The Algebra of Arundhati’s Injudiciousness

Arundhati and Farzana in one column !

Wow, this could be fun!

OK. I will keep my mouth shut. There are far too many middle-aged indian men shrieking at indian women for saying this or that. I am really, really sick of that.

Nothing that Arundhati or Farzana can write (?wrong?) can compare to that kind of society-approved bullying.

Best wishes to both.

Manto: Sorry to hear about Wali Khan. Was he related to David also?

`I see that one Mannyd trying to be funny again...

He reminds me of the ``Black Knight`` - you know from the Monty Python fame:`

Yes I reminded you of playing the black knight in your fights with Sadhna. Oh you are such a sophist, just like Jinnah. How is the temple construction in Pakistan going on?

Ladies and gentlemen,

I have some bad news. A very complex and controversial figure- whose historical role and flip flops I have profound disagreements but who nonetheless deserves credit for his support of Fatima Jinnah in her courageous campaign against the Military in 1965 and his role in the making of the Pakistani Constitution of 1973- has gone into coma.

Let us take a moment to pray for Wali Khan.

As for Arundhati Roy, the Akademi will likely hold the award for her till the time she is willing to accept it. No big deal.

India was primarily a agrarian society(80%) and literacy was in the 30%s. We had 22 languages (at the minimum) that we had to preserve and grow the literary tradition of. Can anyone suggest some other way apart from a government sponsored institution functioning autonomously?

btw, recently the Akademi exhibited literature in tribal languages. Someday when we are rich and fully literate and everyone reads and buys books enough to sustain 22+ languages` literary traditions, we will not need Sahitya Akademi. Until then, bully for them.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200601110314.htm
``
New Delhi, Jan 11 Books in eight tribal languages were the cynosure of all eyes as the annual Sahitya Akademi exhibition began here today showcasing nearly 3,000 titles in 22 recognised Indian languages.

The bilingual books, which carry their English translation alongside, in Bodo, Bharthari, Garo, Hmar, Khasi, Kokborok, Mizo and Rabha were published as a part of Akademi`s `Tribal Literature and Oral Tradition` project.

The other attractions in the exhibition include the mammoth volumes of `Encyclopedia on Indian Literature` (six volumes), the three-volume `English Writings of Tagore` and `History of Indian Literature`.

The exhibition also showcases books in Kashmiri, Dogri, Maithili, Sindhi and Nepali apart from writings for children and Akademi magazines.

The exhibition, which also provides with video films on 60 Indian writers, was inaugurated by Union Culture Minister S Jaipal Reddy who said that government ``does not intend to interfere in the matters of institution like Sahitya Akademi``.

``Institutions like Akademi flourish under an atmosphere of freedom and personally, I don`t believe in disturbing that equilibrium.``

He said technology cannot substitute reading and ``no intellectual were made by technology but reading``.

Akademi Secretary and noted Malayalam poet K Sachidanandan said that the mandate of Akademi, which ``publishes a book in every 30 hours``, was to make available ``good books at a reasonable price``.

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saminasha there is a method in this madness of Roy.

(a) She rejects an from the Academi in the name of govt award
(b ) she expects to be pilloried for this
(c) she bleats that she is being hounded and oppressed (tell me whats else can the trendy lefties do but bleat)
(d) she gains more column inches in thewest which is lapped up
(e) she is the winner financially through this.
(f) she can then accept more awards fromt he west (fly yo sydney, paris et al).

Some this MO is also used on chowk with a few variations.

maybe if she gets awarded the Padma Vibhusan or Bharat ratna she will accept it.

Yep. It was set up by them.

But it is not run by them.

I am sure you will realise the difference. But then you are so close to the necon position coming in from the left that you......

if you see the organisation chart tell me where do you see the govt coming in.....

ofcourse people like yourself will always want to see consipiracies et all everywhere. Thatis why queenie said what she said about you.

Tin Pot,

What does this say?

``The Sahitya Akademi was set up by the Government of India to foster and coordinate literary activities in all the Indian languages and to promote through them the cultural unity of India.
The Akademi was formally launched by the Government of India on March 12, 1954. It was registered as a society on January 7, 1956 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.``

http://www.sahitya-akademi.org/sahitya-akademi/org1.htm

she can accept the award from the french govt but not from the Shaitya academy. Maybe the members of the academy need to get french sounding names and get bleached ala M. jackson

French award conferred on Arundhati Roy


By Anita Joshua

NEW DELHI, APRIL 26. It was the last thing the celebrated Booker Prize-winning author Ms. Arundhati Roy expected when she walked into the French Ambassador`s residence here this evening to be conferred a high French honour: Chevalier des Arts et des Letters - Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters. After all, globalisation is what she`s been fighting against ever since she threw in her lot with ``Narmada Bachao Andolan``.

Mr. Bernard de Montferrand, the French Ambassador, introduced her as ``the best example of what I would call good globalisation``. When he went on to elaborate that ``good globalisation is one that enables us to reach the universal through cultural diversity``, Ms. Roy could be heard saying ``no, no``.

In her acceptance speech, the author of God of Small Things gave the gathering a sample of her wry humour when she quipped: ``It is not often that a writer gets recognised by the French Government and the Supreme Court of India in the same week.`` Said in reference to the Supreme Court`s recent observations on her response to contempt proceedings against her and others in the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) case, she articulated the hope that neither would dictate ``what I write, how I write, and when I write``.

Though the presentation of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres was a literary event, Ms. Roy`s identity as an NBA activist was something that could not be kept away from even the Ambassador`s speech. Acknowledging the fact that her commitment to public life was inseparable from her work, Mr. Montferrand commented that ``this altruism from the part of a committed writer testifies to your great generosity``.

Again this was a qualification which India`s first recipient of the coveted Booker refused to wear. Shrugging it off, she sought to impress upon the gathering - which included several members of Delhi`s literary circles, including her publisher and the much-in-the-news Tehelka man, Mr. Tarun Tejpal - that she had her own selfish reasons for supporting the poor displaced people of the Narmada Valley. ``I am not fighting for any altruistic reasons,`` she asserted.

With Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres pinned on to her sari, Ms. Roy today joined the small family of Indians who have been honoured by the French Government with this award that is given to ``persons who have distinguished themselves by their creativity in the field of art, culture and literature or for their contribution to the influence of the arts in France and throughout the world``.


According to the Ambassador, Ms. Roy qualifies for the award on both counts. For in the words of the legendary General de Gaulle, as quoted by the Ambassador, ``any writer who writes well serves his country``. Then there was the universal appeal of her story which brought her not just the award but the badge of being ``the best example of good globalisation``.