Hari Kunzru

Dear Mr Kunzru,

The reason I am writing over here is just to let you know , how Kashmiri Pandit writers and intellectuals have let their own down.

Compare it with Kashmiri Muslim community , where many have joined journalism and are writing mostly for their cause. The cause which lead to complete exile of 7 lac Kashmiri pandits from their home of centuries.

Be it Basharat Peer , who wrote a now much acclaimed book , or be it Mr Mirza Wahedd who has just released "The Collaborator".

Not that Kashmiri Pandits can not write , but most of those who can pretend or if I may say portray to be 'liberals' , the latest example is of some Nitasha Kaul who in Jaipur Literature Festival said the Kashmir has no connection with India and even its temples have architecture of central Asia.

Nothing could have been more stupid than the above statement , had Nitasha read something different than the literature forwarded to her by people seeking separatism of Kashmir from India. And not to forget , Nitasha as per information available has never lived in Kashmir.

Mr Kunzru , you are a God gifted writer , do you ever feel that you are 'obliged' to contribute something to 'your own' community cause . You may not have to be reminded that even your fore fathers may have left Kashmir under the similar situation , because of an Islamist onslaught.

Would you be Basharat Peer of Pandit community ? I doubt , knowing very well how poor that idea is for 'liberalism' and commercially .

But I hope you may , if not for the community , but maybe for as a tribute to your fore fathers.

Thanks

Living In Exile - 23 Year .
Zuv Chum Bramaan Ghara Gacha

Kashmir would be left to flounder. After going to J&K, try stepping a little further into PoK. It is called Azad Kashmir across the border. See how azaad they are; that's where they park hijacked planes. Besides, ethnically you will have another genocide on your hands: the death of Kashmiri culture, the sufi traditions and Hindu landmarks. All at one go. Besides the fact that all hope of rehabilitating 300,000+ Kashmiri Pandits displaced in the 1980s. Which brings us to the question of plebiscite: can you evict an entire section of society and then conduct elections? Worst form of ballot fixing I could think of.

Speaking for unheard is understandable but speaking for unheard without understanding is unacceptable. Ms Roy in a solitary visit to the Valley seems to have understood the problem far better and clearer than all those who have been in the thick and thin for last twenty years since the problem began...Good to express urself but not by hurting the sensitivity of others..Ms Roy needs to be at the bottom of the problem rather than trying to increase her fan club..(on the net of course...)

Hari
Thank you for having the courage to publicise the case of Arundhati Roy.

I wish to add my solidarity with Ms Roy.

John Pinto

May Allah protect you from Sinners and Give You Courage to Speak and Write Truth. Give you Strength to Fight for Innocent and Justice, to Fight Against Brutality.

All Kashmiri's Are With You.

God blesses, keeps and protects His heroes, heroines, freedom fighters and writers. You have made millions of friends Arundhati who will stand up for you. I will be among them. We are watching.

Just goes to show what a load of bunk democracy is.

If you love your liberty, support the right of people who too want one.

She'll be attacked by packs of hyenas now.

what u indians need to realise that kashmiries dont want you!!! get the hell out of peoples homes and lands,stop forcing your selves on a people and land that does not want you!!!!have u people no shame!,would u want a stranger to come in your house uninvited without authority?how would u feel!!!?these people have made there desision hundreds of years ago!leave them alone!!!
the stensh that u india is tasting in the back of your mouthes is the stensh of your own hypocisy
terrosism! people r not stupid any more blowing up your own people to justify occupation(some attacks r real) does not work anymore, you cannot save a failing identety
by violence to others and indias failing identety is self inflicted brouht on by its own hands your so called economic boom is a distraction for u ,we r waiting

This is Arundhati!

She walks the talk. She donated her Booker-money to protect the interest of the poor, and all the proceedings from the sales of her book.

What does one expect from a generous person like her?

Here is a living 'Gandhi' in different south Africa.

Hat's off to you, good lady! Honor belongs to you.

Brave Arundhati Roy.
Courageous Arundhati Roy.
Amazing Arundhati Roy.
If only everyone else shared her sincerity and strength things would be much better.
Everyday Arundhati Roy ask India to look into a mirror.
So far India refuses.
Someday she will and she will be a greater nation for it.

These gov't actions are coming to America soon. This is all about limiting Free Speech. After all, censorship is everywhere. The gov’t (and their big business cronies) censor free speech, shut down dissent and ban the book “America Deceived II”. Free speech for all.
Last link (before Google Books bans it also]:
http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000190526
America Deceived II (book)

Ms. Roy deserves kudos for her courage to speak the truth to power while a retinue of islamophobes sing in unison the joys of indian state terrorism in kashmir as if they were a paid church choir.

Ms. Roy deserves kudos for her courage to speak to power while a bunch of cowards hide behind the terrorist Indian state to flap their jaws in unison like paid choir boys.

I am in the UK... the great majority of people in Britain were against the invasions of Iraq and Afghanista. Did the politicians listen to the people? NO!

The politicians work for the benefit of the rich and powerful, not the ordinary people. The politicians of all stripes are lying to you, in America, China, Russia, India, Europe and all around the world.

If you trust the politicians, the bankers or the mainstream news then you need to see a head doctor. Most people now are no better than donkeys running after carrots. All their promises are lies... if we want a better world, then we must do it ourselves.

Peace and love!

It would seem that justice for the people of Kashmir and the nationalists ambitions of the Idian State are incompatable to the point where if one succeeds the other must disapear. But we know, of course, the State is never interested in Justice, except as a ruse to mask its ambition. The poor people of Kashmir may never know justice, their needs never met until their is a change of heart in those who run the Indian State. It has long been clear that it is within the power of India to meet the real needs of the people of Kashmir, to show that it cares about their suffering and fate, to use the means of the state to up-lift the 'poorest of the poor'. This it has not done. India needs a change in heart.

Gee, I guess at least one (anonymous) commenter doesn't appear to agree with what Ms Roy has to say.

That obviously makes her a "terrorist" so you and your brave patriot friends have every right now to round her up for a "manicure". Better yet, why not take turns showing what a real man is like?

A disgusted Canadian

The contrasts in India are huge. There is massive poverty but it is our biggest market for our most expensive contemporary radiators range. I should imagine most kids on the street have never seen inside some of these hotels.

To all the detractors here (who all sound like the same commenter to me!), vilifying Ms Roy. You don't seem to realise that you are arguing for your own demise in the long run! Nothing she has said would raise a murmur in a fair and just society.

Please remember that if Gandhiji was still alive, he would be standing firmly at her side, in full support of her position.

Perhaps you could enlighten your hate-filled selves by carefully studying the relationship between Nehru, Jinnah and the Rothschilds bank back in the lead up to 1947...?

India enjoying impunity due to friendly American media, the biggest genocide in recent times where 10000 Muslims were killed and a million displaced internally happened in 2002 in the Indian state of the Hindu-Nazi party ruled Gujarat. The cheif minister of that state was denied visa by teh secretary of state Condolizza Rice for his involvement in this genocide, when he was planning to attend the so called "conferece" by the Hindu motel owners in America who support the genocide of Muslims in India.This genocide went unreported in America and we were made to watch the crazy jungle dance of so called Bollywood (Cheap Imitation of Hollywood).

The atrocities being perpetrated in Kashmir by the occupying Indian army are well known in all parts of the world except USA where the media hugely favors India or has outsourced its operations to India.

India enjoying impunity due to friendly American media, the biggest genocide in recent times where 10000 Muslims were killed and a million displaced internally happened in 2002 in the Indian state of the Hindu-Nazi party ruled Gujarat. The cheif minister of that state was denied visa by teh secretary of state Condolizza Rice for his involvement in this genocide, when he was planning to attend the so called "conferece" by the Hindu motel owners in America who support the genocide of Muslims in India.This genocide went unreported in America and we were made to watch the crazy jungle dance of so called Bollywood (Cheap Imitation of Hollywood).

The atrocities being perpetrated in Kashmir by the occupying Indian army are well known in all parts of the world except USA where the media hugely favors India or has outsourced its operations to India.

India enjoying impunity due to friendly American media, the biggest genocide in recent times where 10000 Muslims were killed and a million displaced internally happened in 2002 in the Indian state of the Hindu-Nazi party ruled Gujarat. The cheif minister of that state was denied visa by teh secretary of state Condolizza Rice for his involvement in this genocide, when he was planning to attend the so called "conferece" by the Hindu motel owners in America who support the genocide of Muslims in India.This genocide went unreported in America and we were made to watch the crazy jungle dance of so called Bollywood (Cheap Imitation of Hollywood).

The atrocities being perpetrated in Kashmir by the occupying Indian army are well known in all parts of the world except USA where the media hugely favors India or has outsourced its operations to India.

The statements of the supporters of state terrorism above notwithstanding, many people in the US agree with her as we watch our own government murder, rape and rob in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Much of the world's "terrorism" stems from the US Empire's inability to commit crimes against humanity wherever they go.

Obama is coming to India next week to hobnob with India's cool kids. America apologizes in advance for the havoc he will cause with regard to Mumbai's traffic.

You people who wrote against Roy here acctually programmed by your education, family, society, and government.... where u never know or teach the meaning of FREEDOM. Practice or respect for another humans freedom is faar away from your dream...........U dont know ........u just dont know.....& also u forget what whole subcontinent done for FREEDOM in British coloneal time........read ......read.....and please read.....more...

You people who wrote against Roy here acctually programmed by your education, family, society, and government.... where u never know or teach the meaning of FREEDOM. Practice or respect for another humans freedom is faar away from your dream...........U dont know ........u just dont know.....& also u forget what whole subcontinent done for FREEDOM in British coloneal time........read ......read.....and please read.....more...

How can India move forward when the poorest and most vulnerable are still treated with disregard and contempt and deprived of the most basic human rights!!

Pseudo- activists of human rights like Arundhati roy have always gone to the lowest of levels to gain attention! Does she even understand wat she is saying! Does she want Kashmir to be chucked of India to be vulnerable, unsafe country to be captured by terrorits (What else did u expect Ms Roy! Or are u getting paid to say this?) People like Arundhati butchered our country in 1947, have caused so many riots and tensions since then within the country! It is a Big Shame to see such people call themselves writers when they are worse than those doing yellow journalism! She should aplogize to the nation that gives her liberty as a woman to do wat she feels like nd say what she feels like! If only such people spent more time in real world and less in page 3 parties!

Arundhati Roy and such pseudo-activists of human rights have always gone to the lowest levels to get attention! What does she expect? Does she want Kashmir to be chucked out of our country! To be alone, unsafe and soon to be captured by terrorists (what else will happen Ms Roy!) Wher will she be then to protect them? Attending some page 3 party nd making cheap statements like these? Flapping her mouth to say such things can cause destruction of Kashmir! People like Roy butchered our nation in 1947, and are slyly and cunningly spreading terrorism- Yes to say such things is the elitist way of spreading terrorism! She should be ashamed of herself- that would not be enough ofcourse!

That conference happened in Delhi and not Srinagar. Please make the correction.

All this was a tactic to garnish some attention from the international media and unfortunately she has got what she had set to do. Nobody is talking about the interlocutors who have been sent to Kashmir to have a dialogue with the people there. Anti-Nationalistic sentiments must be the 'in' thing. She is refusing to talk to Indian media and i hear her interview with Guardian is to be aired tomorrow. Why this bias?? Is it because they are more aware of the ground realities and her intentions??
Please let this be known that she doesn't speak for the people of India as she had intended to sound through her statement.

Seeing communists whole my life closely, one thing they should learn is to learn to negotiate and search for happiness instead of fighting for every thing and any thing.

You Dont have to create a revolution for everything and anything. The same communists who fight for minorities and rights, when given power become dictators, corrupt and control the individual freedoms of people.

Arundati roy, at this juncture - we need someone who can negotiate and get us together.

India has a problems - Arundati roy, b dutt, congress, bjp, rss, seva dals of congress, communists, naxalites 1000 religions, 1000 castes, 1 crore gods, religious fanatics and forceful converters, kashmir, punjab, arunachal, assam, telangana, tamil nation and 400 languages and more dialects. So the list doesnt end. You can have a 1000 palastines or 1 India that can live together inspite of all differences.

Yes, I agree military rule should come to an end in kashmir - but that can happen through negotiations and in phases. People like you create more harm than good by taking back the negotiation to zero. You already have enough name - you dont need more, if you crave for more - someone help.

Whom Arundhati Roy is pitying upon the nation who has given her the status she enjoys nationally & internationally. She at the cost of national interest is trying to garnish cheap international publicity and has in turn lost all respect she had garnered from her very own (not any more) countrymen. To whom is she referring to communal killers (The likes Geelanis who are responsible for exodus and killings if Kashmiri Pandits from the valley), rapists(The likes of Yasin Maliks who are responsible of raping Kashmiri Pandit's mothers & daughters and also the mass murderers of our own Indian Defense/Security Forces),the looters who looted the property of Kashmiri Pandits and are occupying their properties and still roaming free.She have been awarded Booker award for her contribution in the field of literary and now she must be branded as anti-national for enciting separatism. Let good sense prevail upon her.

Atleast thats the gist that i get from her doings ... Was in awe n shock after her every statement ... she has the ability to thrill me with her seduction and sessionism, at the end of the day its misusing of rights while conviniently forgeting the duties. Freedom of speech yes I oblige and can quote from a million ppl but where is the quotes from your duties.. tucked down under ur royalties (of the books u sell/?) http://virup.wordpress.com

That's it, Ms. Roy ????

is she a investing body of country..certainly not ...then how can she every time blame security personal for charges of rape...she did in case of naxalism..blaming security personals 4 rape..i think she is raping democracy.....if she wants western media's attention or nobel peace prize there are other ways.... i knw people who r social activist & doing better work than her with silence & won hearts of people..& they dnt want cheap publicity like u nor they r hungry 4 awards nor ..attention & r better sympathiser ....!! my father always says dnt b problem 4 country ,it's peoples be a solution ...i dnt knw when intellectuals like u will understand ...

I was in Srinagar this year in the month of June, juts before things got real bad.

All people who are showing support against Ms. Roy, first go there to understand what you're dealing with. Nobody speaks in Srinagar because they're living in fear.

There's army deployment at every corner. Every 15-25 feet there's an army personnel with a gun ready to go on both sides of a road.

Hotels have barbed wire to protect them. Nobody is on the road after dark.

It's a very very scary space where people have been wronged in the name of politics and region.

There are army convoys that pass through every day in addition to another convoy that consists only of army police, state police, and all other forces that are equipped with guns.

Every 5th vehicle will have a gunman keeping vigil ready to shoot, just like that.

It's easy to say this and that here, really people take a moment to think how you can even live in a place like that.

The government has nothing to say about money swindlers, does condemning Biharis or Up'ite's those raping people, incompetent cops and ministers, those plundering our natural resources, and this list is endless, and nobody cares.

Nabanita == http://www.phototamasha.com/blogs/

what does arundhati think? would the freedom-so called azadi-be the only way of insaaf-justice ? will all these people crazed with grief and anger get the insaaf-justice- by making themselves free from India? or by getting the so called 'AZADI'????? which love and pride she is talking about?? society she has never put up in,nation that has never existed for her.aag lagane ke bad bahut pyar nazar aa raha h...

Madam Roy,

Do You mean to say that

What what ever Indian government doing in Kashmir is all wrong ?.
You have understood everything about Kashmir in just one visit.
Indian government is killing people, raping women in Kashmir ?
Giving up Kashmir will solve terrorism ?

You are clever Lady and why are u not understanding ? What has happened to you ?

You are talking on behalf of ememy nation ! You have mis utilised freedom of speech.

Whay cannot you be tried for charges of sedition ??????

Funny how she conveniently forgot about the atrocities metted out by China and Pakistan...the real cause behind the mess in Kashmir..The easiest-and stupidest way to gain sudden attention...is to give sensational statements...really stupid..who the heck does she think she is? justice league?

The three commenters above should remember that old Voltaire (or was it Tallenter) quip: "I hate what you say, but with defend to the death your right to say it." You may disagree with Ms Roy's position on Kashmir, but she must not be imprisoned or fine for the act of speaking.

This is Democracy 101, people.

Robert http://www.robertsharp.co.uk

Use your freedom of speech mam..but when would not be any nation left..where would you use this??guess pakistan or your brothers in arms china..only way to prevent these publicity mongers from thriving on our sensitivities..is to avoid and ignore..

Mrs.Roy you are one of the most shameless publicity monger i have ever seen or heard about. Your ability to gain brownie points among white human rights hypocrites with sensitive topics is quite remarkable. Your wish of seeing innocent Kashmiri's becoming pawns in the hands of Pakistan and China is commendable. I am afraid, your breed of creatures is extinct in most countries and only place your great old tribe can survive is our beautiful friendly country which you can feel welcome to exploit any day.
"COMRADES OF THE WORLD UNITE AND STRIKE AGAINST THE NATION OF INDIA, EQUATE IT WITH IMPERIALISTS AND KEEP OUR TUMMY FILLED WITH ITS FREEDOM OF SPEECH BULLS$#T.. "