City Sighting – Arundhati Roy, Pragati Maidan
Delhi’s principal mischief-maker.
[Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi]
One evening, The Delhi Walla sighted his most beloved Delhiite – author Arundhati Roy. She was in hall number 11, Pragati Maidan, a sprawling complex in central Delhi that was hosting the 20th New Delhi World Book Fair.
People crowded around The Offender of Small Minds. Everyone looked a little wary of her.
Ms Roy had arrived to launch the Hindi translations of her three books. Broken Republic, which is Aahat Desh. Walking With the Comrades, meaning Bhoomkal: Comradeon ke Saath. Listening to Grasshoppers, or Kathgare Mein Loktantra.
The autograph seekers surrounded Ms Roy. She seemed Untouchable.
Her black eyes shone behind her black-rimmed glasses.
One woman whispered to her, “I love you.”
Sitting on a chair, Ms Roy started to talk about Dangerous and Complicated Things. Her arms moved with her arguments.
As if She was Her Arms.
While signing copies of her books, Delhi’s principal mischief-maker folded her smile into a rose and held it out in the palm of her hand. Her readers took a petal each. They put it in their hair.
Half an hour later she disengaged herself gently.
“I have to go.”
I watched her leave.
Arundhati Roy sighting
Now in Hindi
Her shining eyes
All of Her = Her Smile
“I love you”
‘Why We Love To hate Ms Roy’, an article in Outlook magazine
‘Why We Love To hate Ms Roy’, an article in Outlook magazine
‘Why We Love To hate Ms Roy’, an article in Outlook magazine
‘Why We Love To hate Ms Roy’, an article in Outlook magazine
Delhi’s principal mischief-maker
The autograph seekers
Memento
For?
For Varun
Get her
Her hands
Her mind
Shocking pink
Arundhati Roy
lovely pictures wish Rou success in the Hindi translations of her books, she deserves every bit of it.
Short and cute write up! Very crisp and to the point and yet this article will make you sit up and think! God Job Mayank.. No wonder you are the biggest fan of Ms Roy….
I was there,yeah! I visit Book Fair primarily for Urdu and Hindi books( the ones you don’t get in most bookstores)and English Classics. I believe Muzaffar Ali and Tasleema Nasreen too visited the book fair ( 27th February). Gulzar’s session has been slated for the 4th of March.
funny to see a pinko-commie wearing pink lululemon halter 🙂
hahahaha
Pragati, with an A. I realise it’s Hindi and not English, so there’s no obviously correct or incorrect spelling, but traditionally and officially, it’s spelt Pragati.
Corrected. Thanks.
“The Offender of Smile Mind” … bhai yo ke chaap diya …
She prides herself in offering alternative view (mostly singular, and not balanced, often without offering any pragmatic solution that factors in all stakeholders). I commend the effort made to raise the voice for the marginalized but solutions cant be “utopian” paddled by the “poverty porn stars”. isnt it paradoxical to all people small minded who may disagree with a person who prides herself in offering alternative view while (mis)using (its subjective) freedom of expression. Jai Ho 😀