Humble and politeness in her views are such that it feels like being in agreement with her even if you disagree. Her artistic way of presenting her mind makes already subtle approach more profound. Clarity in her words is such that the complexity of the issue becomes issueless and solution comes to mind on its own.
She minces no words when she say Kashmiris be given Azadi and is clear in her mind and thoughts when she criticises the system. And doesn't complain when others criticise her, she has taken it in her stride, but she is happy, at least it made others think of it.
It was for the first time I saw and heard her speaking, live, alive. When asked by a gentleman," What kind of govt you idealise when you criticise the every nook of the system? Do you think that after observing the shortcomings of all major governing systems, should not we try the divine system of governance revealed by Christ or Mohammad?", she wittingly said, "See, the problem with the govt, any govt, is in my DNA." She added, "History is witness to every kind of govt and all have more or less suppressed those who contradict them, either be it Christian, Islamic, Hindu or Capitalists, Communists."
While addressing the students of Jamia Millia Islamia, an obiter dictum by her goes as, "Every time I'm aloud with criticism of the system I'm prepared to go jail. It’s not my aim to be put behind bars but when I resolve to speak, I speak, whatever be the sufferings".
An anguished jingoist said, "You are a public figure, why did you say Kashmir be given independence?" She replied, "The moment you hinder my freedom of expression the writer in me will be dead." Then she politely narrated the story of Kashmir and Kashmiris plight under this highly militarilised part of the world to enforce her views.
She had her concerns genuine. Being Indian one naturally supports the Indian govt but we have to support the democracy too, true and unbiased democracy.
She was not happy with the media either and was as critical of the media as that of system. She was of the opinion that media has been corporatised which prevents it from being unbiased. She pointed that they find fault with every nook of the govt functioning rightly but they do not carry any news about the suffering of oppressed due to these corporates, directly or indirectly. Example she cited, with which others speakers unanimously agreed, was that of Chhattisgarh, where approx 25% of world's bauxite reserve is found, and has been more or less corporatised and the tribals, the owners of that land, has been kept in camps in 'protection' of the Govt supported private militia, Salwa Judum, to save from Maoist’s alleged atrocities.
On the Supreme Court, highest judicial authority in India, she said, "Supreme court is my favourite institution". She critically added that everything in this country is being run by Supreme Court, be it "where to dump the garbage, what to do with the reservation system and how to run our education machinery, which film should be screened, who did not stand up while national anthem was being read". Next in line was Supreme Court’s judgment, by Hon'ble Chief Justice itself, that the Judges don't come under the purview of RTI act. "Strange. More strange, stupid also, when we've recently witnessed the Judges scam. Money laundering, this time by Judges, not by netas."
She was not happy with the media either and was as critical of the media as that of system. She was of the opinion that media has been corporatised which prevents it from being unbiased. She pointed that they find fault with every nook of the govt functioning rightly but they do not carry any news about the suffering of oppressed due to these corporates, directly or indirectly. Example she cited, with which others speakers unanimously agreed, was that of Chhattisgarh, where approx 25% of world's bauxite reserve is found, and has been more or less corporatised and the tribals, the owners of that land, has been kept in camps in 'protection' of the Govt supported private militia, Salwa Judum, to save from Maoist’s alleged atrocities.
On the Supreme Court, highest judicial authority in India, she said, "Supreme court is my favourite institution". She critically added that everything in this country is being run by Supreme Court, be it "where to dump the garbage, what to do with the reservation system and how to run our education machinery, which film should be screened, who did not stand up while national anthem was being read". Next in line was Supreme Court’s judgment, by Hon'ble Chief Justice itself, that the Judges don't come under the purview of RTI act. "Strange. More strange, stupid also, when we've recently witnessed the Judges scam. Money laundering, this time by Judges, not by netas."
Strange are the ways the Indian democracy function and it looks more strange when Arundhati puts her point, wearing beautiful smile on the glowing face, covered by greyish black hairs, perhaps dyed, perhaps not, but it seems nature has contrived to fade her hairs haphazardly to make it more simplistically beautiful, perhaps mourning the oppressed.
