| Name: | Dr.E.Gnanagurudasan |
| E-mail address: | drgurudasan@gmail.com |
| Comments: | Hello Mrs.Roy,
The God of small things is an excellent work of yours and i truly enjoyed the pleasure of reading a novel in that. Actually it was the first novel i had ever read in my life. After which i started reading various novels and each and every day i'm growing more contented. Thanks a lot for such a master piece par excellence.. Please write more novels. My fully extended support to you Mrs.Roy. |
| Name: | Yaduvanshee |
| E-mail address: | tuk@sifymail.com |
| Comments: | In the recent times, when our own government, built on strong idealist foundations of liberty and democracy, is trying tooth and nail to curb the freedom of speech and expression, the maverick voice of Ms. Roy and others like her shouldn't be let to drown amid the chaos.
I'm grateful to you for showcasing this great intellectual's writings in so accessible a way to my countrymen. |
| Name: | tablet pc android |
| E-mail address: | pickyourjersey@hotmail.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.nfljerseysfactory.com/blog |
| Comments: | dear friends, we all know, as times goes, the Tablet PC Android is more and more popular. Aslo, if you buy from internet, it will save you a lot of time. Thanks for your sharing. http://www.3gtabletpc.org
http://www.nfljerseysfactory.com http://www.nfljerseysfactory.com/blog is my blog. welcome! |
| Name: | ibrahim ali |
| E-mail address: | ibrahim.ali2009@yahoo.in |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.goldenduas.com |
| Comments: | Humble Appeal to all Hindus brotherhood of BJP,VHP and all other Hindu organisations in the world in the interest of the public unity and peace in the world
In India most of populations are Hindus divisions. BJP is trying to come to power in the central and the same is failed due to non-coperation with all other communities of Christians and muslims in India.No community can dominate,encroach or distrubing other religions customery rights.All christians ,muslims and sikhs are not members of Congress,Communist parties etc in india.But other political parties are not allowing community feelings to fight with each others. We felt very much that most of our Hindu brotherhood are in poverty lines without proper house to live etc for the reasons that they are not given proper education that the BJP and VHP are not approaching and co-operating with Christians educational institutions.But instead of doing so,theBJP andVHP are fighting with Christians and Muslims who are not only largest population in the world but also sacrifice and supporting to improve life of drowntrodden communities in the world. Islam is not allowing compulsary converted into Islam as per quranic verse 2:256. It is seen that in Karnataka and kerala muslims are joining with the BJP .The Hindusam,Christianity and Islam are not allowing idol worships. Please see the following message in the interest of public unity and peace in the world Now in all over the world, people are not living with peace and unity. In excrise of powers conferred under holy Quranic verses 17:16 and 28:59 we are sending the following message in the interest of public in the world to follow messages posted in our website http://www.goldenduas.com Besides we have posted a video in Youtube as public unity and peace in the world and the same may be upload by public all over the world. Greetings and Good Wishes to all People of the World, Our website http://www.goldenduas.com is a social network site in accordance with the Declaration of Commonwealth Principles, 1971. It follows that our website ought to have been added in all the links of Government Websites, Commonwealth Countries in the interest of public peace, faith, security, health and wealth of mankind in the world. Besides the Commonwealth meetings like that held on 20th October 1991, other invitees like the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and other non-governmental Commonwealth Organization have to play their full part in these objectives, in a spirit of co-operation and mutual support. In various parts of the Islamic countries, Christians are being killed and also Churches are burnt by the terrorists and this is against the Holy Quranic Verses 2:99, 5:82, 7:157 & 158 and also 22:40.(Quranic Verses in English are also available in www.quran.com).It is the bounden duty of the Commonwealth countries to take decisions in the interest of world peace and initiate co-operation with all other countries in the world. According to the Declaration of Commonwealth Principles,1971 issued in Singapore, it is declared that Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary Associations of Independent sovereign states, each responsible for its own policies, consulting and co-operating in the common interests of their peoples and in the promotion of international understanding and world peace. Besides it is also declared that international peace and order are essential to the security and prosperity of mankind and it is also supports the United Nations and seeks to strengthen the influence for peace in the world, and its efforts to remove the causes of tension between nations. Globalization is not possible without society, political stability and peace. Further the Commonwealth declaration made on 08-12-2003 states that active participations of civil society must include women and youth and also strongly reaffirms its commitment to multilaration, international co-operation, partnership and productive working relationship between government and civil society organizations and accordingly we have established a social network under the name and style of http://www.goldenduas.com for the following reasons. The People of the World are very much grateful to the Commonwealth Organization for its excellent service to the World. It is your bounden duty to review and do the needful to add/uplink our website http://www.goldenduas.com in your websites and its sponsored websites also in the World in the interest of public unity and peace and to avoid famine, floods, earthquake, bomb blast, extremist activities, unemployment problem, global economic meltdown, Tsunami, Law & Order problems, climate changes and also various kinds of diseases for the following reasons The Islamic Governments and all other Islamic organizations in the world failed to notice that Christians are not arrogant and amongst them are priest and monks according to the Quranic verse 5: 82 .In the absence of reorganization of the above, there can be no peace between the 2 largest populations of the world. Once the Holy Quran recognized Christianity, then no Christian can criticize that Islamic community is false or that it is a satanic community. All the Muslims in the world are the followers of Our Prophets Jesus, Moses and Muhammad (peace be upon them). We have no other intention except to spread the messages to all the communities in the world posted in our website www.goldenduas.com to promote harmony, peace and security of mankind in the world. The question of converting Christians and all other communities in the world into Islam does not arise for the reason that the Holy Quran banned compulsory conversion as per Quranic verse 2:256. The Christians in the world are service minded people, who work towards peace, research, etc. to serve public in the world and as such no one should act against Christianity in the world. Please check our homepage www.goldenduas.com. Please cooperate and add and advertise to all social networking, Government Web Sites, other internet, News Papers in USA, United Nations Websites, Commonwealth Websites and its back links, websites to allow all the communities in the world to visit and download from our website www.goldenduas.com.in the interest of public peace ,humanity , jobs, business, security ,health, education, climate change and wealth of mankind in the world and oblige. With Kind Regards, Ibrahimali |
| Name: | manzoor |
| E-mail address: | manzoor_5005@yahoo.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://arundhathi |
| Comments: | look properly around world, pl dont make sudden press meeting
with love manzoor |
| Name: | Esspweb |
| E-mail address: | essp.web@gmail.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.essayprovider.com/ |
| Comments: | Awesome website. I have no words for it. |
| Name: | Jasumat |
| E-mail address: | happyjasu@gmail.com |
| Comments: | Goddess with the small mind |
| Name: | Trevor Thessman |
| E-mail address: | tthessman@bigpond.com |
| Comments: | I like what you stand for |
| Name: | yousuf |
| E-mail address: | yousufmadras@yahoo.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://yahoo |
| Comments: | i see the arundhati roy as a mahathma. all humans are wanted such a honest person, indian court and police must wanted to arrest those who are killed the innocent kashmeerees. nor to lodge case against mother arundhati roy.
jaihoo jaihoo mother arundhati roy, and we always pray to god, you live long. thank you mother, you are one of the Aung San Suu Kyi and nelson mandela and mahathma gandeji. |
| Name: | yousuf |
| E-mail address: | yousufmadras@yahoo.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://yahoo |
| Comments: | thank you madam.
our holy mother arudhati roy, your speech is how spirit, all world's human are proud you, we are see you as a mrs.aankan suki and mr.gandiji.nelson mandela. live you long. |
| Name: | Micheal |
| E-mail address: | m.smith8858@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Brilliant site :D
m.smith8858@yahoo.com |
| Name: | yousuf |
| E-mail address: | yousufmadras@yahoo.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://yahoo |
| Comments: | very very thanks,and you are got a great level of gandiesem.
dont take care the murderers taunts. mahaathma gandi also taunted by ingland invadors. |
| Name: | yousuf |
| E-mail address: | yousufmadras@yahoo.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://yahoo |
| Comments: | arundathi ray is what a surprise mother of india.
all indians are sulute her. and all indian proud that we are get powerful humanbee mother. |
| Name: | Pratim |
| E-mail address: | pratimpa@gmail.com |
| Comments: | You said she's in her late thirties. Actually she was in her late thirties when she published her first book GOD OF SMALL THINGS. She's now in her early fifties. |
| Name: | indian always!!! |
| E-mail address: | nomail@gmail.com |
| Comments: | No body gave you right to question indias role in kashmir.Kashmir is an antegral part of india.Please dont try to creat rift between the 2 communities or whether people there are independent or not!!! |
| Name: | Surya |
| Comments: | A semi Mental and deranged person = Arundhati Roy result of mixed parentage, culture, languages. a rejected product can beheave without responsibility and with greed for money. |
| Name: | Abhimanyu |
| E-mail address: | Abhimanyu_n_u@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | If you can pass on this message to A.Roy...i would like to ask her where was she when kashmiri pandits were dying.where was she when kargil war happened?There are a lot of similar questions.I am sure she would never be able to answer.Better ask her to do something creative rather than be distructive. |
| Name: | AJ |
| E-mail address: | aj7729&yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Why dont all you outside religious people get out of my country India? All you hindus, muslims, christians get out. There were people living in Kashmir before the Muslims came. What did they do? They killed the natives of Kashmir and colonised it and bred like rabbits and now want a separate country? I dont think so. Do you think America would give land to Blacks? I dont see any reason why India should give anything to any religious based groups. Please take your religions and get out, you people are all evil, especially the ones who ask for land based on religion. Arunthadi Roy, you are a crazy woman who supports terrorist pigs. Geelani should be beheaded using Sharia law or fed to the pigs. Muslims in Kashmir are like the Jews in Palestine. They stole our land and want more so they can preach wahabi crap. Who are you Roy to talk about Kashmir? Where is the justice for all the people who lived in Kashmir but now lost their land to occupying muslims? A country cannot and should not be divided based on religion especially when religion is not native to the land. Muslims are outsiders, like christians and hindus since these religion came from elsewhere. Fucking converts already ruined my country and now trying to steal more of my land. India shouldnt recogonize pakistan's existence, we should get out land back at all cost. What a disgrateful bunch the pakis are. What a ignorant person you are arundhathi. Kashmir is like Native america. Native americans live in reservation and America is occupied by Europeans. Kashmis is occupied by Muslims from outside. Go back to fucking saudi arabia all you wahabi pigs. Leave us alone... go away with them arundhati and take those BJP, VHP, RSS and all chrisitanity preaching assholes with you. |
| Name: | TEAM SAMAVESH |
| E-mail address: | the.ocean.god@gmail.com |
| Comments: | Respected madam,
It would be gracious if you could deliver a speech regarding you work experience in the field of literature during our colleges tech fest i.e SAMAVESH . Ours is the oldest govt. college of odisha, VEER SURENDER SAI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, BURLA(U.C.E) established in 1956 and is now an unitary university. Samavesh is the oldest tech fest in eastern region and hold's lot of prestige. As the entire event is organised by the students so we are looking forward for ur good response. Could u please provide full statistic about your charges for the event as well as your availability during 2nd week of feb 2011. Nearest airport:Bhubaneswar contact:+91-9778107396. Team Samavesh. |
| Name: | rakesh |
| E-mail address: | rjpatel45@rediffmail.com |
| Comments: | I hate your thoughts. You are totally negative person. You are always in favor of terrorist, anti india people, etc. |
| Name: | Amba Charan Vashishth |
| E-mail address: | acvashishth@gmail.com |
| Comments: | It is because of the courtesy of the democracy of this great nation that you have the right to freedom of thought, speech and expression to justify violence by self-righteous individuals and groups, like you, against a government of the people elected democratically by the people for the people. You justify violence and killing of those who do not agree with you. I am reminded of a saying: anybody who doesn't agree with me is a fool. You are one such individual.
Yet the civilised society, as we have in India composed of an overwhelming majority of people with the exception of a a fraction of minority composed of people like you, will never support a person or group which wishes to apply the same methods to make you agree to their opinion -- the violent methods you espouse for Naxalites and Maoists. I would love to hear from you. My earlier letter too stands unanswered. Perhaps you will find time this time, luckily for me indeed! |
| Name: | asjoy |
| E-mail address: | asjoy@indiatimes.com |
| Comments: | Congretulation in advance. You are soon going to get noble peace prize. Powerty due to over population |
| Name: | NAZAR |
| E-mail address: | knock4yarwes@gmail.com |
| Comments: | Really u r great |
| Name: | Lunatic Kerala |
| E-mail address: | lunatickerala@gmail.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.youtube.com/lunatickerala |
| Comments: | Kerala being a literate State is a complete misnomer.Highest suicide rates. Highest alcohol and drugs consumption. Highest divorce rates. Highest road accidents. Largest mentally deranged population. Highest unemployment. Most backward in infrastructure and development. Largest sexual perverts, ogling at tourists. Highest sex scandals. Highest women abuses. Largest anti social elements called goondas. A so called 100% literate Keralite who never went out of the State does not know what a subway is.
Kerala is a big lunatic asylum as declared by Swami Vivekananda, with barefooted mallus walking half naked in lungis, spitting in public, peeing on walls and honking proudly in their small match box cars. Stone age tribals still living in coconut jungles and die falling into pot holes. By just reading some alphabets does not make one civilized or literate. Their king Mahabali was a demon. Arrogance, pride, hypocrisy, vanity, insolence, haughtiness, lust, greed, anger, jealousy, killings, family fights, adultery are all demoniac traits exhibited by them and even promoted by their television serials. A Bihari maybe filthy outside but lunatic mallus are more dangerous, with an arrogant, pervert, hypocrite and filthy mind. |
| Name: | keijo |
| E-mail address: | keijo.leppioja@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | And the evening is here with darknesss and with tired mind,but the Lord is praying for us continuel and many the angels host will be to our help in power and care and let this of the night be beautiful rest in peace and wonderful of dreams and joy unders whole the night,thanks and bless and pray,keijo sweden |
| Name: | PAS.JOCKIN FERNANDO |
| E-mail address: | jockin.fernando@ymail.com |
| Comments: | PRAISE THE LORD,
I bring the greetings to you in the name of our lord and saviour jesus christ.Im PAS.JOCKIN FERNANDO from india doing JESUS COMPASSION MINISTRY since 1977 to till now,doing ministry among the leprorsy,rackpickers,street children,oldage people,prison.And in prison im doing ministry twice in a week.so please pray for our ministry as we are in need of many things. please pray for these things: 1.needed prayer support. 2.pray for financial support. 3.pray for sponsership for children. 4.pray for a building for street children. 5.pray for vehicle for transportation mode for children. 6.pray for oldage home for oldage people. 7.pray for our prison ministry. 8.pray for the treatment for leprorsy and rackpickers. 9.pray for musical instrument. 10.please pray for poor widows and for their children. And pray for this country INDIA to reach god and be blessed. MAY GOD BLESS YOU |
| Name: | pankaj |
| E-mail address: | ceplpankaj@gmail.com |
| Comments: | kindly read this (please not in the loo)
People like you are I believe still so keen to keep the west or white's happy . I may say you only see ,hear ,preach,write as you do only bad things about their own country . You will always tell the world the problem but when the solution. you will always create divides even when none exists . you will always blame hindus (Bjp as it being a hind party ) as if we are the ones who create problems. you will fight for the terrorists but never for the soilder. you say kashmiri's have to live under a AK 47 but will not talk about kasmiri pandits living in camps in delhi. you say gujrat is communal but when when you travel on best roads in the country best water management system you will try and find hindu muslim divide .land and water are communal in your eyes, you win bookers prize and then proudly say you were in the loo when you heard the news as if you have been the only one to blessed with having to go to a loo. probably your thoughts originate from your own shit, you willt fight(not in real ) for the needy but never help a needy . you will sit on a tharna but never walk the distance, you will be on BBC but never a hindi channel because that is not your standard. you will call hindus bad but never have courage to call a muslim wrong. you will praise mf hussain for painting sita mata naked but ask him to paint fatima naked. you will live to make india's image lower but never try and show india's good deeds. yes we are poor but still we have reached the moon. yes we are poor but still we stand on our feet. yes we donot get proper food but we are still better than drinking others blood. yes we have many uneducated people but we also have the largest educated lot. yes we lack behind in democarcy fully empowering people but we are far better than pakistan andd iran and others . yes we we fight within our land but we never fight to get others land . we are what we are and still feel proud ,we still respect our flag our freedom and above all being Indian . you miss anuradhati roy shall never be a proud indian so keep writing all your crap for whites who everyone knows are going down. ( may you also drown with them ) |
| Name: | kunjethy |
| E-mail address: | kunjethy@gmail.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.nazraney.com |
| Comments: | Very interesting and instructive entries.
May I draw your attention to the fata of the Nazraney communities outside Kerala and outside India viz St. Thomas Christian NRKs and NRIs as seen in a letter I found on the sites nazraney.com and indianchristianity.com: Syro Malabar Processions / Pradakhinams in NRK NRI Cities / Communities May I humbly request your Grace to immediately issue a special circular to the NRKs/NRIs exhorting them to hold such a procession and celebration beginning with this July 3rd itself. From Prof. George Menachery Ollur Thrissur City 680306 0091 487 235 2468, 0091 487 235 4398, 0091 98460 33713 Your Esteemed and Respected Grace, May I humbly request your Grace to go through the following and take appropriate action if thought fit. In the circumstances obtaining among the NRK/NRI Syro-Malabar communities in many Indian and foreign cities the Nazranies hardly get any chance to get together or to maintain their identity. Hence one possibility is for them to celebrate the Ormapperunnal of our father St. Thomas the Apostle with at least a public procession inside the church campus or if possible outside it, with all the cultural elements of our Pradakhinams or church processions. It could be any one of the four types of processions we have - 1.intra-church procession, 2.procession rounding the open-air cross (this won’t be possible in most cases outside Kerala), 3.procession around the church building or campus, or 4. procession along the streets or Angadies. I have found how happy our people are to congregate on such occasions - whether in the Americas or Europe or the Middle East, especially in the US and the Gulf, and how proud our people are of our cultural traditions and individuality.. A Syro- Malabar Mass may be said where ( and only where) the local hierarch permits it. Otherwise it can be a well attended religio-cultural event to which there could be no objection from any quarter. Such a programme, I feel - and am convinced from experience in different parts of the world - could and will go a long way to unite our people and to hold them together in the memory of our heritage and roots. AND it could be a first step in many ways. These Pradakhinams or processions must have as many of the following elements as possible: 1. A gold(en) processional cross with the red (or other) sheath. 2.Two silver(y) crosses with sheaths. 3.Many colourful parasols or umbrellas viz. Muthukkudas. 4. At least one processional Roopakkoodu to carry the image of St. Thomas &c. typically decorated. 5.Band sets and typical Kerala Vadyams and Melams including drummers. 6. Fancy fire-works where permissible. 7. Public and common preparation and distribution of Kozhalappam, Achappam, Unni Appam, Neyyappam, and other Syro-Malabar confectionaries. May I humbly request your Grace to immediately issue a special circular to the NRKs/NRIs exhorting them to hold such a procession and celebration beginning with this July 3rd itself. Thanking Your Grace, Your Graces’ obedient servant, Prof. George Menachery. p.s.Establishing a Bahya Kerala - Bahya Bharata Diocese for agreeable areas at least must be another priority. p.p.s. Could we think of a reserve team of priests willing to serve these communities from time to time on special occasions and to give them cultural experiences and guidance in the form of seminars, video fests, power-point talks &c. occasionally? |
| Name: | S p singh |
| E-mail address: | Monasp1286@yahoo.Com |
| Name: | niynar nath |
| E-mail address: | niynarkana@gmail.com |
| Name: | Kalpen |
| E-mail address: | kalpentripathi@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Hi
This lady thinks that just because she has won booker's prize she has got the sense to run the country. Why does not she shut her mouth. Muslim's are fighting all around the world with other religions. They want division of philipines, thailand, india, etc.Do you think this muslims are going to shut up when we divide Kashmir. We have divided West bengal and Pakistan already. Did she hear the word of Mohammad. I wish she never won a booker prize, its is bad luck for india. If she thinks she can derive logic from events then she is the most stupid person in India. Anyway is she Muslim. I know Roy's are bengali who divided their bengal into east and west. Anyway sometimes you need to make sure. |
| Name: | Laurent Idlas |
| E-mail address: | yogasisya@gmail.com |
| Comments: | I immensely enjoyed reading God of small thing. I have gone many times to India for 30 years and when I am away from India
I like to read Indian authors to throw myself back into "indianness", thank you to Mrs Arundhati Roy for her talent and the gift of this "indianness". |
| Name: | kunjethy puthenpura |
| E-mail address: | kunjethy@gmail.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.indianchristianity.com |
| Comments: | Aspects of the Idea of “Clean and Unclean” among the Brahmins, the Jews, and the St. Thomas Christians of Kerala
Prof.George Menachery 1.00 Comparison is often made between the customs and traditions of the Thomas Christians and the Jews1 on the one hand, and between those of the Thomas Christians and the Brahmins (i.e. the Nampoothiri or Malayalee Brahmins)2 on the other. 1.01 This paper attempts, adhering to the spirit of the theme of this conference, viz. “Indian Society and Culture : An Encounter with Christianity” , to outline aspects of the idea of “Clean and Unclean” among the Brahmins, the Jews, and the St. Thomas Christians or Nazranies as they are often designated, and to examine the common traits in these three sets of customs and beliefs regarding the idea of “Clean and Unclean”. The overriding concern for “Cleanliness” -more importantly the desire to avoid pollution -dominates, or used to dominate, the ritual and daily life of all these three communities to the detriment of comfort, convenience, and even the unhampered pursuit of the common activities of the vast majority of people around them, and even stands frequently in the way of showing consideration, nay even common courtesy to others. 1.02 To study the prevalence of ideas of “Clean and Unclean” (Shuddham and Ashuddham) among the Brahmins the writer has mainly depended on the works and precepts of the sages3 and elders of the community and of kindred communities as well as on the few works of an anthropological nature that exist independently or as part of general historical works4; for the Jews the OT, the NT and the various commentaries were chiefly made use of; and for the Thomas Christians in addition to the few scattered remarks that deal with the matter in well-known works5, the personal experience of the writer and the knowledge gathered from parents, grandparents, and other elders, and from the observation of the conscious and unconscious behaviour of the members of the community have been made use of. There is a vast fund of material that deals with these issues scattered in a plethora of works which aught to be systematically tapped, not just in a paper like this, but at least by way of a doctoral thesis or two6, and the earlier such detailed studies are undertaken, and more scientifically, the more will be the material available to investigate, both in the form of documents and living customs, and in the form of personnel in the know who are still in our midst. 2.00 Before launching into a study of the ideas about “Clean and Unclean” among these communities it will be profitable to take a quick look at the similarities that exist in their other more well known customs, practices, and beliefs. As this assembly is made up of Christians mainly, and as we are meeting in a predominantly Hindu locality let us commence by comparing the Christian customs and Brahmin customs first, bearing in mind the special relationship Kerala Brahmins have always had with west coastal Brahmins of the Konkan Coast, rather than with Paradesi or Tamil Brahmins7. The similarities in the customs of Kerala Brahmins and Bengali Brahmins also have been noticed by certain scholars.8 The following are only a few of the points of comparison between the general customs of the so-called Syrian Christians9 or Thomas Christians and the customs of the Kerala Brahmins. As the consensus among modern scholars of Kerala history, like Dr. M.G.S. Narayanan and Dr.Veluthatt Kesavan is that the Nambuthiri Brahmins arrive in Kerala only many centuries after the existence of Christian communities there it is quite possible that many of the customs and manners of the latter were imitated or borrowed by the former.10 The similarities outlined below are only indicative, and not exhaustive. 2.01 In both communities, i.e. Kerala Christians and Kerala Brahmins, women wear only predominantly white dress. Among Brahmins of the East Coast only widows use white dress. 2 & 3 Otherwise dark reds, blues, greens etc. are used by Brahmin women outside Kerala. 2.02 For both communities, Kerala Christians and Kerala Brahmins, piercing the nose for nasal ornaments is taboo. For all Brahmin women elsewhere nasal ornaments are customary. 2 & 3 2.03 Architecture of residential houses of Upper Caste Hindus and Christians was almost identical, both residing in Nalukettu and Ettukettu houses, respectively having one inner courtyard surrounded by four (nalu) halls (cf. Span. courtyard - patio -; Ital. cortile; Rom. Atrium), and having two inner courtyards surrounded by eight (ettu) halls.11 2.04 Architecture of churches and temples was alike. Cf. Temple Architecture of Kerala, Dept. of Archaeology, Govt. of Kerala, Trivandrum, and Andrews Athappilly, “Church Architecture of Kerala”, STCEI, II, 1973, as also id. James Menachery, “Thomas Christian Architecture”. Remember how Vasco da Gama and company mistook a temple for a church and worshipped Kali or Bhagavathy thinking it was Our Lady (BVM). To avoid the similarity between the temple and the church the Portuguese introduced the “facade”in Kerala churches as an extension of the wall separating the nave or Hykala from the portico or Mukhamandapam of the church. Also see the hundreds of photographs by this writer - in the STCEI II (1973)and the Indian Church History Classics, Vol. I, The Nazranies (1998). 2.05 Both in front of many churches (e.g. Kallooppara, Niranam, Kundra, Chengannur), and the majority of temples there are rock (granite) lampstands [photos by the present writer in The Nazranies & STCEI II & Pallikkalakalum Mattum; the Trichur (Arch)diocesan Centenary Volume (articles and pictures by the present writer) and the CBCI 2004 Trichur Volume (articles and pictures by the present writer). 2.06 In front of both the churches and temples there are flagstaffs. (See 2.05) 2.07 Both communities are patriarchal, unlike the family system of the Sudras (Nairs) who follow the matriarchal system. 2.08 Both communities hold menstruation and delivery to be occasions of pollution, demanding elaborate ablutions and purificatory ceremonies. 2.09 Both communities have many customs connected with child birth ( e.g. feeding the babe with powdered gold and honey). In the eleventh month the child is ceremoniously fed with rice for the first time. Mangoose teeth and panther toes worked in gold were part of the children’s ornaments. 2.10 Ceremonies connected with marriage like ceremonial baths, Manthrakodi or Pudava (bridal cloth or veil), Thali or Minnu - the gold ornament signifying marriage tied by the groom adorning the bride’s neck until “death do them part” - are all to be found among the Brahmins and the Christians in an identical style. Similarly death and funeral ceremonies like Pula, keeping legal defilement for a certain number of days, Shradham or the several feasts in memory of the dead were common to these communities. There are several more customs, common to these two communities of Christians and Brahmins alone, which we are not enumerating for fear of exceeding the time and space limits prescribed by the organizers. 3.00 Similarly there are a number of general customs and manners common to the Judaic and Thomas Christian traditions. Here one must note the existence of a particular community of Syrian Christians or Thomas Christians who trace their descend to Thomas Kinai or Cana or K’nai and his party. Naturally Jewish customs are more prevalent in that community of Knanaya Christians than among the vast majority of Thomas Christians. However as many Jewish and Old Testament customs are to be met with in Christianity all over the world here one might be content merely to enumerate a few customs found commonly among the Jews and the Thomas Christians in general. 3.01 The Thomas Christians abstained from work on feasts and on Sundays. This abstention may be compared to the Jewish abstention from work on the Sabbath. Maffeus says:” When the sun sets they [Thomas Christians] could work on Sundays, because Monday is then begun.” 12 Again Fr. Jerome: “In the same way, also on Sunday evening they can work”.13 Gouvea’s words are similar: “They may work after sunset (on Sundays), because it is already Monday”.14 Fr. Paolino of St. Bartholomeo writes: “The feast began at the first vespers of the feast, in such a way that in that hour they used to close all the shops and end all day’s work. They do not start them again until after the second vespers.”15 3.02 The similarity in the celebration of the Pascal feast between the Jewish customs16 and the Kerala Christian customs is noteworthy. In this there was very little difference between the Knanaya community and the other Thomas Christian communities. “Though a Pascal lamb is not used, certain elements of this meal allude to the Jewish Passover, as, for instance, the unleavened bread, the wine [“milk”], the time of the meal, the ordinary supper preceding, the standing position, the respect and reverence pervading the scene, the annual commemoration of the wonderful works of God, the bitter herbs, almsgiving, and the singing of hymns.”17 3.03 Both communities are seen to use mostly biblical names for their children. Names from the Old Testament are quite common, such as Abraham (Avara, Avarachan), Issac (Ithakku), Jacob (James, Chacko, Chakkunny,Chakkappan, Yakkob) and Joseph (Ouseph).18 According to Ludovico di Varthema, “They use four names, John, James, Matthew, and Thomas.”19 However today George is the most popular Christian name among the Nazranies.20 4.00 Leaving aside for the moment the consideration of common GENERAL customs among these three communities of Jews, Namboothiries, and St. Thomas Christians let us take up the study of a few specific customs related to the idea of “Clean and Unclean” and find out how far these customs were prevalent in the said communities and with what degree of universality, and variations, if any. 4.01 This is all the more relevant in the light of the accusation at times made against modern day Christians of Kerala by Caste i.e. “high caste” Hindus of Kerala that the Christians are not sufficiently conscious of cleanliness - in their eating habits, dressing habits, and even in the matter of keeping their body and habitat clean. It would be interesting to examine the validity of this accusation and to note who was responsible for this decline in the Cleanliness - Fad among the Christians, which is so very characteristic of the Kerala Brahmins, and what led to this decline if any. 4.02 There are a very large number of customs and practices connected with “Clean and Unclean” among the Nampoothiries, and a good number of such among the Jews. Among the Thomas Christians in times gone by, most of such customs and practices among the Nampoothiri Brahmins and those among the Jews were both in vogue together, making them perhaps the most “Clean” community in the whole world. 4.03 In note 3 below are listed the 64 special rules for Kerala Brahmins, most of which dealing with the practice of “cleanliness”, Shudham. In addition to these there are ever so many other customs given sanctity and sanction and the status of law as a result of long and strict practice. In fact the very life of the Kerala Brahmin is made “Hell”21 literally by these rules, regulations, and conventions regarding “Clean and Unclean”. In addition to this there is the strict observance of Ayitham 22 which is much more than mere untouchability. All these codes of behaviour were more or less strictly adhered to by the Syrian Christians also23. 5.00 The occasions on a single day when the Nampoothiri Brahmin must necessarily wash oneself or bathe are innumerable. And this bathing has to be performed not by standing under a shower, or by pouring water over oneself with a mug, but only by immersing oneself in water - in a pond, a tank, or a river. The Brahmin must bathe before cooking. Braahmanans, desirous of purity (“Suddhi”)[“Cleanliness”] shall bathe if they touch a “Soodran”, etc. And it must be remembered that Soodran (a member of the fourth caste - the Soodras) denotes not outcastes, but caste Hindus like Nairs, Menons, and all or at least large portions of Pillais, Panickers, and even Ambalavasis or Temple-Castes like Variers, Pisharatis, Marars etc. The duty of the Sudra community was to serve the other three castes of Brahmins, Kshathrias, and Vaisyas. In Kerala these services extended to domestic help in the houses of upper castes by both the men and women of this fourth caste, and even the performance by Soodra women of the duties of a concubine in the unique sexual relationship prevalent in Kerala euphemistically called Sambandham.24 There are many other occasions when the Brahmin must ritually and otherwise bathe. It would be tedious to describe the dozens of occasions and circumstances that would necessitate bathing by the Kerala Brahmin, for example as a result of touching or seeing, or coming near people belonging to lower castes.25 5.01 Bathing, especially ritual bathing is found often prescribed for the Jews in the Old Testament. “Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the Tent of my presence, and tell them to take a ritual bath.” (Ex. 29.4) “ The person shall wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and have a bath; he will then be ritually clean...on the seventh day he shall again shave his head, his beard, his eyebrows, and all the rest of the hair on his body, he shall wash his clothes and have a bath and then he will be ritually clean.” (Lev. 14.8-9) 5.02 Thomas Christians were always as much addicted to washing their bodies as the Brahmins or the Jews or even more so. In spite of the decrees of the Synod of Diamper and the efforts of the missionaries the Thomas Christian could hardly reconcile himself to any laxity in the matter of cleanliness. All Christians in the villages continued to observe the strictest rules that obtained among the Brahmins in matters of cleanliness and caste distinctions even till very recent times, as this writer could assert from his own experiences in and about the inhabitants of the villages of Kattur, Meloor, Chalakkudy, Ollur, Mala, Kallettumkara, Edakkulam, Chengalur, &c.in present day revenue districts of Thrissur and Ernakulam. The following Decree of the Synod of Diamper(Action VIII, Decree XIII. Cf. The book of Geddes in the ICHC, Ed. George Menachery, p.91) throws much light on how far the Christians adhered to ritual cleanliness: “ The Synod doth very much condemn what some...imagine, viz. That if they do not wash their Bodies betimes in the Morning on a Fastday, their Fast will be of no worth; and that if they happen to touch any of a base Race, or a Naires , they must wash themselves to make their Fast to be of any Merit; and declares that all such Washings and Superstitious touches, are commanded neither by God nor the Church...” However the old customs died first in towns and townships, as the result of English education and contact with Westerners and their ways. The habit of taking bath for various reasons and of washing legs, hands, etc. quite often was fully prevalent during this writer’s childhood and even boyhood, and was a big headache and nuisance and even a burden. There were ponds or huge wells with steps leading down in the compound of all notable families, where the river was far away. A number of Kindies or a vessel with a spout or nozzle-like side tube to pour water was always available which was used to wash one’s feet whenever climbing into the corridor or verandah of the house after walking outside. The latrines were separate structures during my childhood always a great distance from the house. 6.00 Ayitham or untouchability, a sort of total segregation of a member of the lower caste, from a Brahmin in the form of Thottukoodayma and Theendikkoodayma was one of the strongest practices that has now more or less - only more or less - disappeared from Kerala, but after a very long and bitter struggle. Seeing the extreme forms Ayitham or untouchability, “unseeability”, and unapproachability as practised in Kerala took, Swami Vivekananda was forced to call Kerala a “Lunatic Asylum”. 6.01 The custom of Ayitham or untouchability or segregation among the Jews is evident from these words of Peter. He (i.e. Peter) said to them, “ You yourselves know very well that a Jew is not al- lowed by his religion to visit or associate with Gentiles”. (Acts 10.28) Paul also concurs: And so the Lord says, “You must leave them and separate yourselves from them. Have nothing to do with what is unclean, and I will accept you”. (2Cor 6.17) And Paul goes on to add:” So then, let us purify ourselves from everything that makes body or soul unclean”. In the same chapter v.14 says: “Do not try to work together as equals with unbelievers, for it cannot be done. How can right and wrong be partners?” More scriptural verses it is not necessary to cite in this assembly. 6.02 The practice of Ayitham as it existed among the Thomas Christians, and as it continued to exist even in my youth with some intensity, can be understood from the enactments of the Synod of Diamper of 1599. Allow me to quote a little extensively: “The Synod being informed, that in some parts when any one of the baser sort do but touch the Cisterns of Christians, that Christians do Disempolear or Purify them, by performing certain Ceremonies...(the Synod) with great rigour command those that make the said Disempoleamento or Purification,..to be thrown out of the Communion of the Church, and to be denied Casture...and to be punished with the Penalties...” (Act IX, Decree III of the 1599 Synod of Diamper)26 For Christians as to the Brahmins Nairs being Sudras was an untouchable caste, though some European writers have described the Nairs as Noblemen and so on.27 Cf. Decree II of Act IX of the said Synod fully and may I request you to go through it most car fully to understand how expediency and profit often comes first with Archbishop Menezes, and how His Grace advises tricks to combine religion with material benefit. He allows Christians to practise untouchability or Ayitham and to pretend to go by the existing customs of segregation, but not to perform the ritual bath after the pollution caused by going near or touching Nairs and lower caste persons if it will not come to the attention of the king and the elite! “Therefore the Synod doth command all that shall be found guilty of forbearing to touch such [Nairs], or having touched them, shall wash themselves, to be severely punished as Superstitious followers of the Heathen Customs, and commands the Preachers and Confessors to admonish them thereof in their Sermons and Confessions.” In the same Decree when the Synod is advising the Christians not to shun or steer clear of others who are Christians it is also indirectly pleading the cause of the Yavanas who were often considered Mlechas by caste Hindus and were untouchables for the native Christians too. 7.00 As the paper has already gone beyond the allotted length hereafter we shall restrict ourselves to a consideration of a few more related practices prevalent among the Christians and to draw some parallels between those and the Jewish or Brahmin customs. 7.01 The Synod doth condemn the Custom, or abuse that has obtained in this Diocess of the new-married couple’s not going to Church till after the fourth day after their Marriage, when they use to Wash themselves, which is according to the Judaical Ceremonies condemned by the Law of Christ...” (Action VII, Decree XVI, Geddes, ICHC I, Ed. Menachery, p.89) 7.02 Heathen Musicians to be kept out of the church. Hence Kottupuras as at Kuravilangad and Palai(?).Geddes, Ed. Menachery, p.74. 7.03 “Faithful Christians must not only avoid the Ceremonies and Superstitions of the Heathens, but the Judaical Rites and Ceremonies also,..the Synod, tho’ it doth very much commend the Holy Custom of carrying Children to Church forty days after they are born,...; nevertheless it condemns the separating of Women for the said forty days after the birth of a Male, as if they were unclean ...and eighty days after the birth of a Female; both which are Jewish Ceremonies, that are now abrogated...” (Geddes, Ed. Menachery, ICHCI, p.96, Decree V) 7.04 “Whereas the Synod is informed, That the meaner sort of People are much better disposed to receive the Faith than the Naires, or Nobles, and being extreamly desirous to find some way whereby such well disposed People may be made Christians, so as to assemble together with the old Christians, as why should they not, since they all adore the same God,...and conferred about the most proper methods for the effecting of it...we have not been able to find any that are effectual...” (Decree XXXVI, Geddes, Ed. Menachery, ICHCI, p.95). It is suggested that this is not done in order not to displease the Heathen Kings, “who would correspond with us no longer to the loss of the Trade and Commerce we do at present maintain with them”. To overcome such problems the Synod suggests that “and the Prelate shall be advised thereof, that he may give order for the building of distinct Churches for them” (i.e. the meaner sort of People), “and in case they have not a church to themselves, they shall then hear Mass without doors in the Porch,” etc. Geddes, p.95. 8.00 As has been shown here again and again the overriding concern for “Cleanliness” dominates, or used to dominate, the ritual and daily life of the three communities of Thomas Christians, Kerala Brahmins, and Jews from the earliest times. Many more examples could be given from the Holy Scripture (for the Jews), from works by Hindu scholars (for the Brahmins) and from tradition and practices (for the Christians). But I suppose enough is enough. There is much to be said about the similarity in the attitudes of these communities with regard to clean and unclean animals, uncleanness as a result of death, corpse, and funeral, dirts like mildew, cleaning of pots and vessels, skin diseases, bodily discharges including wet dreams and bowel movement and urination, sexual practices, and so on and so forth. But now let us look into some implications of these findings. 8.01 There is a young niece of mine, a medical doctor, working at the Jubilee Mission Medical College of Thrissur, who has been doing research on the DNA of various communities on the West Coast and Middle East, testing the blood at Hydarabad and abroad. She tells me that the Nampoothiries, the Jews, and the Thomas Christians all have the same DNA components. I merely suggest that this thought might be investigated. 8.02 It has been often suggested that the West Coast Brahmins were the result of conversion from Dravidian Stock or Semitic Stock. The deep-rooted common customs about Clean and Unclean found in these three communities surely indicate something more than meets the naked eye, especially when we remember that Brahmins are found in Kerala much later than the Christians, and they attain predominance in Kerala only around the 9th-10th Century CE, after decline of the power of the Christians. (Cf. My essay, “Christianity Older than Hinduism in Kerala”, in Glimpses of Nazraney Heritage and elsewhere. 8.03 The theory that the caste Hindus of Kerala separate themselves from Christians only at the time of the Syrian Christian Copper Plate Grants of Tharisappalli (849 CE) put forward by my dear departed friend M. J. Morris of Quilon deserves a little more attention. 8.04 There are a number of other matters connected with this topic that one would like to mention but there is neither space nor time for that. In any case the intention of the author of this paper has been to solicit the valuable opinions of the learned participants assembled here. It would be highly rewarding for the writer if some meaningful discussion could take place on this matter here or hereafter. NOTES: 1. Vide Vellian, Jacob, “A Jewish Christian Community”, The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India, Vol. II, Trichur, 1973, Ed. George Menachery, p.73 ff.; Mathew, E. P., “The Knanaya Community of Kerala”, id., ibid.; id.,”The Malankara Syrian Knanaya Christian Community”, Jacob Stephen; Koder, S., “History of the Jews of Kerala”, id., pp.183 - 185. All the above articles have been reproduced in the Thomapedia, Ed. Prof. George Menachery, Ollur, 2000. Also cf. the many related papers in St. Thomas Christians and Nambudiris, Jews, and Sangam Literature: A Historical Appraisal, Ed. Bosco Puthur, LRC Publications, Mt. St. Thomas, Kochi, 2003. 2. Cf.: Placid Podipara, “Hindu in Culture, Christian in Religion, Oriental in Worship”, in The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India, Vol. II, Trichur, 1973, Ed. George Menachery, pp. 107 - 112; “Malabar Christian Customs and Manners”, reproduced in The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India, Vol. II, Trichur, 1973, Ed. George Menachery, pp.126 -127 from D. Ferroli, The Jesuits in Malabar, Vol.I, Bangalore, 1939; STCEI, II, “Culture and Traditions of the Thomas Christians”, Joseph Kolengaden, pp.127 - 131; STCEI, II, “Character and Life Style of Thomas Christians” by Alexander Cherukarakkunnel, pp. 131 - 133. [The writings mentioned in notes 1 & 2 contain much bibliographical information for the topics dealt with, q.v..] 3. Listed below are, e.g. the 64 practices and customs (“Anaachaarams”) believed to have been established by Sankaraachaaryar (788 - 820 AD) specially for the Malayaala Braahmanans or the Namboothiries of Kerala. Since these are not followed anywhere else, they are called “Anaachaarams” or non-conventions. The following list has been chiefly copied from the Nampoothiri website for convenience, the # sign and the ~~~ signs have been added by the present writer, as also a few English words in parenthesis inside square brackets in order to make the meaning a little clearer perhaps. Also cf. the list appearing in the three volume Travancore State Manual edited by V. Nagam Aiya, Trivandrum, 1906, at pp. 267 - 271, Vol. III, Ch. IX, where under “Caste” Keralaacharams as distinct from East Coast customs of Brahmins are listed with annotations and discussed. Recently Dr. M. G. S. Narayanan has observed that these Anaacharams and caste observances could have been prescribed by some later Sankaraacharyar (“Introduction”, Menachery, George, Glimpses of Nazraney Heritage, Ollur, 2005): # Do not use twigs (a common practice elsewhere) for brushing teeth. # During the daily bath, do not bathe with the clothes worn till then. # Do not use the clothes worn till bath for wiping the body after bath (as a towel). # Do not bathe before sunrise. # Do not cook before bathing. # Do not use water stored (drawn from well) on the previous day for the next day’s use. While performing daily rites, do not seek any results, be detached. # Excess water after “Soucham” [washing after using the latrine], “Aachamanam” (“Kaalukazhukal”) [washing the feet], etc. shall not be used for other purposes. # Braahmanans, desirous of purity (“Suddhi”)[“Cleanliness”] shall bathe if they touch “Soodran”, etc. # Bathe if lower caste persons come close. # Bathe (in a different pond), if the water in a pond is touched, if the same has been touched earlier by a lower caste person. # Bathe upon stepping on the ground which has been swept with broom, but has not been sprinkled with water. “Bhasmam” (ash), etc. are to be smeared first vertically once and then horizontally in three lines. # Braahmanans while performing rituals, shall chant “Manthrams” themselves. # Do not use previous day’s food. # “Echil”(leftover food) of even children shall not be eaten by pious Braahmanans. Food items (“Nivedyam”) offered to Lord Sivan are not to be consumed. # Food served with hand shall not be eaten. # Buffalo milk and ghee prepared from it shall not be used for religious rituals. # Rice shall be eaten only in the form of balls (“urula”), but such balls shall not be kept in the leaf as leftover. # If one is polluted in any form (“Asudhham”) [defiled, polluted], even betel-chewing is prohibited. A “Brahmachaari” (boy during the period between Upanayanam and Samaavarthanam) shall observe “Nishthha” and “Vratham”. “Gurudakshina” (appropriate offerings to the teacher) must be given after completing the study of Vedam. # Vedam shall not be recited on the streets. # “Shodasakarmams” shall be performed during the prescribed periods. Girls shall not be sold. “Vrathams” shall not be observed with the expectation of any results in mind. # Women who touch another woman in period, shall have to bathe before eating. Braahmanans shall not spin thread. Braahmanans shall not do the work of washermen. Only Braahmanans are permitted to perform Siva Pooja on “Rudraaksham” (seed of the plant Eloeocarpus ganitrus), etc. Braahmanans shall not receive “Sraadhha Dakshina” (ritual offer on the death anniversary) from a “Soodran”. Braahmanans shall perform “Sraadhham” of their father’s and mother’s parents. Sraadhham shall be performed on every “Amaavaasi” (new moon) day. Upon the father’s or mother’s death, one shall observe “Deeksha” for one year. At the end of Deeksha on the 12th month, “Sapindi” shall be performed. If “Pula” or Asoucham comes during the Sapindi period, wait till Pula is over. Sraadhham day is reckoned based on the star of the month (“Nakshathram”). Children after being given for adoption to another family, shall perform Sraadhham of their own parents. Cremation shall be in own land. “Samnyaasi” (Saint) shall not look at women. “Samnyaasi” shall not perform Pindam nor Sraadhham. No ritual is performed when a Samnyaasi dies. A Braahmana woman shall not look at any man other than her husband, father, grandfather or their brothers on either side. Antharjanams (Namboothiri women) shall not move out of the house without a maid. ~~~They shall wear only white dress. ~~~They shall not pierce the nose. “Bhrashtu” (excommunication) is imposed on a Braahmanan who consumes alcohol. “Bhrashtu” is imposed also if he sleeps with any other Braahmana woman. “Pretham” (spirit) [ghost] shall not be consecrated in temples. # The idols in temples (“Deva Prathishthha”) shall not be touched by “Soodrans”, etc. # Offerings made to one god shall not again be proffered to another god. Marriages and other “Karmams” shall not be performed without “Homam”. Braahmanans shall not bless each other, for, they are equals. They shall also not prostrate before each other. Do not sacrifice cows. Saiva, Vaishnava and other such distinctions shall not exist. Only one “Poonool” (Yajnopaveetham, sacred thread) should be worn by Braahmanans even after marriage. Only the eldest son in the family shall marry an Antharjanam. # Sraadhham shall be performed only using rice. Non-Braahmanans are not eligible to enter into Samnyaasam. “Kshathriyans” and others shall perform Sraadhham for maternal uncles, since they follow matrilineal system. A woman whose husband is dead, shall enter into Samnyaasam. Braahmana women shall follow “Paathivrathyam” (chastity) strictly, but are prohibited from performing “Sathi” (immolation on husband’s funeral pyre). These are the primary customs prescribed by Bhaargavan. But Bhaargava Smruthi contains a large number of less important practices (“Aachaarams”). ” 4.Vide, e.g., the lengthy and detailed study by K. P. Padbanabha Menon, History of Kerala, Vol. I, Ernakulam, 1924, Ed. T. K. K. Menon, Notes on Letter 1, (5) “Descent of Namburi Brahmins”, pp.20 -22; (8) “Advent of Brahmins”, pp.76 -83. Also cf. entries in the two editions of the Travancore State Manual, one edited by Nagam Aiya in three Volumes (Trivandrum, 1906), and the other by T. K. Velu Pillai in four Volumes (Trivandrum, 1940). 5. Such as the works mentioned in note 3 supra. 6. The writer is not forgetting the few theses that already exist on related topics. 7. Reference may be made to the doctoral thesis of Dr. Veluthatt Kesavan and his recent paper for a seminar at Mt. St. Thomas, Kakkanad, “The Nambudiri Community: A History” , reproduced in St. Thomas Christians and Nambudiris, Jews, and Sangam Literature: A Historical Appraisal, Ed. Bosco Puthur, LRC Publications, Kochi, 2003. Another paper, by Dr. M. G. S. Narayanan , on the Nambudiri migrations also is printed in the same volume. Both papers refer to the special relationship that existed and exists between the Konkan Brahmins and the Kerala Brahmins, i.e. the Nambuthiries. 8.Vide, e.g., the lengthy and detailed study by Dr. L. A. Ravi Varma, “Castes of Malabar” in the Kerala Society Papers, [General Editor: T. K. Joseph] Series 9, 1932, alias Vol. II, 1997 reprint, Thiruvananthapuram, Gazateers Dept., Govt. of Kerala, pp.171 - 204. 9. Syrian Christians of Malabar or Kerala are Christians who use East Syriac as the language of their liturgy (the Syro Malabarians), or later on commencing with the arrival of Mar Gregorios of Jerusalem (1665?) West Syriac also (the Orhodox, the Jacobites, and now the Syro-Malankarites). The term does not carry any biological connotation except perhaps for the Knanaya Christians. 10. For a detailed discussion cf. Essay One : “Christianity Older than Hinduism in Kerala”, in George Menachery, Glimpses of Nazraney Heritage, Ollur, 2005. This essay may be read with slight variations in the Satna Diocesan Jubilee Seminar Papers, 1999; in the World Syriac Conference 2001 papers, reproduced by SEERI in the HARP, Kottayam; in the Journal of St. Thomas Christians, Rajkot, Vol. 15, No. 1, 2004, pp.33 - 42; in the Light of Life, New York, N. Y.; and now in the Souvenir of the Seminar Conference on the History of Early Christianity in India, Concordia University, New York, 13th - 16th Aug., 2005. 11. “Thomas Christian Architecture”, Menachery James (Dr. E. J.) in STCEI, II, Ed. G. Menachery, 1973, see section Domestic Architecture pp. 148 - 149; Menachery, George, Pallikkalakalum Mattum, Trichur, 1984; Menachery, George, Pallikalile Kala, Mathrubhoomi Weekly, March 28, [with forty illustrations], Kozhikode, 1978; for plans of Thomas Christian Naalukettu (Ollur) and Ettukettu (Kattur) see Thanima, September, 2005, Alwaye. 12. Joseph Pascal Neelankavil, “Feasts of the Thomas Christians,” article in STCEI II, Ed. George Menachery, Trichur, 1973, p.113, rt. col.; alias The Thomapedia, Ollur, 2000, 113 >g. 13. Id., ibid. 14. Id., ibid. 15. Id., ibid. 16. “The feast of the Passover is celebrated by Jews in memory of their deliverance from Egypt in the time of Pharaoh Rameses II. It is a feast lasting a week in the spring, and during that time the only bread Jews can eat is Matzah, or unleavened bread. Matzah was the bread baked by the Hebrews in the Sinai desert during the Exodus. Wheat flour is mixed with water but without the addition of yeast. When the mixture is baked the loaf is flat, or unleavened. The Passover celebration begins with a meal which is called the Seder. This is an important meal, and Jews bring out the best silver, china and glass. Care is also taken with the choice of wine. During the meal the family reads from a special book, the Haggadah, or Passover book. This is a kind of play in which members of the family take parts, and the story is the story of the original Passover.” The Wonderful Story of the Jews, Plantagenet Somerset Fry, Purnell, London, 1970, p.15. 17. Jacob Vellian, “A ‘Jewish Christian’ Community”, article in STCEI II, Ed. George Menachery, Trichur, 1973, p.74, rt. col.; alias The Thomapedia, Ollur, 2000, 74<e. 18. Id., ibid. 19. Ludovico di Varthema, quoted by G. T. Mackenzie, Christianity in Travancore, reproduced in ICHC, I, The Nazranies, Ed. Prof. George Menachery, Ollur, 1998, p.130 cited in Hakluit Society’s Publication, 1863. 20. The Christian name most common today among Thomas Christians is George, i.e. its variations like Gevarghese, Varghese, Varu, Vareed, Varunny...Coincidently George happens to be the name of the patron saint of England. Paradoxically the Christian name most popular in England is Thomas, as this writer discovered in 1975 while examining the English census reports in the British Museum (British) Library as in Thomas Becket, Thomas More, Thomas Carlyle, Thomas Cromwell...Thomas being the benefactor of King Alfred the Great of England, the only king designated as great in that country. It will be interesting to study how two names popular in the east became names in the greatest demand in England. That by way of digression. 21. Kaanippaiyoor Shankaran Nampoothirippadu, Ente Smaranakal (My Recollections), Malayalam, Panchangam Book Stall, Kunnamkulam, 1963: Chapter 15, “Vattum Echilum” (Dirtiness of Boiled Rice and the Dirtiness of Left-Overs ); Chapter 18, “Shuddhashuddham” ( Clean-Unclean). 22. Id., Chapter 21, “Aiyitham” (Untouchability, Unseeability, &c.). 23. See for example articles by Ferroli, Podipara, Kolengaden, Cherukarakkunnel &c. in the St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India, Vol. II, Trichur, 1973, Ed. George Menachery referred to in note 2 supra. 24. Sambandham became an indispensable part of the Kerala way of life as a result of the custom among the Namputhiri community permitting only the eldest son to marry from one’s own community. While this custom preserved all Brahmin property in the same family - and all land in Kerala either belonged to the Brahmin (Brahmaswam) or to the temple (Devaswam) -from generation to generation, the younger members of the family could not marry Antharjanams or Brahmin women and had to be accommodated otherwise to satisfy their natural urges. The importance of a Nair woman often depended upon the number and quality of her nightly visitors. Often this Sambandham, emotionally though perhaps not legally, attained the status or attributes of a regular marriage. 25. For dozens of customs and rules regarding “Clean and Unclean” among the Nampoothiries no better authority could be cited than Kanippayyoor Shankaran Nampoothirippadu whose books like Ente Smaranakal ( autobiographical work with much information on castes, laws and practices of pollution and ablutions), Naayanmaarude Poorvacharithram (Early History of Nairs) I and II, Elamkulathinte NambooriShshakaram (A critique of Prof. Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai’s criticism of Brahmin customs) are recommended (all published by Panchangam Book Stall, Kunnamkulam). To understand the real social and religious place and position of each community like Nampoothiries, Nairs, Pisharotis, Variers, Marars, Menons, Ezhavas, Thiyyas, Pulayas, Paraiahs, &c. the autobiography (Jeevithappatha) of the late Communist leader Cherukadu will be very useful. It is very difficult to understand the status of a community vis-a-vis other communities without the help of these or similar frank autobiographies because most communities from Ambalavaasis to Nairs to Ezhavas to Ezhuthachans to Pulayas to Mulayas to Paraiahs generally try to keep these caste distinctions and customs hidden from others, especially in these modern times. 26. Michael Geddes, A Short History of the Church of Malabar together with the Synod of Diamper, London, 1694, p.96 in the SARAS edition in The Indian Church History Classics, Vol.I, The Nazranies, Ed. Prof. George Menachery, Ollur, 1998. This first book on the Malabar Christians in the English language may also be read in Vol.II of Hough. 27. Cf. Works by Kanippayyoor Sankaran Nampoothirippadu and Cherukaadu, vide note 25 supra. The Nairs appear in Kerala history only after the 11th century CE, and from the time of their appearance they are Sudras serving the other three castes, and as the Christians were equal to or only just next to the Brahmins the Nairs were their Dasas or a sort of glorified servant class. But as time went on, with the attainment of Marthanda Varma to sovereignty in Travancore, and with the custom of the kings of Cochin accepting Nair women as their “wives” (“concubines” in Dutch records), and with the increase in the clout of the Zamorins, and the decline of the Nampoothiries, the Nair classes began to assume the cultural legacy of the Nampoothiries. And as the Christians became more and more westernized they lost their say in matters of Kerala culture and aristocracy. More than the harm brought about by the so-called Latinising efforts of the Portuguese it was this de-culturation of the Nazranies that led to the decline of Christians in all spheres of Kerala life. |
| Name: | Jalil Asaria |
| E-mail address: | jalilasaria@gmail.com |
| Comments: | I just watched her speech come september and i can say that her words and her message resonated with me deeply. i can only hope that we all embody the understanding and ability to question what is happening in our world as she does. |
| Name: | Ajay |
| E-mail address: | ajay_mudotiya@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Namaskar, Arundhati
I am a journalist by proffesion & a fan of you from agra (uttar pradesh). keep ahead your efforts for reforms of society. In this mission i am willing to work with you.. thanks Ajay Agra |
| Name: | Sibi Mathews |
| E-mail address: | getmesibi@gmail.com |
| Comments: | Thankyou for outlining the BEAST and also the BEAST within me. I know that I cannot kill it, as the Father of our Nation did, but I just know this fact the Arch Angel has started breaking his scrolls and the BEAST is set to expire.
Please give this message to Mrs Roy. |
| Name: | aba |
| E-mail address: | imo@yahoo.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://asse.com |
| Comments: | i love this page. |
| Name: | Charles Naranga |
| E-mail address: | ctnand@gmail.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.karmaputrafiles.com |
| Comments: | Dear Miss Arundhatu Roy
Congratulations! The God of Small Things is a great book. I only wish that I had your talant to re-write my novel Karma Putra and turn it into a bestseller. It has to be edited and republished by a publisher in India to suit. PLEASE do not be offened by the vacabulary in Karma Putra-as it is written strictly for men only. Best regards Charles Naranga |
| Name: | uche |
| E-mail address: | imo@yahoo.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.aba.com |
| Comments: | keepit up please |
| Name: | Piotr Mierzwa |
| E-mail address: | mierzwa.piotr@gmail.com |
| Comments: | I have just tried to introduce myself but the server has failed. I shall try private communication. |
| Name: | Piotr Mierzwa |
| E-mail address: | mierzwa.piotr@gmail.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://http://literackie.pl/utwory.asp?idtekstu=1357&idautora=57&lang= |
| Comments: | Dear Sir,
I am a young Polish poet (27 on the 31st of October) with one book of poems published. Fairly unnoticed, but not unwelcomed. As I saw your webpage, I immediatelly decided to write to you. I must tell you that my love for Arudhati Roy is boundless. I have never been to India, but my best friend, an Indian (his mother is Konkani speaking and presently lives near Oslo, where he was born) physicist doing his doctorate in Bonn often promises that a day will come when we will travel to Mumbai. His name is Robindra Rabindranath Prabhu. We've known each other for almost 10 years. I purchased Ms. Roy's book in Wales already after the prize winning. I have on my shelf the book "The Interior Landscape" translated by A. K. Ramanujan. If there be any links that I have to Indian literature (I am inspired by Tamil love poetry, among others) they exist through Amit Chaudhuri, whose collection of short stories "Real Time" I also owe. I dedicated a poem to Mr. Chaudhuri, of which, I am sure, he is completely unaware. Both books were presents. I'd most happy to introduce to you Mr. Prabhu, but unfortunatelly presently he is very busy. Should you care to read some exercises in English, see: my.space.com/niemoniemo. I wrote them while on academic scholarship in Cedar Falls, Iowa and I remember the sojourn very fondly. The friedship with Jesse Swan and David Friedrish Kierksick is lasting, however intermittently and electronically. Do you know Ms. Roy personally? I'd be very curious of her whereabouts, both literaty and activist. The most precious information that I could implore of you would be to know if Arundhati Roy plans to release a new novel any time soon. I can really take my time. I must assure you that the discovery of your site made me exceedingly happy. I do appreciate the modesty with which you write about Ms. Roy. Needless to say, for me the Jane Austen of Indian Literature is Salman Rushdie. "Midnight Children" belongs to my personal favourites and I have never read in in the Polish translation, which I am sure might be superb. The book cannot rival Ms. Roy's novel. It is utterly transparent for my humble person the Ms. Roy is one of the most beautiful women in the world. I live in Kraków, in the suburbian area of Ruczaj (which fairly translates into the burn or brook) and I am polishing my MA thesis on John Ashbery's "Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror". I have many literary acquaintances in the "town" and in this "country" (Kraków is an extremely tedious place and I am glad that it takes me half an hour by public transport to get to the center, which I do only infrequently) and I have a hunch that it could be possible to invite Arundhati Roy, the writer, to some forthcoming literary festival. I hope that our communications will turn private. |
| Name: | Amba Charan Vashishth |
| E-mail address: | acvashishth@gmail.com |
| Comments: | Sir,
Bharatmata and the Indian goddesses whom some of our painters, like M. F. Hussain, Chander Mohan, have painted in the nude, are mothers to crores of Indians in India and abroad. They have hurt the feelings of the majority of Indian population. But many of our ‘secularists’, rationalists, liberals and other intellectuals have condemned all those who stood in the way of their freedom of expression. But, surprisingly, the same herd went underground and silent when there was great violence in the country when a Danish painters exercised his right to freedom of expression by painting Prophet Mohammad injuring the feelings of our Muslim brethren. I have a humble request to all those, like Arundhati Roy, Nandita Das, and all others who beat their chests against violation of freedom of expression of certain artists who painted Indian goddesses and Lord Christ in the nude to send their own and their mothers photographs to me so that I can get them painted in the nude in exercise of my right to freedom of expression. I hope they will support me and respect my freedom of expression, as do they support the likes of M. F. Hussain. With regards, Yours sincerely, Amba Charan Vashishth |
| Name: | Roshana Mallawaarachchi |
| E-mail address: | dplwebmarketing.ltd@gmail.com |
| Homepage URL: | https://dpl.nameservices.net |
| Comments: | Nice work |
| Name: | regy Joseph |
| E-mail address: | regyjoseph@rediffmail.com |
| Comments: |
Sir, I am a teacher from Karnataka, I would like to do my thesis on Eco-feminism or contributions to social change. could u please suggest me some books and writings on her. Has anybody worked on her . yours regy joseph |
| Name: | Edward Locher |
| E-mail address: | edwardlocher@swissinfo.org |
| Comments: | thank you so much |
| Name: | pam thwaites webb |
| E-mail address: | p.thwaites@rocler.qc.ca |
| Comments: | I am amazed at the wonderful writing of your book. It is truly some of the best that I have ever read. I put aside everything to finish it to it's bitter ending and do hope that human beings can bridge the gap now between cultures and classes to find true love with others. I wish I could write like that - in pictures, but an audience that is truly as appreciative is also a necessity. Please write more. Pam |
| Name: | Margareth DGM |
| E-mail address: | margarethdgm@yahoo.co.id |
| Comments: | "The God of small Thing" is still the best book I've ever read.The story is simple but so real, with the culture of Kerala as it's background makes it so beautifull. Read this book just like, having a galadinner,the food is complete,from the appetizer, main menu and dessert, and you're full.The quote that I like most is (in Indonesian): ...dia tidak meninggalkan riak di air, atau memantulakan bayangan di cermin, dewanya hal-hal kecil...So tragic, that when someone looking for something better (the 2nd religion)and it's seems a better choice, but guess what, it's even worse than the first.For me, it's like somebody cheating on you.Sad ending, but still beautifull,makes you can't stop reading before the last page, and after reading this book there's something that urge me to think about Kerala, and so many other "Keralas" all aroun the world, where the culture or religion often bridle the poor, when they only have it to make their life better, and to relief their pain, the social pain.To Arundhati Roy: thanks for write this beautifull book. You arrange ordinary words to beautifull and meaningfull sentences.This is one of the must-read book. |
| Name: | Ashok Bhagat |
| E-mail address: | ashok1198@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | I think Ms Roy should migrate to a different country. No, may be to a different planet. No country is suitable for her abilities related to fracturing of societies. If she wishes to migrate, I am willing to start a fund for her one way ticket. Please just leave to our misery.
I think she has lost her mind due to so much press that she receives. However, it is the Indian/US democray that lets her do what she wants to do. She seems to be a good writer, but that is where her abilities end. She has no clue about economics or geopolitics. I cannot understand as to when she cannot understand India, how she can pretend to be an expert on US foreign policy. These anarchists never cease to surprise me. Ms. Roy why you do not write another good book, can you stop your political babble for some time. Ashok K. Bhagat |
| Name: | Moncy Pothen |
| E-mail address: | moncypothen@yahoo.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.beneaththecloudsandcoconutleaves.com |
| Comments: | Hello Sebi,
You are really a talented person. Hope you will consider my novel, 'Beneath the Clouds and Coconut Leaves,' also to be included in your web site. Thanks and best wishes. Moncy Pothen, Sharjah, UAE |
| Name: | ANURITA |
| E-mail address: | gkmehta1971@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Dear Arundhati Roy,
have u ever thought of writing a novel that of a common womans who suffers day and night from this male dominated society i am not a writer but i am aware of the facts and real search of a woman who is just in search of the true love and what she ets is verbal abuse from everyboy with whom she comes in touch with everybody claims to love her without any conditions but all they wants is something else from her. she wants you to meet her and listen to her and write about her life and i bet u you will never regret if u hear her life story. she wants the writer who can express her and who can feel her emotions . i would certainly appreciate if you contact me on the above email address. |
| Name: | Lisa |
| E-mail address: | liz2ks@gmail.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.beneaththecloudsandcoconutleaves.com |
| Comments: | Very informative. |
| Name: | A fan of India |
| E-mail address: | fanofindia@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | After listening to the recent interview with Arundati Roy after Pres. Bush's visit, I am convinced that A. Roy is a good writer but no expert on international politics and not a lover of capitalism by any extent. If not a communist, she sure is a socialist who labels all rich as animals in the zoo.
As history has proven, capitalism is the only *workable* system using which a country like India has the best chance it ever had to uplift the poor. So if Mr. A. Roy is a lover of the masses, as she claims, she should do a little bit of reading of basic economics. Otherwise she is only making herself irrelevant by giving the stupid interviews, like that she gave recently. |
| Name: | Hutch Locklear |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.fishingforsouls.com |
| Comments: | Jesus is soon coming! You and I as Christians, are chosen to reach the world for Christ. The fields are white for harvest. Let's do what we can before the endtime. While here I invite you to visit me also and be blessed at www.fishingforsouls.com, and print all the Christian tracts you want online, Free. God Bless, Hutch |
| Name: | tina louise |
| E-mail address: | info@armsagainstwar.info |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.armsagainstwar.info |
| Comments: | Arundhati Roy:
This was an excellent article on a great writer and thinker. I have been trying to find an email for her but to no avail. I am part of a campaign entitled ARMS AGAINST WAR and hoped she may be interested. As I was researching, I found your article and thought I would mention it here, thank you for the opportunity. The campaign is free, accessible to all regardless of location, income, religion, beliefs and seeks to unify all against the war in Iraq (being specific to keep it simple and accessible to all) in one voice in a form of continuous, peaceful protest. All that is asked is that objectors to the war in Iraq, tear a strip of white fabric and wear it tied around their arms until the war ends. This simple act empowers the powerless and gives voice to the un-heard. It is free, you cannot be arrested for it, it can be worn in 'no-protest' zones and on television. I do hope you will consider joining us. Namste, Tina Louise www.armsagainstwar.info |
| Name: | mischa lindsay |
| E-mail address: | kendell19@yahoo.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://20viagra.blog.kataweb.it/ |
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| Name: | Stephano |
| E-mail address: | guika@asfewee.net |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.articleagency.com/backup/acuvue-toric.html |
| Comments: | I think what you are doing is great!! <a href="http://www.articleagency.com/backup/acuvue-toric.html" title="acuvue toric contact">acuvue toric contact</a>, "http://www.articleagency.com/backup/acuvue-toric.html". |
| Name: | mgbada joe |
| E-mail address: | maga@gmail.com |
| Comments: | keep it up is very nice |
| Name: | SHUKLA KALPESHKUMAR |
| E-mail address: | kal_27@rediffmail.com |
| Comments: | Dear Sir,
I want to read her book THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS. Is it available on internet? pls reply me. kalpesh. |
| Name: | dhruv |
| E-mail address: | dhru_v2003@yahoo.co.in |
| Comments: | if human let ,,,then nothing is enaugh neither world nor universe |
| Name: | Dee Bhan |
| E-mail address: | bhan_rohit@rediffmail.com |
| Comments: | You have a good website. Just a comment oin A Roy's writings:
Arundhati Roy seems to have been influenced by the "stream of consciousness" technique of Virginia Wolf. Dee Bhan Simla, India |
| Name: | irma cadiz |
| E-mail address: | icyleigh2@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | i just read the book The of Small Things and i was fascinated by it.. i become an avid fan of Ms. Roy.. |
| Name: | vijay dinanath namasa |
| E-mail address: | rocksays_hi@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | we feel glad whoen we read this book first time. it is in our syllabus. we want some omore information .& i think you are the greatest in indo anglican writer machodamni |
| Name: | fortune |
| E-mail address: | fortunedonut7@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | Firstly, i would like to address people who say Arundhati is just another writer from a bourgoise background, promoting world issues that she has no right to promote. Yes, she is well-off and perhaps she is stirring up some issues surrounding the war in Iraq but she is also one of few people who actually has the courage to do so.
Quoting another person who has signed this guestbook: Anyone can shout from the rooftops when their stomach is full and mind is rested . Yes that is true, ANYONE could but when it comes down to the crunch, how many actually do? How many people with empty stomachs and restless minds are heard? To quote Ms Roy herself in her acceptance of the Sydney Peace Prize: "We know of course there's really no such thing as the 'voiceless'. There are only the deliberately silenced, or the preferably unheard." http://www.smh.com.au/news/Opinion/Roys-full-speech/2004/11/04/1099362264349.html I suggest you read this speech before assuming anything based on this remarkable woman's socio-economic background, in fact if we gave everyone this kind of fair treatment, perhaps the world could become a better place. |
| Name: | Swapnil Dongre |
| E-mail address: | d11swap@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | Dear Arundhati and her admirers,
I am a Masters graduate in Management and currently work and live in Dubai; and since my school days, I was not much of a reader of any of the'fat books', novels (fiction) never appealed me. Yes, just like children are, I was always interested in comics and stuff. But since then I can't remember reading a worth while book apart from my academic course books! However it all changed when recently I went on a 'so called holiday' to my parents place in Mumbai. The trip was washed with the floods in Mumbai and Maharashtra, which prevented me from venturing out and meeting people. Infact we fled the city for Pune, which was better off! Out of impulse or you may say instinct, like never before, I went to the largest bookstore in the city and laid my hands on the latest of Arundhati's work; 'Ordinary Person's Guide to EMPIRE'. I never left it till I finished it on my return flight to Dubai. It was a real treat and an absolute revelation to the other side of the coin. This book is a must read for all! I think the sharpness of the words and the extensive reference is remarkable and commendable! But the best thing is the power of her writing, it is amazingly thought provoking and exciting to read (especially for a non-reader like me!). I am now waiting to grab her other precious works; next would mostly be 'The Algebra of Infinite Justice' which I presume will exceed my expectations! Keep up the good work Arundhati, and I am now one of your greatest admirer and fan! All the very best to you. I would also like to invite her to contact me; if and whenever she is passing by, or wishes to visit this part of the world. I would be deeply honoured to be her host! Best wishes! Swapnil |
| Name: | Nitin Raghunath |
| E-mail address: | africanmonkolongo@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Hi. I'm looking for a copy of a dvd of 'in which annie gives it to those ones'.Would you happen to know how I can get a copy? |
| Name: | hasan baizeed |
| E-mail address: | bairumn104@yahoo.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.eprweekly.com |
| Comments: | It was a precious moment while visiting the site. |
| Name: | sarva |
| E-mail address: | sarva@iconimago.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.iconimago.com |
| Comments: | I love her work. I have such admiration for Arundhati Roy! Thanks for putting the website together. There are so many reasons I am attracted to her.
I also thought it was a nice touch that you noted: I don't have the e-mail address of Ms. Roy. Please don't ask it of me. Peace. |
| Name: | James Francis |
| E-mail address: | jamespzr@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Dear Madam,
I'm a third year MA student and My project is The Exploitation Of Child Would on the basis of Arundhadi Roy's Works. As I have to mention about Arundhadi Roy's each works in the Introduction I must know about Her writings. If you could write to me about Her works, it would be a great help for me. Thanking Yours Faithfully' James. |
| Name: | jerry hughes |
| E-mail address: | jezzah@alphalink.com.au |
| Comments: | Dear Arundhati Roy,
I can't begin to tell you how inportant you are in a world gone mad with the need and greed for the material, quickly becoming obsolescent, and adding more pollution to the already overpolluted landscape. I wrote this in 1996, and it's probably more relevant today. SIMPLICITY I think we've lost it. We're brainwashed into believing we need everything brighter, faster, bigger. It has to be, new, new new! And you'll get a set of steak knives if yu buy one, now! I scour the Trading Post for old things, because they're made better, and work better. In our quest to reach for the stars, we're leaving the surface of the earth littered with new obsolescence. |
| Name: | Rigel Ernest Best |
| E-mail address: | rigelbest@yahoo.com.au |
| Comments: | To Arundhaty: I thank the universal Spirit for your existence. I have heard your lecture in Sydney for your acceptance of the Sydney Peace Prize. I also heard your interview on ABC Radio with Phillip Adams. It amazes me that some people hate you; i regard you as a messenger from God (im not religious, but i believe in a higher power). All power to you! I am a musician... a passive persuit but you have inspired me to become more politically active. I shall read your books. Peace be with you. |
| Name: | John Paul |
| E-mail address: | Gabriel2Michael@aol.com |
| Comments: | Roy is another classic example of someone who actually promtes violence and death by her recommendations that Iraq become further violent by fighting U.S. Forces when in fact the U.S. has handed sovereignty back to Iraq. It's no wonder that the "least" among you become the greatest sponsors of terrorism. |
| Name: | Barbara Rosen |
| E-mail address: | bjr7@earthlink.net |
| Comments: | Thank you for your site. I am now reading her incredible novel (God of...)...I don't know why I waited so long. I wanted to know more about this remarkable person and so I went to the internet and to your web site...as you said comments are important to you I wanted to thank you. The photos are most interesting, I will be looking much more at your site. Right now, I am "drinking" every word of her prose. My husband made a copy of her speech when he heard I was loving her novel... I am a little behind but it is wonderful to make discoveries Many thanks
Barbara |
| Name: | kumari Navaratne |
| E-mail address: | hnavarat@sltnet.lk |
| Comments: | Dear Arundathi, I was fortunate to watch your book presentation on C-span. I have ordered your book on "An ordinary person's guide to empire' and have not read yet but listened what you said. I am not an actiist but i am a woman who faced lots of discriminaion adn now in USA just accompanying my daughter who is studying here. When I came to the states the papers in Sri Lanka published many false stories, making my journey to gain narrow political gains. However, many things you said was like similar to what I experienced but in a different way. So let me read your book and come back to you later. I am proud of you as a women and also as an asian woman. best regards, kumari Navaratne
|
| Name: | Ernest Goitein |
| E-mail address: | fego@pacbell.net |
| Comments: | You have distilled the amorphous thoughts in my mind about the politics of resistance and power. These ideas are now much clearer and will allow me to be more effective in the struggle for a true democracy. Thank you! |
| Name: | lindell pittman |
| E-mail address: | www.coollindell@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | i just watched c-span, and caught part of her comments, on the importance of standing up for the have nots , and them standing up for their selves, life is funny, because everytime you get to a point where you think you are at the top of the mountain you see someone or something else that is bigger, i said that to say her ideas are the best and biggest ideas i ever heard on how to fight the power. |
| Name: | Anita |
| Comments: | I have listened to your double-talk and you are not as intelligent as you think you are.
That's all I have to say and you are not worth any more of my thoughts. |
| Name: | maga |
| E-mail address: | magamugu@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | very nice site keep on good work,i dey hereoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo |
| Name: | Savannah Skye |
| E-mail address: | savvy1007@yahoo.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://geocities.com/savvy1007 |
| Comments: | I'm in the process of reading "War Talk", and it's written really well... I love her use of language - very creative as well as biting when it needs to be... So I wanted to share with you here my two anti-war poems...
I just wanted to share with you my two anti-war poems... War Torn ---------------------------------------------------- We stand alone under flags of disjoined countries Manipulated by leaders prepensely dividing humanity Under gray skies filled with stealth bombers of peace That loom over stark patriotic lies In a war torn world marred by greed Littered with corporate profiteers of death Who punch holes in our wall of peace With their iron fists of war Brick by brick, they're trying to knock it down As we fumble with words and stumble over weapons In shopping malls brimming with sweatshop goods That are bought with oil soaked greenbacks While bloodied bodies float in the sands of Fallujah Rotting flesh picked at by hungry vultures Outraged Umms search amongst the carnage Heart wrenched, wailing out for lost sons and daughters Above them angels with crippled wings won't look down Their eyes are shamed by what they've left behind Surely no Medal of Honor pinned upon their dead bodies will stop familial tears They will flow freely from Mothers' eyes who are left behind to bury their children With scorned hands that pray for an end to these non-sensical wars Behind veils of mourning that mask their sunken war torn eyes and... Victims of War --------------------------------- Victims of war Dance on shards of pain In life's empty battlefield Ghosts dance in their head Casting shadows of death Across casualties of life Crimson tears are cried From eyes long blind To blood shed for peace Children left behind Blown to fragmented pieces By smart bombs incognito Ears do not ring freedom Flags are tattered and torn Above bodies lying in a pool of blood - Amor y Paz - Savannah Skye... |
| Name: | Luigi |
| E-mail address: | luis23@tin.it |
| Comments: | Semplicemente fantastica.
Mi piace molto cosa e come scrive. Mi dispiace di non averla conosciuta prima. Mi spiace di non conoscerla di persona. Simply fantastic. A lot pleases me what and how it writes. It displeases me of not to have the well-known first. It displeases me of not to know the in person. |
| Name: | Anjali |
| E-mail address: | anjalib1980@yahoo.co.in |
| Comments: | I need the contact address of Arundhathi Roy |
| Name: | rituraj misra |
| E-mail address: | rituraj_iitian@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | plz if u can provide me the e mail address of arundhati ray.
i wanna contact to her. how can i contact to her? |
| Name: | Yakoub Islam |
| E-mail address: | Plimfix@btopenworld.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://uk.geocities.com/plimfix/tasneem.html |
| Comments: | I've just finished the first chapter of 'The Algebra of Infinite Justice.' Arundhati is a writer of great clarity and conviction. I like the way she can encapsulate so much in a single phrase or paragraph, but without it being at all sloganeerish - for example, describing Western nations as having 'histories spongy with the blood of others'. After a diet of social science books and journalism, which has been my lot of late, this kind of literary journalism is a real delight. I think a book to be rapidly read and re-read! |
| Name: | USA |
| E-mail address: | nunya@usa.f-off |
| Comments: | Truer words...
Perhaps the most pathetic example of this strange nexus between first- and third-world Western bashing was seen in mid-December on television. Just as the United States government declared a high alert, one could watch a replay of the Indian novelist Arundhati Roy trashing America to a captivated, near-gleeful audience in New York. Her dog-and-pony show was followed by pathetic pleading from her nervous interrogator, Howard Zinn, not to transfer her unabashed hatred of the Bush administration to the United States in general. Mimicking the theatrics of American intellectuals — Roy’s hands frequently gestured scare quotes — she went from one smug denunciation to another to the applause of her crowd. Little was said about the crater a few blocks away, the social pathologies back home in India that send tens of thousands of its brightest to American shores, or Roy’s own aristocratic dress, ample jewelry, and studied accent. All the latter accoutrements and affectations illustrated the well-known game she plays of trashing globalization and corporatization as she jets around the Western world precisely through its largess — all the while cashing in by serving up an elegant third-world victimization to guilt-ridden Westerners. Is it weird that Western perks like tenure, jet-travel, media exposure, and affluence instill a hatred for the West, here and abroad? Or rather for a certain type of individual does such beneficence naturally explain the very pathology itself? |
| Name: | sam |
| E-mail address: | noway@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | How many lies have you told to support your self-absorbed, lacking of reality veiws. I can't read any of your material without thinking about the facts that abound in the world that prove you to be the snake oil salesman you are. Just because you come from a foreign land doesn't make you more. Your writings show you to be a spoiled brat with no real experience in dealing with real world situations. Just how rich was your mother and how long did she have to wage her legal battle for you to become that spoiled brat???? |
| Name: | Darryl Holmes |
| E-mail address: | centexcdc@hot.rr.com |
| Comments: | I will begin to read the works of this fascinating activist. Saw her recently on CSPAN Booknotes, and on Bill Moyers NOW. She is a true gift from God.
Regards, Darryl |
| Name: | Rohit Panwar |
| E-mail address: | rohitpanwar@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | HEY ARUNDHATI,
YOU ARE AGAINST EVERYTHING HAPPENING IN THE WORLD WHICH IS OK BUT WHAT IS YOUR ALTERNATIVE PLAN LIKE FOR GENERATING EMPLOYMENT IN INDIA RIGHT NOW PRIVATISATION IS GOING ON AND YOU ARE AGAINST THAT . lOTS OF PEOPLE ARE BENEFITING FROM PRIVATISATION BUT YOU SAY ITS NOT GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY. SO TELL ME HOW DO YOU WANT TO MANAGE INDIA ? IS THERE ANY PAN YOU HAVE IN YOUR MIND AND WANT TO SHARE WITH OTHER PEOPLE OR YOU ARE JUST TO PLAY POWER POLITICS OF CONDEMMING WHAT OTHER PEOPLE TRY TO DO ? HEY ARUNDHATI ARE YOU LISTENING ME ? PLEASE REPLY. REGARDS, ROHIT |
| Name: | Bob Elliston |
| E-mail address: | economicliberation@trump.net.au |
| Homepage URL: | http://liberationeconomics.trump.net.au |
| Comments: | Dear Seby,
I admired your web site. Arundhati is a remarkable person, maybe the re-incarnation of M. K. Gandhi! I'm sorry that you dont have her E-mail address because I would like to converse with Arundhati about my ideas for a new economics. Despite what you may hear in the future, I am the sole originator of "Liberation Economics". Would you know how I might go about making contact with others who are interested in FAIR economics, an economic system designed to serve need rather than greed? Thanks again and very best wishes, Bob. |
| Name: | siva |
| E-mail address: | tanukusrinivas2@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | My response to the so called (pseudo) secular activist Ms. Roy.
=========================================================== If secularism is still alive even if barely in the world today, it is in the hearts of ordinary men and women who recognize and practice fairness and tolerance every day. However, in keeping with their character, they practice true secularism, not preach a distorted version of it. It is the duty of every right-thinking citizen of every country to ensure that authentic secularism takes root and blossoms everywhere. In that process, it is also incumbent upon the citizenry to terminate the careers of professional scaremongers who have managed to appropriate the label of secularists for themselves, while practicing and abetting the most reprehensible ultra-communal way of life imaginable. (copied from internet -- not my own) ” |
| Name: | Arthur George |
| E-mail address: | artgeo12@bellsouth.net |
| Comments: | May you expand and grow in GRACE.
Sadgurnath Maharaj Ki Jaya |
| Name: | Michael Hagos |
| E-mail address: | mike_e_h@hotmail.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.geocities.com/witnesstohisresurrection |
| Comments: | Dear Roy,
Unfortunately, I have not read any of your books, although I certainly intend to. However, I have read numerous articles and essays by you at zmag and elsewhere. I find your uncompromising integrity and writing style very compelling, inspiring and refreshing. Please keep up the great work that you are doing! Best wishes, Mike. |
| Name: | Samira Dibi |
| Comments: | I just started to read the Dutch translation of "God of the small things". I had it for my birhthday last week and just finished the first chapter. I am very curious to see if the book is as good as people say. |
| Name: | M.A. Noor |
| E-mail address: | manoor@dhaka.net |
| Comments: | Many thanks for bringing out a page on Arundhati Roy, my most favourite author. English prose has got a golden touch from her. |
| Name: | Ruchi |
| E-mail address: | ruchimailaccount@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Hi Webmaster,
The link to two of Arundhati's articles is not available. The articles are 'The end to Imagination' and 'The greater common good'. Can you please look into it and insure that the corresponding pages opens.. Thanks, Ruchi |
| Name: | Ruchi |
| E-mail address: | ruchimailaccount@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Your page made a good reading.........after reading Arundhati's 'God of small things' and also her views on 'War with Iraq' I had a natural curiosity of knowing more about her.......
Just the last line of the page 'email Id' not available is disheartning.......I perhaps understand how many people like me would be wanting to exchange few words with her..... |
| Name: | Zlatko Kostadinov |
| E-mail address: | zearendil@bulgaria.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://debian.fmi.uni-sofia.bg/~zearendil |
| Comments: | Hi
I am just a man from Bulgaria and want to congratulate ARUNDHATI ROY for the articles. It is good that there is still such kind of journalists. Here in bulgaria the most people can see the truth, but it can't be heard on the TV or read in the newspapers... |
| Name: | raghav aras |
| E-mail address: | raghav_aras@hotmail.com |
| Comments: | Dear Miss Roy:
In your recent speech, you told your Argentine audience, that in 1973, the American agency CIA orchestrated a coup in Chilé through which General Pinochet supplanted the elected, left-leaning Chiléan President Salvador Allendé. He (Allendé) had swept to power again in a rather dramatic, if typical South American election. On assuming power Pinochet, after killing Allendé, presided over a reign of terror that lasted for a good 20 years. In visiting this part of history, one assumes that you wished to emphasize to your audience how little the American Government (back then as today) thinks of trampling democratically elected governments, if they are not of it's liking. Many of your other talks as well as writings contain further references to America ruining the democratic framework of a nation. One is led to believe then that you consider the democratic process (when conducted scrupulously), wherein people select whom they want as their administrator or policy-maker, as something somewhat sacrosanct. Assuming this, I find an aberration in your speech, when you calumnize the re-election of the chief minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi. One is aware from the corpus of your recent writings, of your anathema for the BJP, of which Mr. Modi is a cadre. Considering that this election saw a very impressive voter turnout, and that Mr. Lyngdoh was hailed for its accuracy/efficiency (in counting the collected votes), and knowing who are involved in an election process (candidates, voters, commissionars), it is easy to see that you are calumnating not solely Mr. Modi but in fact the general public of Gujarat, the electorate. This electorate used its right to appoint as guardian of their administration whom they saw fit to do the job, and you are throwing mud all over that collective judgement. This particular electorate is not a neglible one either; atleast 20 million compose it. They gave Mr. Modi his job back because they had their reasons to do so. Perhaps ignoring the violent after-math of the train bombing was one of them. Undoubtedly, they heard the same stories of violence and mayhem as you did. But in the end, they made a choice under the law. I hope you see your aberration as I do: you are willing to cry for people who had their right to vote snatched away in a certain part of the world, in a certain time in history. Yet you are unwilling to even recognize people as people when they use that same, now universally enshrined right, to it's full effect, in another part of the world, in an other time in history. With kind regards, Raghav Aras |
| Name: | AUNALI KHALFAN |
| E-mail address: | read@koranusa.org |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.koranusa.org |
| Comments: | Dear Ms. Roy:
We are a publisher and distriutor of the Holy Qur'an and other books in the U.S.A. for over 27 years. We have so far published 27 different editions of the Quran. We are going to publish the Qur'an in Hindi language very soon, in India. After having read some of your books, and watched your video, we thought that you would be able to assist us by writing an introduction to the Qur'an, in HINDI and ENGLISH language. Our books/Quran is distributed throughout the world, and we print 25,000 copies at a time. We have distributed over almost 2 million copies as of now. Therefore, your help would be appreciated. Please respond to us at the earliest, as we would like to include your introduction in the Qur'an. Your prompt response will be highly appreciated. Thank you Aunali Khalfan |
| Name: | sha |
| E-mail address: | babushaonline@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | recently I read "God of Small Things"..Swear one of the best I have ever read,,,
more to know about the A'roy's speach ,could someone forward the speach to me please.. All the best to A'Roy.. |
| Name: | Trevor Ballard |
| E-mail address: | kiel@riseup.net |
| Comments: | Walt is a funny guy.
It's too bad he probably votes. Viva Libre! I still want a Democracy. |
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