“It might seem ironic that a person who spends most of her time thinking of strategies of resistance and plotting to disrupt the putative peace, is given a peace prize. You must remember that I come from an essentially feudal country - and there are few things more disquieting than a feudal peace. Sometimes there's truth in old cliches. There can be no real peace without justice. And without resistance there will be no justice.”
With these words Roy once again occupied global centrestage. The citation for the prize, announced on May 28, read, ‘Arundhati Roy has been recognised for her courage in campaigns for human rights and for her advocacy of non violence…”
The firebrand author, admired and reviled with almost equal vehemence, reiterated causes closest to her being in her acceptance speech. Roy joins an august list with this prize, which recognises extraordinary efforts in bringing peace to this planet. Incidentally she donated the $50,000 prize to aboriginal groups.
- Suman Tarafdar