Author: Arundhati Roy
No. of Pages: 182
Publisher: Penguin Books
Year of Publication: 2013
About the Book:
The book presents four essays by Roy. All the essays are based on the Naxal movement in red zones in central India. All four essays vividly describe the landscape, the life and struggles of people in the tribal belt. The essays, particularly ‘Walking with the Comrades’, have long been shrouded in controversy. Roy brazenly puts forth data that is sure to attract attention and engulf her in controversy. At some places it seems that this maybe a deliberate or maybe even a desperate attempt to make the voices be heard.
The essays bring forth a range of emotions; empathy for a life that sitting in urban India seems only a part of documentaries, disgust at the starkly contrasting images of poverty and affluence, wonderment at the reports of blatant oppression by law enforcement agencies. At the same time there is a sense of disbelief at the openness with which illegal operations are conducted at the hands of large businesses. This disbelief also stems out of a refusal to let go of optimism. For if Roy is to be believed, we are surrounded by scams, on all sides, by everyone. In her final essay, ‘Capitalism: A Ghost Story’, she puts forth some ‘facts’ about political activists that are known for their crusades against corruption.
The book in the end leaves you with cynicism. Not a pleasant state of being.
Final Analysis: You can’t, shouldn’t, miss this one.
Favourite Quotes:
“The low, flat-topped hills of south Orissa have been home to the Dongria Kondh long before there was a country called India or a state called Orissa. The hills watched over the Kondh. The Kondh watched over the hills and worshipped them as living deities. Now these hills have been sold for the bauxite they contain. For the Kondh it’s as though god has been sold. They ask how much gold would for for if the god were Ram or Allah or Jesus Christ.” (p 3, Mr Chidambaram’s War)
“I soon learned that Dandakaranya, the forest I was about to enter, was full of people who had many names and fluid identities. It was like balm to me, that idea. How lovely not to be stuck with yourself, to become someone else for a while.” (p 34, Walking with the Comrades)
“The problem with these tribals is they don’t understand greed. Unless they become greedy there’s no hope for us. I have told my boss, remove the force and instead put a TV in every home. Everything will be automatically sorted out.” (p 34, Walking with the Comrades)