t do anything about this issue as a mass. So what’s the use of our democracy?
FN is a reaction to that lame media. At least I love it because it makes fun of such media that shows trash news.
And tell me, is it really possible to debate Kashmir sanely now when Arundhati has vitiated the atomosphere? She got what she wanted – attention – and screwed the “issue” on hand. I fully agree with PP that the issue was going in the right direction with call for talks even with Azadi supporters and appointment of interlocutors, and then, this publicity hungy woman comes in and spoils it all!
Hehe, I never said anything about FN
true that Kashmir issue was going in right direction, but now screwed by Roy’s statement.
But you know, everything happens for certain good cause. We may not know it until we see the fruits of it
Prasad,
Though, it might sound wise, I don’t believe that everything negative spoken needs to be taken seriously, especially so if it is false (a lot of what Arundhati says is exaggerated, so by extension, false). And taking it seriously would only serve a purpose if one comes up with a solution. I might say that mosquitoes are a nuisance, but that anyway everyone knows! My statements would have value if I could suggest something practicable as part of the solution.
The problem lies with the media that gives her so much attention. Honestly, what her credentials to take her commentary on such issues more seriously than that of any other average Indian?
I agree. Media has made this bigger than what it should have been. Its media that makes only issues and suggests no solution.
And thats what I wanted to say, that provide a solution, rather than bitching on Arundhati. She said whatever she wanted to say, its over from her side. But then talking about her and saying bad things to her won’t solve our basic problem. The problem in Kashmir.
Right ON +10
I wish you would have someone correct your grammar. Here is an example of a fragment that really should have been edited:
“…even as rest of us scratch our heads and feel clueless over what so horrible have we done to them …”
Now that we have an English teacher with us, could you please point out which part of that sentence was grammatically incorrect? Please, we’re not as good in English as you are.
Please mention other grammatical mistakes too.
Just as a singer uses her voice and an artist his paintbrush, somebody who writes professionally should be able to express himself clearly and correctly.
I find Pagal’s blog interesting, slightly twisted, and fun to read. But it would be clearer and easier to read if he would only edit what he writes.
That is it then! You found it difficult to comprehend in the first reading!
I found it well written, editing (meaning simplifying the sentence) would have killed the flavour.
Neha,
“Correcting grammar” is not the same as “being more articulate”, or am I missing something?
needs a ‘the’ between ‘as’ and ‘rest’.
genius!
Brilliantly written man, a tight slap on the face of Arundhati supporters. Good that you clarified something that was central to the article and good that you are not replying to any trolls!
I have attended some of Arundhati Roy’s speeches, and I believe she is a complete attention seeker. I once attended a speech she gave to young DU students on the NBA, but her speech was more about “ME, ME, ME” than the andolan itself. (Sad, because the andolan definitely needed more genuine activists.) Since then I’ve grown distrustful of whatever she says.
About your post, I too thought your article was a bit too rude. However, whatever your views might be isn’t my concern, since, thankfully, we are a democracy, something Arundhati Roy derides all the time. But what I *did* find objectionable in your original post was that you constantly addressed her directly as “Woman” as you heaped fire and brimstone on her. It seemed pejorative and I think that was sexist. Some people will probably reduce the meaning of what I’m trying to say that you were merely stating a ‘biological fact’ or something as atrocious as that. But the fact was that your constant inclusion of her gender and addressing her all the time as “woman” (including the beginning with “Hey Woman”) gave the impression that she is creating hell because she is a woman. Maybe that wasn’t your intention, but that *is* what was coming across: chauvinsitic.
One of the saner comments on the article!
Remember, PP defined the article as a ‘rant’? I believe, for her behaviour, one would have liked to use a stronger expletive in a live rant, PP limited it to ‘woman’. Yes, it was derisive, it was meant to be that way!
@BG,
So being a woman is akin to being an expletive? *thunderous applause* . Obviously you are a man. Are you from one of those states that kill women before they are born? So that the almost-equivalent-to-expletive things (yes, i said ‘things’, not ‘persons’) don’t sully your fair name (whatever), and your thoroughly pitiable existence? I’m sure the expletives you would like to heap upon her would probably be of the ‘fuck your female relative’ kinds too, isn’t it? You deserve an award.
Culdivsac,
Now there’s no way I can substantiate this, but I’d also read that NBA activists threaten farmers into siding with their protests. Unfortunately, it’s so difficult to make out what the truth is. I tend to believe that judicial courts are in better position to ascertain the truth as they get to assess evidences brought forth by all the concerned parties, which is in contradistinction with that brought forth by the media houses, whose policies tend to be aligned with interests of various ‘influential elements’ of the society.
And lastly, there is practically no way to know if the media is making up a story as against merely concealing some of the vital pieces of information.
we should encourage comedy shows to portray arundhati roy as she is…then the gullible mass will also get the hint..
Interesting !! Both the original blog and the clarification !
But I still have a complaint against you Mr Pagal Patrakar. Your are being a bit unfair and cruel to Ms Roy. You see, blogging and articulating your view might be an hobby for you, but for Ms Roy it is her livelihood !
If She doesn’t make provocative statements, hurt national sentiments, say something brilliantly irrational, how else is she going to make a living. If she starts making statments full of logic and sanity, which you just tried, how can she expect to be popular ? Who shall call her for guest lectures ? Who shall pay her fat advances for new book ?
I am sympathize with her, just like I sympathize with Rakhi Sawant. Poor ladies don’t have much choice !
I wonder why GreatBong and FlyYouFools haven’t commented yet!
i think u r 100% right and eloquence language should not be used in such bad manner . Before any thing she must not forget that she is Indian and we do not mean to withdrew her right to speak but any thing you speak in the public should have discipline
COMEDY CIRCUS IS COMING WITH A SPECIAL SHOW ON ROY
Shocked to know there are Arundhati fans!!!! What does it say about those guys anyway?
I don’t think any explanations, follow-ups was really needed……..
nd it spiked my interest in your stand of the “cause”, even though you won’t offer any………
You quote Isaac Chotiner and Arnab Ray (sorry havent heard of him, i am new to blogs), let me direct you to naom chomsky and howard zinc both american and have been fighting american and israel hypocrisy for years. They have shared podiums with Ms Roy and have only good things to say about her.
Your whole argument against arundhati roy comes from the belief that she is publicity hungry. It seems everything she does is to gain attention, surely for a booker prize winner getting attention isnt that difficult. Argue against her based on her views, highlight her hypocrisy (Your attempt on this blog is pretty lame ) what has she done other than highlight the plights of the tribals, M Afzal (i wasnt aware of the issue until i read her article on it ) and the gujarati muslims, NBA. Unlike you (i am guessing here ) and others here she has been to the places before writing articles on the subject surely that makes her more objective and informed than the “patriots” here . Her fear of america is legitamate especially when u consider american history in south america and their pretext of going to war and killing innocent people around the world. Surely we need to be more concerned about our government dealings with them.
Look at her record she is one fighting for the poor and discriminated right from teh start. She railed against the world bank even in 1997 and now people around the world are doing the same. I hope we dont wake up too late to the causes that she is highlighting now.
Calling an article “lame” doesn’t make it lame, if so, I find your whole argument completely lame. Arundhati’s absurd arguments have been answered in writer’s previous mails but of course hurt fans like you can’t digest that.
You might have been ignorant of Afazal’s issue, NBA and other things that you point out and need a useless Arundhati Roy to learn about them, the rest of India doesn’t. I hope you get the point.
And show me one link where Naom Chomsky has good things to say about Arundhati Roy. Sharing a podium doesn’t prove anything.
How about writing a foreword to her book. Would that be proof enough.
I have no special affinity toward arundahti roy (except that she is good writer), its the causes which she highlights which is more important. And every cause she is highlighting has the poor and ones people who arent given justice by the world largest democracy as teh victims.
I am sure you found a better way to enlighten yourself with the issues (maybe u tried our UNBIASED mainstream media) or someother authors.
Yes, Naom Chomsky also wrote a foreword of a book, of whose contents he never approved of. Being such enlightened yourself, I hope you know about the Faurisson affair, where Chomsky clearly distanced himself from the content of a book, for which he wrote not only foreword but even an article. So that is NOT any proof of Arundhati’s intellectual honesty.
And why are you running to the “issues” Arundhati raises, when the writer above has made clear as crystal that he doesn’t have a problem with the issues but the fraud and fake support for those issues by Arundhati.
Chomsky didnt write teh foreword for the book. He gave the introduction without his knowledge. all he did has fight Robert Faurisson corner saying that he has right to say no matter how offensive it is.
What fake support does Ms Roy show to these issues. She has never changed sides. She is writer and an activist and hasnt changed her track right from the start. She writes about these issues and makes people aware using ur popularity. she isnt a negotiator (you need skills to do that job).
yawn.. after reading all the comments, one this is for sure, there are many hurt Indians around, at least a person calling himself pagal had the balls to admit that he was hurt and hurt by a truth, but arundhati fans dont have the balls or the courage to accept or face the truth… SHE IS A BITCH!
She is one speaking the truth, which pagal got truth by,doesnt that take courage. Argue on reason rather than indulging in name calling
Correction: please don’t put words in my mouth especially when you are asking others to argue on reason (and as I said earlier, yes, I too disapprove of name calling). I never said she is speaking any absolute truth; she has taken some elements of what certainly is a discomforting reality (Kashmir problem) and corrupted it with her fake support. Why her support is fake/fraud and why her involvement with the Kashmir problem is of no good, I’ve said earlier and rest my case. EOD
i dont care about the open letter anymore. i dont even read AR and and dont know what she writes about. but i think sensitive issues should not be on FN..
but the threat from US and its allies are real.. remember this..
ladies and gentelmen, we have someone from the censor board among us here, please welcome him/her.
and mr/miss censor board member, this is not FN but blog of someone, and the writer has every right to write on anything he wishes.
and yes, there is threat from US and its allies, like Pakistan, a country that is fan of Arundhati Roy, remember this.
I cant praise your knowledge and research on the subject more
Its an eye opener!!