Dateline Delhi – Slipper Thrown At Arundhadti Roy, Auctioned Off at Jantar Mantar
Sign of the times.
[Text as published in a Delhi newspaper; picture by Mayank Austen Soofi]
When Arundhati Roy visited the Delhi University campus on February 13, 2008, she was greeted with a slipper thrown by the student group Youth Unity for Vibrant Action (YUVA).
The slipper was auctioned for Rs 101, 000 at Jantar Mantar five days later.
“When Arundhati Roy came to our campus, a member named Asif Kumar threw his slipper at her to protest her statement that Kashmir should be given to Pakistan. Her statement is against our national interest,” said Jairam Pandey, national convenor, YUVA.
The slipper was bought by businessman Amitabh Kumar. “I was in Connaught Place for a meeting, when I went for a walk to Jantar Mantar after lunch. There I saw a demonstration by YUVA activists, who were auctioning the slipper,” he said. “I feel she is a traitor to our nation, so despite the steep price, I bought the slipper thrown at her. I am now going to go on eBay and auction it off. Even if I do not recover the money, I do not care, as it was done for the pride of my nation.”
kashmir should be given to pakistan? did she say that? really? i am not much of a political person, and i have no real opinion or solution about the kashmir issue. this lady sure has a lot of guts to say something like that!
she’s just after some publicity…
That’s sad. I am writing a letter to the HT editor to condemn this incident.
She is a bitch…and everybody knows what a bitch really means! Isn’t it ?Her logic on Kashmir is simply bullshit. Why doesn’t she equivocally demand arrest of Terrorists like Yasin Malik and justice for victims of Islamic Terrorism ?– Arun Sharma
Yet Another Booker for Arundhati Roy.. – http://kashmiris-in-exile.blogspot.com/2009/02/yet-another-booker-for-arundhati-roy.html
The Kashmiris wouldnt have come out and voted in large numbers if they want to secede from the Indian state.Roy, in her never-ending quest to be in the limelight, often gets carried away and makes statements without even having any knowledge of what she is talking about.People like Roy and Sanjay Kak, the director of Jasn-e-Azadi are just pseudo-intellecctuals who get a kick out of being in the middle of a controversy.
I may be totally a unpatriotic person to be saying this but I personally think Kashmir has costed too many lives & nothing is more precious than a life. Given a choice between Kashmir & the life of my father/husband/son, I think I will choose the life of a beloved one.
Visit – http://www.kashmiris-in-exile.blogspot.com/
I dunno whats the big deal… has anyone ever heard of something called “FREEDOM OF SPEECH”; she has every right to speak her mind….Tough I certainly don’t agree with her but she has her opinion and I respect that…
To describe how disgraceful this is on so many levels is beyond the scope of this comment. I wonder though how many people have bothered to read what Ms. Roy actually wrote? Or even know what the Kashmir ‘problem’ is all about. All debates in India are getting high jacked by the handful that can shout the loudest. More so in an election year.As Mr. Amartya Sen writes in ‘The Argumentative Indian’ a debate must have two reasonable sides. But in today’s ‘new improved India’ reason is the first casualty in every (ill-informed) public discourse.Seriously, do people believe that an article by Ms. Roy can change the course of Indian politics? If so, then one can only wish more power to her kind.
i agree with anvita. most indians (including me) dont even know what the kashmir problem is all about. there is so much obscurity, so much politicization of the whole issue.
She just wanna to grab some attention by giving such irresponsible statements…If she was pakistani and suggest gifting Kashmir to India, shuerly someone issue FATWA to kill her……
Point proven Rima. Now, compare your point here to the article you commented on Kashmir. Get the point – you were childish to make a point without much academic and political understanding of Kashmir. Arundhati Roy did the right thing!Hope, Rima, you have read Roy’s work and are not on a blabbering binge. Saifullah Ejaz KhanDelhi, India
yaar tumhe samajh nahi aa rahi what i meant to say in the other blog post. i just wanted to say that if something wrong happens it doesnt mean you stop calling india your country. bus bus bus! nothing besides that! 🙁
Bus Bus Bus – writes Rima when confronted with a debate. why comment for the sake of commenting when there is no real background to thought formation? One should stop calling a country their home sake when their country ruins the lives of the majority. Either when should be active and protest atrocity or like youself, sit there and ponder, then go home and forget of the country that is suppose to be your beloved Indian country. Very good.Read above what you wrote: “this lady sure has a lot of guts to say aomething like that!”. “this lady” has guts and surely not a cowardice who whips opinions and does nothing like most people. Hats off to Roy and where were people who shout off opnions during the Narmada ordeal??? Off topic but “this lady” fought for the rights of many people. Rima, i suggest you take up serious history reading than lets talk about things so vast as our country’s political situations. Kashmir being one!To anonymous: “she’s a bitch”. Very intelligent answer chap, where did you study or just like giving cheap comments without explanation of why you think she is a “bitch”. personally speaking, Sufi, you should censor foul language especially when one uses deragotory language. Censorship is free press nowdays, but it is quite cheap. Lest, you enjoy such decriptive things.Prem
now i get criticized for saying that roy has guts? well, hasnt she? it does take a lot of courage to say something like that. so why rag me with that point 🙁i said what i said, not for the sake of commenting, but because thats what i think. i did not say anything bad or disrespectful over here. and did i not accept my weaknesses in the very first comment? but does it mean that i cannot judge a courageous person? does it mean i cannot tell someone that horrible things have happened in the name of religion, but everyone has a right to live in their country no matter what? i stand by what i said over here, and in the other post about kashmir.you have grossly misunderstood me, prem. thats the reason why you are thinking so lowly of me. dont be so harsh. i am taking a little something from you, and i hope you do the same.saifulla eijaz khan, i forgot to clear your doubt. i do read arundhati roy. please do not assume that the only books i am capable of reading are tinkle comics and champak, though they are highly enjoyable when i am feeling particularly nostalgic.
Rima, I am not bashing you off. On the contrary am suggesting you debate and not take a stand in weakness. Rima Rima, light up yaar! It’s just difference of opinion. Prem
ya its a difference of opinion. i dont like debates. i dont like fighting. :(:(good day.
A man has innate and irresponsible desire to judge before he understands…..milan kundera
IMHO………… She does it for publicity to sell her books, Im live in the west, Western scribes quote her only becuase she gives controvercial statements, this then helps her to sell book in Doller/Euro conutries, given teh conversion rate earnings allow her to live a sheltered life of luxary in India while giving lip service to so-called controvercial peace, poverty issues (3rd world poverty sells in west), nuclear issues (without ever talking about denuclearising the west cuz that will upset petriotic book buyers in west), etc.A true champion of the cause is someone pagmatic not radical, no one listens to radicals, except select limited band of terrorising followers….. a change leader has respect of most, if not all, stakeholders……… from my own experience, if I am to go about pushing for a business case or re-organisation of an MNC across Asia for revenue growth or merger, etc, I must have respect from CFO, VP of HR, CEOs of subsidiaries that we bought over, etc and then reorganise…….. same way Mahatma Gandhi was against Britishers but they always engaged with him ……….. 1. people either ignroe harmless radicals (idialistic, only talk, no action, may even do it cuz its cool e.g. to sell books or gain visibility as page 3 socialite) like Arundhati cuz she only talks to sell the book but she does not run any campaign to champion the cause, no rallies, no mobilisation of people, etc.OR2. people fight radical elements fannatically married to their ideas e.g. figting dreaded scourage of radical islam and terrorists Bin LadenOR 3. people engage with pragmatic champions, engage stakeholders, realistic about what they can achieve under given circumstances, gradual change) like Mahatma Gandhi (moving from obtaining native representation in essembly to self-rule under British Dominion to full independence) or like Megha Patkar.I jost hope MAS has crush on her due to her looks not for her idiology, though she is older but I admit she looks yummy ….. or may be her photographer hubby makes her look pretty, an exotic pretty face also helps generate additional book sales revenue.
I may not agree with what you say but i will fight to the death your right to say it.i been a big fan of ms.Roy since i read the god of small things and it further got strengthened after reading The shape of the beast.i would rather prefer to hear the whole story and the reasons behind her saying so and so and only then pass a remarks.reading just one line out of the whole statement can be misleading.