A lot of people today are questioning who Arundhati Roy is and why is she writing against Jan-Lokpal bill, more importantly against Sri Anna Hazare. Some people have even asked about her past writings on various issues ranging from but not limited to separatist movement in Kashmir, Maoist rebellion in central India and a 10 year long fast by Irom Sharmila in Manipur against AFSPA. In almost all instances, Ms. Roy has blatantly supported the struggle of the rebels against the government, thereby causing many to believe today that she is just another Indian writer who is trying to paint a sorry picture of our GREAT DYNASTY to the outer world, where her writings are relatively more popular. I do not disagree. She does gives a horrid account of several tragedies that unfold in the dark-lands of 'shining' India. Who the hell is bothered if few women get raped in jungles of Dantakaranya or few innocent tribals are shot in Imphal Valley of Malom simply based on suspicion by army, when the entire nation is crippled with a far more menacing problem of corruption. And today, when this nation has come together, perhaps for the first time since independence, against corruption to uproot this monster from the society, forever and ever, she has launched an attack against this sacred union. I do not think she has. She has clearly expressed her solidarity with Sri Hazare in her recent article, albeit silently, where she points out that the Government version of Lokpal is "so flawed that it was impossible to take seriously." But that is not the issue with her writing. The issue is that she has dared to question the methodology adopted by Sri Hazare to launch this crusade. She has questioned the unflinching support offered to him by people from all strata of society including the Youth of India. She has questioned the faith vested in Lokpal by Sri Hazare and millions other even before its formation. Moreover, she has questioned the people that why such support and faith has never been extended to maoists so that no one gets killed or raped by Salwa Judum, to Irom Sharmila so that the peaceful Manipuris can be spared from the atrocities of an otherwise decorated Indian Army, to awaam of Kashmir who want some respite from the sounds of AK47's on an otherwise paradise on earth.
The answer is that there are no answers Ms. Roy. Ye India ki public hai. Agar chahe to aapko 'Saint' bana sakti hai aur na chahe to 'naxalite'.
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