[Reader-list] Statement by Arundhati Roy on the Attack on her Residence

[Bipin Trivedi]

Violant protest is always condemnable, whether it is against AR house or elsewhere. Peaceful protest against anyone is sign of healthy democracy. I also condemn protesters if damaged AR's house/property/society and must be punished under law if applicable.

Of course same thing applicable to all, be it violent protesters of Kashmir destroying/damaging properties and innocent killing in the name freedom movement! I expect few words for this also.

Thanks
Bipin Trivedi



-----Original Message-----
From: reader-list-bounces at sarai.net [mailto:reader-list-bounces at sarai.net] On Behalf Of Inder Salim
Sent: Monday, November 01, 2010 5:03 PM
To: reader-list
Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Statement by Arundhati Roy on the Attack on her Residence

Dear Samit and you like on the list

please hide ur heads in shame.
and imagine if your sister was attacked by goons like that

and it is too disgusting to demand evidence from the person who is too shaken.

we have Media who know how to isolate an individual and push their
viewership round the clock. They are running out of subjects. For them
there should a be case of canibalism and rape every hour, and if not
they may actually produce such acts, like Army did once in Sicachen.
Shame.

 I wonder if these goons dare to throw a stone at tainted CM of
Maharashtra, because our dear respected  Generals are thickly
involved.

OUr Media has done it to Hussain who is living in exile, that too when
Courts exonerated him for any obscenity charge . That is why Ashis
Nandy said " censorship has a great future in India"

And those who support it now, dont ralize that when and how  and whom
this monster devours without remorse

let us wake up

love
is


SOMETHING FOR THE MEDIA TO THINK ABOUT

 A mob of about a hundred people arrived at my house at 11 this morning (Sunday
October 31st 2010.) They broke through the gate and vandalized property. They
shouted slogans against me for my views on K...ashmir, and threatened to teach
me a lesson. The OB Vans of NDTV, Times Now and News 24 were already in place
ostensibly to cover the event live. TV reports say that the mob consisted
largely of members of the BJP’s Mahila Morcha (Women’s wing). After they
left, the police advised us to let them know if in future we saw any OB vans
hanging around the neighborhood because they said that was an indication that a
mob was on its way. In June this year, after a false report in the papers by
Press Trust of India (PTI) two men on motorcycles tried to stone the windows of
my home. They too were accompanied by TV cameramen.

What is the nature of the agreement between these sections of the media and
mobs and criminals in search of spectacle? Does the media which positions
itself at the ‘scene’ in advance have a guarantee that the attacks and
demonstrations will be non-violent? What happens if there is criminal trespass
(as there was today) or even something worse? Does the media then become
accessory to the crime? This question is important, given that some TV channels
and newspapers are in the process of brazenly inciting mob anger against me. In
the race for sensationalism the line between reporting news and manufacturing
news is becoming blurred. So what if a few people have to be sacrificed at the
altar of TRP ratings? The Government has indicated that it does not intend to
go ahead with the charges of sedition against me and the other speakers at a
recent seminar on Azadi for Kashmir.

So the task of punishing me for my views seems to have been taken on by right
wing storm troopers. The Bajrang Dal and the RSS have openly announced that
they are going to “fix” me with all the means at their disposal including
filing cases against me all over the country. The whole country has seen what
they are capable of doing, the extent to which they are capable of going. So,
while the Government is showing a degree of maturity, are sections of the media
and the infrastructure of democracy being rented out to those who believe in mob
justice? I can understand that the BJP's Mahila Morcha is using me to distract
attention the from the senior RSS activist Indresh Kumar who has recently been
named in the CBI charge-sheet for the bomb blast in Ajmer Sharif in which
several people were killed and many injured. But why are sections of the
mainstream media doing the same? Is a writer with unpopular views more
dangerous than a suspect in a bomb blast? Or is it a question of ideological
alignment?

Arundhati Roy
October 31st 2010



On Mon, Nov 1, 2010 at 4:44 PM, Rajkamal Goswami
<rajkamalgoswami at gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear Samvit,
>
> I seriously didn't mean it as a curse. I really apologize if I
> conveyed that idea. And also I am sorry to know all that yo and your
> family went through. What I really wished to say is that if We, as a
> society, allow such things to perpetuate, it won't be long before we
> too start facing the music. For eg: I am working on my PhD now which
> deals with the issue of hunting of primates. If tomorrow I say that
> primate meat forms an important diet of many people of India, does it
> legitimize any violent protest by Hindu fundamentalist citing that
> Hindus worship monkey? Should I or you allow people to get away with
> such acts? Tomorrow, some mobs might attack me or Sonia or Anupam over
> some idea that we discussed on this forum. Once it happens, there
> won't be an end to it. Who else, better than you, who has suffered
> first hand can understand the pain and humiliation that comes along
> with it.
>
> Me and my family (in Assam) too have faced similar humiliation from
> armed forces during the peak emergency in Assam. And that is the very
> reason why I condemn any such acts which tatters the dignity of an
> individual.
>
> Once again sorry for hurting you (unknowingly) through my mail.
>
> Regards
> Rajkamal
>
>
>
>
> On 11/1/10, Samvit <samvitr at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Dear Rajkamal,
>> You are too late. The mobs came long ago and did that. Infant they were all
>> people I knew, grew up with and went to school. Many of them belong to the
>> podium that Roy shared with. I am not sure about Shuddha, though.
>>
>> And unlike Ms Roy they did not do with one flower pot. They looted two
>> houses and vandalized all the property. Whatever my father and grandfather
>> had saved was looted by Islamic fundamentalists. They were all well read.
>> After looting the houses they burnt them to embers.
>> So my dear Rajkamal, your curse has come in late. But unlike most people I
>> did not indulge in hating muslims. Today most of my friends are muslims and
>> I have great regard for the community.
>> The issue is that Roy, Navlakha and his cronies survive only on spreading
>> canard, hate and indulge in dividing people on all lines. Because if they
>> don't then how will they run their shops, theirs NGOs.
>> -SR
>>
>> On Mon, Nov 1, 2010 at 4:04 PM, Rajkamal Goswami
>> <rajkamalgoswami at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>> Dear Samvit,
>>>
>>> I would say nothing but wait for that day when some protesters would
>>> come and do a violent dharna infront of your residence and break and
>>> damage your personal property. I am sure you would embrace them and
>>> thank them for exercising their right of expression.
>>>
>>> Thanks and regards
>>> Rajkamal
>>>
>>> On 11/1/10, anupam chakravartty <c.anupam at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> > "What is the nature of the agreement between these sections of the media
>>> and
>>> > mobs and criminals in search of spectacle? Does the media which
>>> > positions
>>> > itself at the ‘scene’ in advance have a guarantee that the attacks and
>>> > demonstrations will be non-violent? What happens if there is criminal
>>> > trespass (as there was today) or even something worse? Does the media
>>> then
>>> > become accessory to the crime?"
>>> >
>>> > http://www.countermedia.in/?p=298
>>> >
>>> > On Mon, Nov 1, 2010 at 1:46 PM, anupam chakravartty
>>> > <c.anupam at gmail.com>wrote:
>>> >
>>> >> How have we understood freedom of expression Mr Kaul? With an eye for
>>> >> an
>>> >> eye? how is it expression then? what have you expressed? you just
>>> reacted
>>> >> with a statement: "FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, you see, for the ladies who
>>> were
>>> >> protesting. Lets support them together."
>>> >>
>>> >> All the best
>>> >> Anupam
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >> On Mon, Nov 1, 2010 at 1:32 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul
>>> >> <kauladityaraj at gmail.com>wrote:
>>> >>
>>> >>> I would condemn this so called 'attack' once I see the pictures.
>>> >>> Strangely,
>>> >>> even the Police couldn't see anything. Merely stationing of OB Vans
>>> >>> doesn't
>>> >>> mean an attack is about to take place.
>>> >>>
>>> >>> Let Krishenji with Arundhati provide some pictures of 'hooliganism'
>>> >>> for
>>> >>> the
>>> >>> world to see rather than press statements for publicity sake.
>>> >>>
>>> >>> FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, you see, for the ladies who were protesting.
>>> Lets
>>> >>> support them together.
>>> >>>
>>> >>> On Mon, Nov 1, 2010 at 11:08 AM, Samvit <samvitr at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> >>>
>>> >>> > Dear Sonia,
>>> >>> > I think what Rashneek's wrote answers your question. Roy uses
>>> democracy
>>> >>> to
>>> >>> > tarnish democracy. She and her cronies bend on their knees when they
>>> >>> > are
>>> >>> in
>>> >>> > the Valley. You should have seen how Gautam was sitting like a
>>> >>> frightened
>>> >>> > pigeon before he went on to speak at the Saddar Court complex. He
>>> >>> > apologized
>>> >>> > for his facebook remarks, took his statement back and only then
>>> >>> > could
>>> >>> one
>>> >>> > see him breathing easy. He knew the rules of the Valley, they are
>>> >>> similar
>>> >>> > to
>>> >>> > the ones that Roy follows. It would have been almost impossible for
>>> >>> Gautam
>>> >>> > to step his foot in Kashmir if he did not go with the flow. After
>>> that
>>> >>> > statement, the goshtabas flowed. Talk about Goshtaba diplomacy!!
>>> >>> > Sonia, you must have heard Roy calling India a "bhookha, nanga
>>> desh!!".
>>> >>> > Perhaps, this could also be used for her- "ek ghoshtabe ke bhooke
>>> >>> > aur
>>> >>> > ad-nangee Roy!" but then the "hooligan right wingers" seem to be
>>> >>> > more
>>> >>> > cultured than the "ghoshtaba eating "so called "leftists/maoists".
>>> >>> > -Sam
>>> >>> >
>>> >>> >
>>> >>> > On Mon, Nov 1, 2010 at 10:13 AM, SJabbar <sonia.jabbar at gmail.com>
>>> >>> wrote:
>>> >>> >
>>> >>> > > Dear Samvit,
>>> >>> > > You need to distinguish between the right to expression or free
>>> >>> > > speech
>>> >>> > and
>>> >>> > > the right to indulge in violence or to incite violence.  The first
>>> is
>>> >>> > > enshrined in our constitution, the second punishable by law.  To
>>> call
>>> >>> > > Arundhati Roy a thug and to equate her political views with those
>>> who
>>> >>> can
>>> >>> > > only counter her political views with physical violence is a
>>> >>> > > travesty.
>>> >>> > > You cannot wish someone "good health and safety" while cheering on
>>> >>> people
>>> >>> > > bent on tearing down her house and doing her injury.
>>> >>> > > sj
>>> >>> > >
>>> >>> > >
>>> >>> > > On 01/11/10 9:15 AM, "Samvit" <samvitr at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> >>> > >
>>> >>> > > > A classic example of *pot calling the kettle black*. How
>>> >>> conveniently
>>> >>> > > > you
>>> >>> > > abuse and slot others. If someone is attacking Roy's house I think
>>> it
>>> >>> > > > is
>>> >>> > > their way of expression. Roy doesn't hold a monopoly on "right
>>> >>> > > > to
>>> >>> > > expression" and neither does she decide where to draw the line.
>>> >>> > > She
>>> >>> > > > should
>>> >>> > > be knowing all this very well since she keeps company of known
>>> >>> > > > terrorists of
>>> >>> > > the ilk that were seen in Delhi with her. Why do you feel so
>>> >>> > > > meek now that
>>> >>> > > you have to be sladerous?? using words like.....hooligans,
>>> >>> > > > obsene....
>>> >>> > >
>>> >>> > > Although I wish her good health and safety so that she can
>>> >>> > > > continue
>>> >>> > > gallavanting from place to place, topic to topic but then there
>>> >>> > > are
>>> >>> > > > millions
>>> >>> > > out there who get inspired by her and want to teach her some
>>> >>> > > > "expression".
>>> >>> > > Thugs like her understand the language of thugs, perhaps.
>>> >>> > >
>>> >>> > >
>>> >>> > > On
>>> >>> > > > Sun, Oct 31, 2010 at 10:31 PM, shuddha at sarai.net <
>>> shuddha at sarai.net
>>> >>> > > >wrote:
>>> >>> > >
>>> >>> > > >
>>> >>> > > > Dear all,
>>> >>> > > >
>>> >>> > > > the disgusting and obscene attacks on Arundhati Roy in sections
>>> >>> > > > of the
>>> >>> > > > media
>>> >>> > > > and even, unfortunately on a forum like this one by right
>>> >>> > > > wing hooligans
>>> >>> > > > (including some on this list) is now being complemented by
>>> >>> > > > attacks and
>>> >>> > > > vandalism at her residence, in the full glare of the media. It
>>> >>> > > > is not Ms.
>>> >>> > > > Roy
>>> >>> > > > who seeks out media coverage, it is the thugs who attack
>>> >>> > > > her who
>>> >>> > > > pre-arrange to
>>> >>> > > > have television OB vans in place while they attempt
>>> >>> > > > to ransack her
>>> >>> > > > residence.
>>> >>> > > >
>>> >>> > > > Those interested may read the statement below
>>> >>> > > > by Arundhati Roy in response
>>> >>> > > > to
>>> >>> > > > the most recent attack,
>>> >>> > > >
>>> >>> > > > best,
>>> >>> > > >
>>> >>> > > >
>>> >>> > > > Shuddha
>>> >>> > > >
>>> >>> > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------
>>> >>> > > >
>>> >>> > > >
>>> >>> > > >
>>> >>> > > > SOMETHING FOR THE MEDIA TO THINK ABOUT
>>> >>> > > >
>>> >>> > > >  A mob of about a hundred people
>>> >>> > > > arrived at my house at 11 this morning
>>> >>> > > > (Sunday
>>> >>> > > > October 31st 2010.) They
>>> >>> > > > broke through the gate and vandalized property.
>>> >>> > > > They
>>> >>> > > > shouted slogans
>>> >>> > > > against me for my views on K...ashmir, and threatened to
>>> >>> > > > teach
>>> >>> > > > me a
>>> >>> > > > lesson. The OB Vans of NDTV, Times Now and News 24 were already
>>> in
>>> >>> > > > place
>>> >>> > > >
>>> >>> > > > ostensibly to cover the event live. TV reports say that the mob
>>> >>> > > consisted>
>>> >>> > > > largely of members of the BJP¹s Mahila Morcha (Women¹s wing).
>>> After
>>> >>> > they
>>> >>> > > >
>>> >>> > > > left, the police advised us to let them know if in future we saw
>>> >>> > > > any
>>> >>> OB
>>> >>> > > >
>>> >>> > > > vans
>>> >>> > > > hanging around the neighborhood because they said that was an
>>> >>> > > > indication
>>> >>> > > > that a
>>> >>> > > > mob was on its way. In June this year, after a false
>>> >>> > > > report in the papers
>>> >>> > > > by
>>> >>> > > > Press Trust of India (PTI) two men on motorcycles
>>> >>> > > > tried to stone the
>>> >>> > > > windows of
>>> >>> > > > my home. They too were accompanied by TV
>>> >>> > > > cameramen.
>>> >>> > > >
>>> >>> > > > What is the nature of the agreement between these sections of
>>> >>> > > > the media and
>>> >>> > > > mobs and criminals in search of spectacle? Does the media
>>> >>> > > > which positions
>>> >>> > > > itself at the Œscene¹ in advance have a guarantee that the
>>> >>> > > > attacks and
>>> >>> > > > demonstrations will be non-violent? What happens if there is
>>> >>> > > > criminal
>>> >>> > > > trespass
>>> >>> > > > (as there was today) or even something worse? Does the
>>> >>> > > > media then become
>>> >>> > > > accessory to the crime? This question is important, given
>>> >>> > > > that some TV
>>> >>> > > > channels
>>> >>> > > > and newspapers are in the process of brazenly
>>> >>> > > > inciting mob anger against
>>> >>> > > > me. In
>>> >>> > > > the race for sensationalism the line
>>> >>> > > > between reporting news and
>>> >>> > > > manufacturing
>>> >>> > > > news is becoming blurred. So what
>>> >>> > > > if a few people have to be sacrificed at
>>> >>> > > > the
>>> >>> > > > altar of TRP ratings? The
>>> >>> > > > Government has indicated that it does not intend
>>> >>> > > > to
>>> >>> > > > go ahead with the
>>> >>> > > > charges of sedition against me and the other speakers at
>>> >>> > > > a
>>> >>> > > > recent seminar
>>> >>> > > > on Azadi for Kashmir.
>>> >>> > > >
>>> >>> > > > So the task of punishing me for my views seems to
>>> >>> > > > have been taken on by
>>> >>> > > > right
>>> >>> > > > wing storm troopers. The Bajrang Dal and the
>>> >>> > > > RSS have openly announced that
>>> >>> > > > they are going to ³fix² me with all the means
>>> >>> > > > at their disposal including
>>> >>> > > > filing cases against me all over the country.
>>> >>> > > > The whole country has seen
>>> >>> > > > what
>>> >>> > > > they are capable of doing, the extent to
>>> >>> > > > which they are capable of going.
>>> >>> > > > So,
>>> >>> > > > while the Government is showing a
>>> >>> > > > degree of maturity, are sections of the
>>> >>> > > > media
>>> >>> > > > and the infrastructure of
>>> >>> > > > democracy being rented out to those who believe
>>> >>> > > > in mob
>>> >>> > > > justice? I can
>>> >>> > > > understand that the BJP's Mahila Morcha is using me to
>>> >>> > > > distract
>>> >>> > > > attention
>>> >>> > > > the from the senior RSS activist Indresh Kumar who has recently
>>> >>> > > > been
>>> >>> > > > named
>>> >>> > > > in the CBI charge-sheet for the bomb blast in Ajmer Sharif in
>>> which
>>> >>> > > > several
>>> >>> > > > people were killed and many injured. But why are sections of the
>>> >>> > > > mainstream
>>> >>> > > > media doing the same? Is a writer with unpopular views more
>>> >>> > > > dangerous than a
>>> >>> > > > suspect in a bomb blast? Or is it a question of
>>> >>> > > > ideological
>>> >>> > > > alignment?
>>> >>> > > >
>>> >>> > > >
>>> >>> > > > Arundhati Roy
>>> >>> > > > October 31st 2010
>>> >>> > > >
>>> >>> > > >
>>> >>> > > >
>>> >>> > > > _________________________________________
>>> >>> > > > reader-list: an open discussion
>>> >>> > > > list on media and the city.
>>> >>> > > > Critiques & Collaborations
>>> >>> > > > To subscribe: send
>>> >>> > > > an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
>>> >>> > > > subscribe in the subject
>>> >>> > > > header.
>>> >>> > > > To unsubscribe:
>>> >>> > > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
>>> >>> > > > List archive:
>>> >>> > > > <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
>>> >>> > >
>>> >>> > >
>>> >>> > >
>>> >>> > >
>>> >>> > > --
>>> >>> > > Samvit
>>> >>> > > > Rawal
>>> >>> > > 9422037853
>>> >>> > > -----------------------------------------------------------
>>> >>> > > T
>>> >>> > > > o err is human; to forgive, infrequent.
>>> >>> > >  - Franklin P.
>>> >>> > > > Adams
>>> >>> > > _________________________________________
>>> >>> > > reader-list: an open
>>> >>> > > > discussion list on media and the city.
>>> >>> > > Critiques & Collaborations
>>> >>> > > To
>>> >>> > > > subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
>>> >>> > subscribe
>>> >>> > > in
>>> >>> > > > the subject header.
>>> >>> > > To unsubscribe:
>>> >>> > > > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
>>> >>> > > List archive:
>>> >>> > > > <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
>>> >>> > >
>>> >>> > >
>>> >>> > >
>>> >>> >
>>> >>> >
>>> >>> > --
>>> >>> > Samvit Rawal
>>> >>> > 9422037853
>>> >>> > -----------------------------------------------------------
>>> >>> > To err is human; to forgive, infrequent.
>>> >>> >   - Franklin P. Adams
>>> >>> > _________________________________________
>>> >>> > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
>>> >>> > Critiques & Collaborations
>>> >>> > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
>>> >>> > subscribe in the subject header.
>>> >>> > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
>>> >>> > List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
>>> >>> >
>>> >>> _________________________________________
>>> >>> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
>>> >>> Critiques & Collaborations
>>> >>> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
>>> >>> subscribe in the subject header.
>>> >>> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
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>>> >>>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> > _________________________________________
>>> > reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
>>> > Critiques & Collaborations
>>> > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
>>> subscribe
>>> > in the subject header.
>>> > To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Rajkamal
>>> _________________________________________
>>> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
>>> Critiques & Collaborations
>>> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
>>> subscribe in the subject header.
>>> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
>>> List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
>>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Rajkamal
> _________________________________________
> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> Critiques & Collaborations
> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with subscribe in the subject header.
> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
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