Some people wonder why I am "obsessed" or "criticize" or "am against" Ms Arundhati Roy.
I have always found her manner of putting things across impressive, as well as incisive, and do not agree to some people's opinion that she is a bad writer. She has a terrific & powerful command over words & language. The fact is, she knows what she is saying.
In the framework of our judicial system, she had specifically referred to in the precise context of Afzal Guru, whom she claims is denied adequate justice by the Indian Judicial System.
I agree that there are flaws in our judicial system, but which judicial system is "Perfect"?
We have had an example where even a former Prime Minister had to go to jail. Compare it with the system in USA where a former President, who had misused his office & had to unceremoniously resign, was "Pardoned" by his successor!
Realities are acknowledged and understood, in Kashmir, Punjab, Assam, Tamil Nadu, & the Seven Sisters. But mindless violence is not the way out. And extreme versions of Maoist philosophy are found in almost every country, the 'Shining Path' being a classic example. But it failed, due to certain socio-economic-political policies adopted by the government of that country. Yes, I agree with you that we need to do more.
But are we given a chance, when govt. buildings, schools, railway tracks, etc are being blasted? No country wants to fight against it’s own people! What do you expect the security to do when acts of sedition and anti-state violence are perpetuated by people who are politically, ideologically, economically, strategically & militarily supported, explicitly, & / or clandestinely by certain nations & people like Ms Roy (& a few others) to dismantle the Indian Union? Remember the famous public statement of a certain leader from one of our neighbouring countries of "bleeding India through a thousand cuts"?
Being right to the center is not being “nuts”. As there are people who belong to the left to the centre, so are there who belong to the right to the centre. And no one is “nuts”. They have their versions and opinions, and are entitled to them. Show me one person who is a perfect centrist. Opposing extreme leftism does not mean that you belong to the “right”. The “centrist” people & parties have criticized Arundhati Roy too, and they certainly are not “right wing nuts”. Indian Democracy is mature enough to absorb all their views. But at times the views become too extreme to be ignored.
Samuel Johnson had once famously sayd, "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel"
If patriotism had always been the last refuge of the scoundrel, then people like Abe Lincoln are the greatest scoundrels. Remember, Abe Lincoln took a firm stand from his country being split up! Was he a patriot or a scoundrel?
Were Gandhiji, Subhash Babu, Lokmanya Tilak, Bhagat Singh, et al scoundrels?
All sayd and done, Arundhati Roy, who criticizes “nationalism” & “patriotism”, still, writes her nationality as “Indian”.
If patriotism had always been the last refuge of the scoundrel, then people like Abe Lincoln are the greatest scoundrels. Remember, Abe Lincoln took a firm stand from his country being split up! Was he a patriot or a scoundrel?
Were Gandhiji, Subhash Babu, Lokmanya Tilak, Bhagat Singh, et al scoundrels?
All sayd and done, Arundhati Roy, who criticizes “nationalism” & “patriotism”, still, writes her nationality as “Indian”.