Arundhati Roy.

Probably she is a great writer. I contributed to her wealth by buying "God of Small things". But since I didn't want to be non prejudiced about her, I didn't read that. Till now, that is.
I hate her for some other things. Latest reason.

"Arundhati Roy refuses Sahitya Akademy award"

For a background go here. "http://ia.rediff.com/news/2006/jan/14award.htm"

"The Sahitya Akademi jury had last week chose her book, The Algebra of Infinite Justice, a collection of political essays for the 2005 literary award."

"These essays written between 1998 and 2001 are deeply critical of some of the major policies of the Indian State," she said, adding that the main area of her disagreement included the government's policies of constructing big dams, pursuing nuclear weapons, increasing militarisation and economic liberalisation."

"She further noted that, in the last few months, apart from the growing number of farmers' suicide and the forcible eviction of people from their lands and livelihood in thousands, the country had witnessed police brutality on industrial workers in Gurgaon, killing of a dozen people protesting against a dam in Manipur and the killing of another dozen people protesting their displacement by a steel plant in Orissa."

My comment starts here.

Ok, let us not construct big dams, not pursue nuclear weapons, stop spending money on military and stop liberalisation.
Please give me some alternatives. Alternatives for dams, alternatives to ensure security of country, for economic upliftment.
When you make tonnes of money with one book and need not have to work for rest of life, you get divine right to criticize whatever that's happening now. Police Brutality at Gurgaon. Does Police have hidden agenda againest workers? And how many such incidents happened in the past 10 yrs? If many such incidents had happened, you will not take example of an event where none died. Displacement by a steel plant near orissa. It's a law and order situation. Whatever has happened is unfortunate and reflects on ineptitude of administration and not on so called underlying cause.
I remember this lady accepting some prize in australia, ofcourse, she donated all the proceeds to some 160 or so welfare organisations. (Numbers can be wrong)
What did she do with Booker prize proceeds and royalty payments she continues to recieve? I don't want to find out. It's her money and she can do whatever she wants to.
I believe she would have accepted this award if it were given by some foreign agency or had involved lot of money.
Mrs Roy, if you don't like Indian state and if you feel suffocated why don't you leave this country and live somewhere else? If you are not already, that is.

Disclaimer: I also hate administration and almost everything about India. That doesn't make me speak hypocratically and in a bombastic way. I realise my limitations. I cannot save tribals, industrial workers, discplaced farmers, ...
And I am sure, however good she is at writing, Arundhati too cannot either comprehend or solve all these issues. Let us leave them to professionals and be worried about our bit job in bigger scheme of things.