[Assam] Arundhoti Roy and India

Tue Apr 10 18:20:21 EDT 2007

I don't know Arundhati Roy. Have not read any of her books. But 
knowing she was trained as an architect, she couldn't be all bad.

I am only kidding :-).

Of the various points here, to me, the last one seems to carry the 
most weight. My observations likewise, mostly.

But let us look into all a little deeper:

>But the Indians as a people are too sensitive.

*** It would seem to me that it would be unfair to paint ALL Indians 
with that same brush. I would like to think it would be more accurate 
to say that those Indians who are most visible to us, in the 
internet, in the print media, on TV etc., tend to be that way. Why? 
Because they constitute that tiny segment of Indians who, having 
secured their lot thru the operating system and its many largesses, 
now seek 'national' respectability in the world. When Arundhati bares 
the seamy underside of the real India to the world, this tiny segment 
gets upset. Their image of the India that they are either aware of or 
care about, gets tarnished by AR's revelations.

They do not, or cannot refute what AR exposes. Because she does not 
fabricate things to make India look bad. She describes what she sees, 
and comments on them. That is exactly why those who get upset by the 
truths she speaks of, attempt to devalue her comments and opinions by 
attacking  her persona, hoping, that would somehow make those ugly 
truths disappear like a bath in the Ganga might do to Hindu sins.

>3.       For reasons known to her, she hates anything that is Indian 
>and no >matter what, she only sees ills about anything to do with 
>India/Indians.

*** I don't buy this argument. It is akin to Rush Limbaugh accusing 
those Americans who criticize Bush/Cheney policies of hating their 
country.

Why can't a reasonable person criticize those issues about India that 
deserve criticism, without having to be an 'India hater'? Heaven 
knows there are plenty of those who carry around India-shining 
banners to show to the world. Just because someone does not ride that 
bandwagon, make that person automatically an India hater?

>2.       It is a fashion to be critic. It helps her sell her books, 
>gives her >the publicity that she needs. She is one of those Flower 
>Children, Anti >Establishment Types from the late sixties. It also 
>earns her frequent >invitation from those forums/conferences 
>whereany form of Anti Establishment is >the key-note.

*** AR is not a sixties Flower Child. I am guessing she is in her mid 
forties. A Sixties' Flower Children  would be in their sixties now.

But even if she is, because Indians picks up western fads a decade or 
so later :-), WHY is it FASHIONABLE, and devoid of substance, to be 
an Indian critic, or US critic, or British critic? Or for that 
matter, can a person be a critic of one's nation, WITHOUT having a 
profit motive driving one? Are we suggesting that there cannot be 
honest, intellectual disagreements among reasonable people, with 
their governmental or societal policies and attitudes ?

>  Very few people (read Indians), who have heard about her or read 
>her works or >her her speeches, have neutral feeling towards her. 
>Either they hate her or >love her.

*** IF this were to be true, then it would not speak well of Indian 
intelligentsia. Why I say that is that a reasonable and intelligent 
person can agree with some of AR's ( or for that matter anybody 
else's) views, while disagree with others.

Couldn't they?

If they couldn't then it would indicate that Indians , by and large 
are a bunch of ideologically imprisoned automatons, who are unable to 
decide what is right and what is wrong about a particular issue, and 
react in unison either for or against the person who brings bad news 
to their notice.

Could that be true?

*******************************************************************************

At 10:04 PM +0100 4/10/07, Malabika Brahma wrote:
>What ever Arundhoti Roy does or whenever she speaks, makes a news. 
>She has her ardent admirers and bashers. Very few people (read 
>Indians), who have heard about her or read her works or her her 
>speeches, have neutral feeling towards her. Either they hate her or 
>love her.
>
>What do netters think about Arundhoti Roy with respect to her 
>frequent criticism about India:
>
>1.       She believes in certain values and would raise her voice 
>against any establishment she believes is going against them.  Since 
>she is an Indian and most of her focus on issues are concerning 
>India/Indians, the establishment of India bears the brunt of her 
>criticism
>
>2.       It is a fashion to be critic. It helps her sell her books, 
>gives her the publicity that she needs. She is one of those Flower 
>Children, Anti Establishment Types from the late sixties. It also 
>earns her frequent invitation from those forums/conferences whereany 
>form of Anti Establishment is the key-note.
>
>3.       For reasons known to her, she hates anything that is Indian 
>and no matter what, she only sees ills about anything to do with 
>India/Indians.
>
>4.   She believes in calling a spade a spade. But the Indians as a 
>people are too sensitive. Unless you are blowing outright trumpet 
>for India and Indians, Indians will take any comment that is not 
>overtly positive as an act of treason against Mother India. Its not 
>Arundhoti Roy but the nation in general that needs a change of 
>attitude to hear criticism about India and evaluate without jingoist 
>attitude.
>
>
>
>
>
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