Arundhati Roy explains why India is a corporate, upper caste state

Arundhati Roy explains why she calls India a corporate Hindu state. 5th June 2011, London

[EurekaRepublic]

"India has fought its own people the moment India became an independent country...in Goa."

Are you seriously suggesting that kicking out Portuguese imperialists amounted to fighting its own people?

[raghavendrasangeri]

We, the Telangana and Hyderabad people invited the Indian Army to save our lives from cruel Nizam and his Razakars.

[ramyeggina]

I have not been a great fan of Arundhati Roy. But if you listen carefully to what she says in this conversation, she is right. Democracy works mostly in urban areas and that too for the well connected in India. For tribals in states like Chatthisgarh, Jharkand, they do not care about democracy as living is an ordeal for them. When the benefits and produce of the their land are supposed to go to them according to law, state governments collaborate with industrialists and mine owners and the tribals are left with nothing. What do you do in that scenario? A good example is how the BJP government has changed and influenced every democratic institution in India in the past two years. Our concept of free media is a farce. And forget the BJP, even the congress would have done it if in power. It is important to realise this and ask questions and think logically instead of running after fallacies like nationalism and historical legacy which do not contribute in any way if you do not have two square meals.

[arnabkoley]

In West Bengal they were in power for 34 years.... but have done nothing for adivasi people. Instead of giving food they have given AK-47.

[saloksingh]

Seeing so many comments just criticizing her makes it evident that none of these people understand what she is saying or why. And the fact that she said this in 2011 is astonishing. For today, with BJP in power and it's working and it's romantic relationships with the corporates, like the Ambanis is so so evident!
Let me break it down to you in very simple manner how *"HINDU CORPORATE STATE"* is a real thing and bigger than ever:
1. HINDU -- Because BJP is in power right now and whose prime mandate for elections is only and only Hindi Rashtra and Ram Mandir. And to not overlook that it's the child of RSS, which, if you'd only know, is as pro-Hindu as it can get!
2. CORPORATE -- Because if you can't simply understand the romantic relationships and the favorism that the current government has with the big Corporate boys such as Ambanis, then I don't know what will make you understand this!
These corporate fellows will always be major part of Indian politics (which is not very surprising but very much normal to me) just like it happens all over the world. From where does the parties get money when they are not in power?

[tothestars]

It must be hard to be a truth speaker in a country full of ignorant misogynists. She's heroic for still trying.

[sunilchoudhury]

She didn't answer any of the question!
Salwa Judum was started by the govt and the local tribes contributed a lot and helped the govt. to fight naxalism

[thanosrulz]

I still wonder what Arundathi Roy has done to alleviate the condition of the poor except attending press conferences...

[tanu]

the msg was clear that politician are slave of corporate because of huge fund they gets

[ombaba_]

temples are managed by govt but mosques and churches are free to do as they want but this arunadhati has no issues with that

[divyendunarayan]

Arundhati Roy can't be more irrational. She brands Indian Army as Hindu Upper Cast force victimizing the minorities and tribals. It's a fact that Indian Army has a large section which comes from tribals(from Jharkhand, Terai region, Telangana) and religious minority as Sikhs. Her distortion of facts are reaching astounding heights!

[pythonclojure]

I love listening to Ms.Roy. Her barbs make we hindus look like strong, cold and calculated imperialists. She makes us look 1000x times strong than we actually are. Thanks Ms.Roy. You have boosted our confidence and delivered some good comedy.

[umeshpal]

the eye sees middle aged people. the mind sees rebel teenagers

[thisisanando]

One of the few voices of reason left in this world. A really brave person from India.

[jollyjohn]

As a christian, India is a great country that respect all religions even those of the minorites. My relatives in India are mainly christians and are proud of their country and the government that has recently brought out tremendous developments.

[antoniodecruz]

Under peaceful conditions, the militant man attacks himself - Nietzsche

[parthparekh]

seating in AC room using apple mobile. & talking about capitalism.

[shininglamb]

She is a good role model for those who sit and do nothing, but moaning about the system, while enjoying the good benefits the same system provides.She is a good role model for those who don't take responsibilities to change the system in a manner in which they want to change, but sitting and discussing endlessly about how bad it is.  All I can see is her sweet voice and good english with void meaning. She is not providing any real solution because  giving solution to a problem is more difficult than raising a problem. 

She blames democracy in India and then she says China is more worse. Corporate power is not just in India, but it is also in the west (yes she admitted it) . We can easily see how corporate giants swept away the business of millions Americans and Europeans. Do she propose a model like communist group dictator China? NO. Or like Arab or North Korean dictator family rules? NO. Those are all worst.  Basically her IDEAL world is not possible in earth, as nature itself follows Pareto rule. 

Tatas are not Hindus by the way, they are Zoroastrians, a persecuted religion in the middle east Islamic countries. I know she will not mention this, because  if she did, then she will lose a large fan base. 

[philipstharakan]

Her talks resembles me listening to Barber shop and tea shop talks 30 years ago in Kerala villages while they wait for the service to kill time.

[alexmariansebo]

Seeing this video today in 2019, I can see why Arundhati Roy made this statement. Because it's 100% accurate. And reading the comments, I came to the conclusion that so many of the viewers were so ignorant at that time. Maybe 5 years ago when this video was uploaded the uppercast agenda was subtle, but after Modi took the office of P.M, it is very much evident.