The bravest Delhiwalli.
[Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi]
One afternoon, The Delhi Walla sighted his most beloved Delhiite – author Arundhati Roy. She was at The Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia, near Pragati Maidan, central Delhi.
Ms Roy’s hair had streaks of grey. Her forehead was looking larger than usual. Her skin complexion had gone darker. Her eyes were kohl-lined. Her ear-danglers were of silver. Her black beaded necklace had a red pendant. Her blouse was black. Her brown cotton sari had maroon stripes. She was older, a little less thin, and more beautiful than ever.
Ms Roy’s cheeks were still sucked close to the bones. Her smile – she was occasionally smiling – was still radiant, but also a little sad. That familiar wildness, which I have always sensed around her, had faded. The anarchy in her persona was less loud. The outward impression, however, could not annul the consequence of being Arundhati Roy.
Ms Roy looked like a great man. She had that historic quality, which comes from intense focus on an important subject (Kashmir? Maoists? Adivasis? Justice? Nabokov?). It is certain that one day she would be assassinated.
While walking out of the club, greeting people around her, she did not for a moment break her interior communion. She was entirely governed by her ideas, which were noble. Outside, on a tree-lined lane that skirts Mathura Road, she kept walking straight. I was standing behind a neem tree. After what seemed to be a lifetime, she came very close. Then Ms Roy looked at me, looked away and walked ahead. Like a jazz tune.
Arundhati Roy spotting
Being Arundhati Roy
Stay safe, Ms Roy
“It is certain that one day she would be assassinated”
Taking over the mantle from Paul the psychic octopus, are you?
People are less so interested in Arundhati, the Rakhi Sawant of Pseudo Intellectuals. Paul the psychic Octopus was somehow more coherent.
Vishal,
I am in splits. How the hell did you come up with such an apt one liner for her. It just suits her so well. Rakhi Sawant of Pseudo intellectuals!!!
very well said, Vishal.
MAY GOD / EASHWAR / ALLAH / YEHUDA.. .KEEP ARUNDHATI SAFE… from evil eye… from Babu Bajrangis… and their financiers… and political masters like Modi and Togadia. Ironically RSS/BJP/ VHP / Bajrang Dal (Criminal mafia gangs… and infact RSS is the world’s largest terrorist organisations… the real face of RSS will emerge… sooner than later)… Jo chhup rahegi., zubaan-e-khanjar… Lahoo pukaarega.. aasteen kaa (Golwalkar ki aasteen kaa).
Hang Arundhati Roy… but give Bharat Ratna to Babu Bajrangi, Narendra Modi, DG Vanzara, Purohit, Pragya., Togadia.. Hunh !
Hate Speech : What Arundhati roy has said is “sedition”… and what has Bal thackerey been saying over the years… the provocations… the attack on the Idea of India… and spitting on the face of Constitution of the Republic of India ! What about Bal Thackerey… his acts… his words… and Praveen Togadia ?
First arrest Bal., Togadia., and after that we shall talk about Arundhati.
MAYANK : You must use the full force and pen-power to write an article… in support of Arundhati. Arundhati Roy is the FINEST Indian… she speaks out of love and pride for the IDEA of India… which is more sacred than a bloody map on paper. You must dig into the History of J&K… you must dig into 400 amendments that have been made to the Constitution of India…. we have had 400 amendments … then why not just one more… maybe J&K could revert back to the pre-1953 position… or let us have SOME arrangement… where there is some sense of equity… and social justice for Jammu-ites… Kashmiris… Laddkh-ites… all are OURS… and they are aggreived. We must remove the tears from their eyes… and ensure good governance. That is the underlying THOUGHT of her speech.
Read her full speech.. take a cup of tea… and you must write YOUR best writing.. in favour of Arundhati. Arundhati is the conscience keeper of the IDEA of India… She is not just a human being anymore… she represents… she stands for the IDEA of India… she has become immortal.
Just as Narendra Modi stands for killing and raping….. and burning… and declaring it as a virtue under the garb of “ASMITA”., Arundhati Roy is India’s finest daughter… and a true inheritor / representive of the IDEA OF INDIA.
Jai Insaaf – Jai Manavtaa
Jai Hind.
Dronacharya, you are Arundhati are morons in equal measures
http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4504093
Go ahead, write about your nonsensical stuff and in the process end up becoming laughing stock with no fan following (even for the non political stuff you may write)
Maharaja Hari Singh merged J&K with India, end of story.
Lovely. I love Arundhati Roy!! She has the courage to speak her mind, whether sense or nonsense….For so many years now politicians have been exhorting people to violence but no steps have been taken against them and THEY WANT TO CATCH ARUNDHATI ROY!!! Grow up India, Open your eyes.