Brinda Karat and Arundhati Roy though both are pro-poor, Arundhati has many pluses compared to Brinda Karat since Arundhati not being bonded or restricted within the confines of a political party. Brinda Karat should have to tread the path which her party CPI (M) has drawn for its card-members. Added to this Mrs Karat one of the Polit Bureau members of the party holds a responsible important post in the women’s wing of the CPI (M) All India Democratic Women’s Association(AIDWA). Nowadays she has become more pro-active - this doesn’t mean that she was not that pro-active - in taking trips to various states of the nation, if one day in Andhra Pradesh to take up the cause of tribal women and children, the recent vaccination deaths of some tribal children taken without the consent of the childrens’ parents, one day in the interior parts of Tamil Nadu like Tirunelveli where lots undergo suffering due to poverty, one day to West Bengal, her party’s citadel peripatetic we could say thus taking all efforts to draw the attention of the authorities concerned and some issues which need immediate attention of the Central Ministers by presenting the poor lots’ hardships in Parliament.
Notwithstanding all these i.e. her pro-active social activities she can’t say with her hands on her chest she is not bound by the party’s diktats. She is constrained to or for that matter another party members to adhere to certain policies and programmes which the party collectively takes. A communist party is a cadre-based party, intolerance of groupism, strict discipline and adherence to certain principles as enshrined in the constitution of party have to be followed in letter and spirit. Otherwise show-cause notices seeking explanations and if the explanations are not to the satisfaction of the supreme authority reprimands, suspension or expulsions with immediate effect will be the outcome. Hence many things which demand debate and differences of opinion are swept under the carpet for the sake of unity of the party. For instance, if a member has no right to express his opinion about a controversial contemporary decision taken by the party except in the party forum and if he dares to deviate from the party’s line he will be taken to task. Forging alliances with certain parties may not be to the satisfaction of certain members but being a member he has to abide by the majority decision and if is bent upon violating or not obliging the decision, show him the door is the established practice of the party. Otherwise before the expulsion notice is served upon him; he can voluntarily go out and can chalk out the future course of action. Such instances are countless and hence the formation of several splinter parties. Only a few opt out of public life and keep aloof for the rest of their lives and such persons are very rare as majority prefer to remain in the lime-light, crass parliamentarism being more sweet to such comrades. A minister-ship is not that bad but something tasteful and worth to be devoured and an easy route to ‘fame, glory and prosperity’.
Arundathi Roy, writer and social activist do not keep any affiliations to any party and hence a free bird. Quite outspoken and brave to take up any challenge that comes her way, championing the cause of the deprived sections of the society. Right from her childhood days and through her first book, “The God of Small Things” which brought her Booker Prize, fame, glory and wide acclaim the world over, her empathy with the deprived lot started to pour in abundance. “God of Small Things” set in Aymanam, a quite village in Kottayam district of Central Travancore, through which the famous Meenachil river flows quietly its both sides covered with thick Mangroves and coconut trees. Though based on a Christian family her depiction of Velutha, a sturdy Paravan youth (fisherman) and the brutal police assault and torture due to the machinations of certain vested interests of the village. The poignant description of the ruthless assault on Velutha by the police men is thus goes on in the book and I quote here : “His skull was fractured in three places. His nose and both his cheek bones were smashed, leaving his face pulpy, undefined. The blow to his mouth had split open his upper lip and broken six teeth, three of which were embedded in his lower lip, hideously inverting his beautiful smile. Four of his ribs were splintered, one had pierced his left lung, which was what made him bleed from his mouth. The blood on his breath bright red. Fresh, Frothy. His lower intestine was ruptured and haemorrhaged, the blood collected in his abdominal cavity. His spine was damaged in two places, the concussion had paralysed his right arm and resulted in a loss of control over his bladder and rectum. Both his knee caps were shattered.” Really mind-boggling and blood-chilling description…
One comrade K.N.M Pillai a communist party leader known all over the village even plays a dubious role and Arundhati’s portrayal of the utter hypocrisy, mannerisms, hollow, worthless talks of suffering mankind, the inevitability of revolution, his histrionics, in short, the various games politicians play. In fact, Arundhati through the novel fearlessly tears apart the masks of such “species” who are on the rise unfortunately in contemporary times.
Due to her outspoken nature and fearless writing she has detractors abound, even an erudite, reputed editor of a national daily sometime back wrote derisively describing her as ‘One Book Wonder’ as she didn’t pen another novel after that. His anger knew no bounds as Arundhati through her essays, interviews and speeches minced no words in castigating and ruffling feathers of many an elite group. Her essays, interviews, and speeches are compiled, edited and published in book forms which also won her international acclaim.
Her recent visit to the Maoist infested states - the red corridor - and her interaction with tribals and those who lead them from the forefront and an elaborate story of the plight of the tribals which they undergo since decades has been published recently. The shocking stories of them being exploited by corporate miners and their resistance against exploiters, brutal forces torturing them mercilessly all vividly described. An essential real-life story to be gone through.
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