The Shape of the Beast

I read part of Arundhati Roy's new book ( a collection of interviews from the past few years, some of which I've already read) in Delhi and was quite affected. One can see the progression in her activism and analysis. First she was actively involved in a particular struggle (the Narmada dams). She puts the defeat of the struggle especially in the Supreme Court in the following perspective: that non-violent peoples' movements, (not just this one) are being comprehensively rejected ('humiliated') by our democratic institutions. This is very serious and leaves pretty much armed struggle as the only other means of change. This is the context in which she views the terrorist, naxal and other recent violent conflicts. She argues that one cannot take the conventional straightforward position of condemning these struggles, notwithstanding, as she is unambiguous about, that many of them are highly unjust and cruel themselves. As she put it, she is in the position of siding with groups who are quite likely to string her up if they come to power. She says that right now therefore what she is interested in is in looking to see if there are effective ways of resisting, in the current political regime.

She paints a pretty bleak picture out of an analysis that reaches very deep. If she's right we'll see lots more of violence and conflicts in the country.

I seem to follow behind her faithfully as she traces her own path of experience and understanding. I remember reading "The Greater Common Good" and just being blown away in the immediate moment, and also permanently affected in my thinking because of it. Later to my delight I found that she too has huge regard for Chomsky. Right now I'm trying to absorb her latest thinking.