[Reader-list] About Accusations on this List

[Gargi Sen]

Dear Rashneek,
I¹ll begin by apologising as I did not mean to drag you into anything, least
of all into a list that you don¹t wish to be a part of. However, when you
sent them I read through all the four rejoinders to Shuddha¹s series that
you sent to this list. I was not discussing those. I was simply making the
point that to remove Aditya Raj Kaul and Pawan Durrani would not be in
keeping with the spirit of this list AND that they, and to some extent you
and Khemendra, have provoked some of the finest writings on this list.

Allow me to also discuss *Shuddha* as a virtual entity to be found on this
list rather than a real flesh and blood person who perhaps exists and lives
also. I find often that you, Aditya, Pawan, can take him to heights that are
different from his normal scholarly stance. The recent rejoinder on
stupidity ­ Aditya and Pawan don¹t want to be called intellectuals, they are
offended by *stupid* so the choice provided was imbecile or idiot. And this
virtual entity called Shuddha is not the only one to be so positively
provoked ­ there is actually a rather long list.  I can quote many such
rejoinders that left me chuckling. Now in the midst of the truly terrible
times we are witnessing  - yes terrible time despite the election in the US
- I find these pieces utterly and truly delightful and they stay in some
chuckling part of my consciousness, that part that allows one to live
through times like this.

So my point was why cut off such founts of good writing ­ even if they are
bigots and idiots? What they provoke is often hilarious, poignant,
reflective, wise and inspiring.

Having said that Rashneek I must also say that I was quite moved by one of
your last posts on the aftermath of the Amarnath yatra and the ludicrousness
of what happened [ Ah, good old tolerance! by Shyam Kaul] I don¹t know why
you have stopped writing, but such pieces are treasured by many.

Gargi

PS: Pawan, thanks for the red salute.  But I prefer Pink, although alas
without perhaps the wisdom Akshay Khanna alludes to. You could try *jai
bhim* also. I can claim neither as my own but resonate with both.

And do please respond to the challenges to your allegations that Shuddha and
Arti are paid to write on this list.





Re: [Reader-list]


On 11/11/08 3:46 PM, "rashneek kher" <rashneek at gmail.com> wrote:

> Dear Gargi,
>  
> I have really been out of this all and have stayed quite.Please dont drag me
> into this.In case you have read Shudda's pieces please do care to read mine
> too before you make statements here.I can say with authority that in most
> aspects of Kashmir including those four pieces Shudda's knowledge is
> incomplete and wanting.
> Yet I have admired him for his understanding and knowledge in so many fields.
> Well in case you wanted to do some mudslinging at me,you may just end up
> proving your inherent biases,thats all.
>  
> Live on
>  
> Rashneek
>  
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