[Reader-list] Statement by Arundhati Roy

TaraPrakash taraprakash at gmail.com
Thu Oct 28 23:25:43 IST 2010


Good intervention Inder. 20 years from now we will remember this discussion.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Inder Salim" <indersalim at gmail.com>
To: "reader-list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 9:47 AM
Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Statement by Arundhati Roy


> Thanks dear Samvit
>
> how many saner voices you think are left in india?
> who, is there who talks about poor, their rights and their significance?
> Who is there who talks about happiness for all, not on paper but
> actually going there, studying their problems. Dont you think that we
> need to preserve our forsts and the people who are living in that
> system?
>
> who in your mind deserves an applause? The people who cut forests, do
> reckless mining in the name development with no respect to their
> shrines and ecosystem which sustained them thousands and thousand of
> years. What is ur definition of main stream ? It is road rolling of
> pebbles called ordinary human beings...
>
> the people at the helm in India are busy misappropriate funds to buy
> properties here and abroad. take any corporate, and see how how they
> have bungled with nationalized banks. Each one of them have tricked
> the system.... i have really lost faith in the white colored
> bureaucrat and the politicians who plays the role of a middle man
> between the contractor and the administrator
>
> The system is sick with children of living and dead politicians coming
> to power,  running to grab the seats of democracy.
>
> The problem with India is that only poor people love this country, it
> culture and its diversity,  the rest of middle class and upper middle
> class are constantly thinking to grab the opportunity and run out and
> settle abraod, or by pass the norms.... We use the people like we use
> toilet paper, that is why there is child labour, there is bride
> burning, there is attack on dalits, there is oppression against
> muslims... it not about Hindu India, it just happens that the system
> is run by upper caste Hindus, sad.....
>
> just tell me which sector is healthy in India.  What is the level of
> contamination in food, medicine etc... forget abouit justice in our
> country. It is worse for the poor,  forget good education, it is all
> meant for people who have access to public schools....
>
> Imagine, Delhi  Govt managing its schools in tents, and if there are
> buildings, there are no stools/benchs for them to sit. Shame, that we
> spend so much money for CWG
>
> Well, if you dont like voices,  just be.. happy as most of us are....
>
> love
> is
>
>
>
> On Wed, Oct 27, 2010 at 6:34 PM, Samvit <samvitr at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I think that she is an intellectual leftover. It is very surprising
>> that I find people of Sarai are raving about a woman who is
>> pardaoxically opposite to the leftist ideology. While the stories of
>> her promiscuity are legendary I would not talk about them as it would
>> be interfering in her personal life. However some years back I saw her
>> in the skimpiest clothing going to the most capitalistic gym anyone
>> can think of.
>>
>> Those who rave about her writing need to read more writers and they
>> would realize what talent Arundati has got. Also, it is "en vogue" to
>> write against India. The great India rope trick sells like hot cake.
>> Write a book that says elephants run on Indian roads and it sells like
>> hot cake in the "developed world".
>> It is the intellectual leftovers like her and Gautam Navlakha who call
>> India "a corporate Hindu state". It is pretty sad that people on this
>> forum are "in awe of her".
>> -Samvit
>>
>> On Wed, Oct 27, 2010 at 5:47 PM, Inder Salim <indersalim at gmail.com> 
>> wrote:
>>> I guess people in India will read her only after she gets Nobel for 
>>> literature.
>>> which she deserves
>>>
>>>
>>> love
>>> is
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Oct 27, 2010 at 3:14 PM, Rajkamal Goswami
>>> <rajkamalgoswami at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Dear Aditya
>>>>
>>>> I am sure yo know about her fictional work 1 novel & 1 screenplay. But
>>>> I am not sure if you have read her non-fictional work. Well she didn't
>>>> win booker for them but she won the "Sydney Peace Prize" and the
>>>> "Sahitya Akademi award" which she politely refused. Her body of non
>>>> fiction work is far greater (both in volume and quality) than her
>>>> fictional work. I hope you have read her work. If not please read
>>>> atleast the essential Roy viz "The greater common good", the "Algebra
>>>> of Infinite justice", "Come September", Do Turkeys Enjoy
>>>> Thanksgiving", "Peace is War", "Listening To Grasshoppers", "Shall We
>>>> Leave It to the Experts?" and my favorite “The Ladies have feelings
>>>> so…” You should definitely read the last one because it answers your
>>>> query about the very questions that you have raised.
>>>>
>>>> Regarding a fiction writer being political, well all writers are
>>>> political. That some chose to remain silent is also a political
>>>> activity. That Ms. Roy choses to write her politics and throw it open
>>>> to ideas and criticism is the best thing I really like about her.
>>>> Besides she is also indulged in field activism, giving her voice to
>>>> the voiceless and rooting for real democracy.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks
>>>> r
>>>>
>>>> On 10/27/10, Aditya Raj Kaul <kauladityaraj at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> Are you the moderator? Just curious again. You indeed have a big hand.
>>>>>
>>>>> On Wed, Oct 27, 2010 at 2:31 PM, Tapas Ray [Gmail]
>>>>> <tapasrayx at gmail.com>wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> ps: I mean, to Aditya.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 27 October 2010 14:30, Tapas Ray [Gmail] <tapasrayx at gmail.com> 
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>> > Really intelligent comment. Let's give him a big hand!
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > On 27 October 2010 14:23, Aditya Raj Kaul <kauladityaraj at gmail.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>> >> Isn't she a Fiction writer? Or is she really a writer? Just 
>>>>>> >> curious.
>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> >> On Wed, Oct 27, 2010 at 2:01 PM, Rajkamal Goswami <
>>>>>> rajkamalgoswami at gmail.com
>>>>>> >>> wrote:
>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> >>> I am just in awe of this woman.
>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> On 10/27/10, Tapas Ray [Gmail] <tapasrayx at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>> >>> > Pheeta,
>>>>>> >>> >
>>>>>> >>> > No problem, and no need to apologise!
>>>>>> >>> >
>>>>>> >>> > Best,
>>>>>> >>> >
>>>>>> >>> > Tapas
>>>>>> >>> >
>>>>>> >>> > On 27 October 2010 09:07, Pheeta Ram <pheeta.ram at gmail.com> 
>>>>>> >>> > wrote:
>>>>>> >>> >> Dear Tapas
>>>>>> >>> >> Actually the statement was sent to me by somebody. I forgot to
>>>>>> >>> >> check
>>>>>> if
>>>>>> >>> it
>>>>>> >>> >> had already been published online; that's why there was no 
>>>>>> >>> >> link.
>>>>>> Thanks
>>>>>> >>> >> for
>>>>>> >>> >> reminding me the etiquettes of responsible online publishing.
>>>>>> >>> >> I shall take care next time.
>>>>>> >>> >> Pheeta Ram
>>>>>> >>> >>
>>>>>> >>> >> On Wed, Oct 27, 2010 at 6:42 AM, Tapas Ray [Gmail] <
>>>>>> tapasrayx at gmail.com
>>>>>> >>> >
>>>>>> >>> >> wrote:
>>>>>> >>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> >>> Pheeta,
>>>>>> >>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> >>> Thanks for this. I think it would be good if we gave the 
>>>>>> >>> >>> links
>>>>>> along
>>>>>> >>> >>> with any material from online sources that we might be 
>>>>>> >>> >>> posting.
>>>>>> This
>>>>>> >>> >>> one's is
>>>>>> >>> >>> <
>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>> http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/arundhati-roys-statement-on-possible-sedition-case-62566
>>>>>> >>> >.
>>>>>> >>> >>> As for offline sources (e.g., printed books, etc.), a mention 
>>>>>> >>> >>> of
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> >>> >>> source, as complete as possible, would be very helpful.
>>>>>> >>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> >>> Thanks again.
>>>>>> >>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> >>> Tapas
>>>>>> >>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> >>> On 27 October 2010 02:10, Pheeta Ram <pheeta.ram at gmail.com> 
>>>>>> >>> >>> wrote:
>>>>>> >>> >>> > STATEMENT BY ARUNDHATI ROY
>>>>>> >>> >>> >
>>>>>> >>> >>> > I write this from Srinagar, Kashmir. This morning’s papers 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > say
>>>>>> that I
>>>>>> >>> >>> > may be arrested on charges of sedition for what I have said 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > at
>>>>>> recent
>>>>>> >>> >>> > public meetings on Kashmir. I said what millions of people 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > here
>>>>>> say
>>>>>> >>> >>> > every day. I said what I, as well as other commentators 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > have
>>>>>> written
>>>>>> >>> >>> > and said for years. Anybody who cares to read the 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > transcripts of
>>>>>> my
>>>>>> >>> >>> > speeches will see that they were fundamentally a call for
>>>>>> justice. I
>>>>>> >>> >>> > spoke about justice for the people of Kashmir who live 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > under one
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> >>> >>> > the most brutal military occupations in the world; for 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > Kashmiri
>>>>>> >>> >>> > Pandits who live out the tragedy of having been driven out 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > of
>>>>>> their
>>>>>> >>> >>> > homeland; for Dalit soldiers killed in Kashmir whose graves 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > I
>>>>>> visited
>>>>>> >>> >>> > on garbage heaps in their villages in Cuddalore; for the 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > Indian
>>>>>> poor
>>>>>> >>> >>> > who pay the price of this occupation in material ways and 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > who
>>>>>> >>> >>> > are
>>>>>> now
>>>>>> >>> >>> > learning to live in the terror of what is becoming a police
>>>>>> state.
>>>>>> >>> >>> >
>>>>>> >>> >>> > Yesterday I traveled to Shopian, the apple-town in South 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > Kashmir
>>>>>> >>> which
>>>>>> >>> >>> > had remained closed for 47 days last year in protest 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > against the
>>>>>> >>> >>> > brutal rape and murder of Asiya and Nilofer, the young 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > women
>>>>>> whose
>>>>>> >>> >>> > bodies were found in a shallow stream near their homes and 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > whose
>>>>>> >>> >>> > murderers have still not been brought to justice. I met 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > Shakeel,
>>>>>> who
>>>>>> >>> >>> > is Nilofer’s husband and Asiya’s brother. We sat in a 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > circle of
>>>>>> >>> >>> > people crazed with grief and anger who had lost hope that 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > they
>>>>>> would
>>>>>> >>> >>> > ever get ‘insaf’—justice—from India, and now believed that
>>>>>> >>> >>> > Azadi—freedom— was their only hope. I met young stone 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > pelters
>>>>>> >>> >>> > who
>>>>>> had
>>>>>> >>> >>> > been shot through their eyes. I traveled with a young man 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > who
>>>>>> told me
>>>>>> >>> >>> > how three of his friends, teenagers in Anantnag district, 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > had
>>>>>> been
>>>>>> >>> >>> > taken into custody and had their finger-nails pulled out as
>>>>>> >>> punishment
>>>>>> >>> >>> > for throwing stones.
>>>>>> >>> >>> >
>>>>>> >>> >>> > In the papers some have accused me of giving ‘hate-speeches’, 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > of
>>>>>> >>> >>> > wanting India to break up. On the contrary, what I say 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > comes
>>>>>> >>> >>> > from
>>>>>> >>> love
>>>>>> >>> >>> > and pride. It comes from not wanting people to be killed, 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > raped,
>>>>>> >>> >>> > imprisoned or have their finger-nails pulled out in order 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > to
>>>>>> force
>>>>>> >>> >>> > them to say they are Indians. It comes from wanting to live 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > in a
>>>>>> >>> >>> > society that is striving to be a just one. Pity the nation 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > that
>>>>>> has
>>>>>> >>> to
>>>>>> >>> >>> > silence its writers for speaking their minds. Pity the 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > nation
>>>>>> that
>>>>>> >>> >>> > needs to jail those who ask for justice, while communal 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > killers,
>>>>>> mass
>>>>>> >>> >>> > murderers, corporate scamsters, looters, rapists, and those 
>>>>>> >>> >>> > who
>>>>>> prey
>>>>>> >>> >>> > on the poorest of the poor, roam free.
>>>>>> >>> >>> >
>>>>>> >>> >>> > Arundhati Roy
>>>>>> >>> >>> >
>>>>>> >>> >>> > October 26 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.netwith
>>>>>> >>> >>> > 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
>>>>>> >>> >>> 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
>>>>>> >>> > 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
>>>>>> >>> 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
>>>>>> >> 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
>>>>>> 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
>>>>> 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
>>>> List archive: <https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> http://indersalim.livejournal.com
>>> _________________________________________
>>> 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
>>
>
>
>
> -- 
>
> http://indersalim.livejournal.com
> _________________________________________
> 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/> 



More information about the reader-list mailing list