No doubt about it. 1997 Booker prize winner (God of Small Things) Arundhati Roy is Indias finest exponent of long-form advocacy journalism. In numerous riveting 14-15 page essays for several periodicals, particularly the Delhi-based weekly Outlook, Roy has repeatedly exposed the infirmities of global and Indian capitalism and the self-serving machinations of India Incs leaders, presenting enlightening evidence of their acts of omission and commission.Roys latest oeuvre is a compelling polemic titled ‘Capitalism: A Ghost Story in Outlook (March 26) in which starting with contemplation of billionaire tycoon Mukesh Ambanis newly-built 27-floor residence in Mumbai (a temple to the new India, or a warehouse for its ghosts?), which with its soaring bright lights has stolen the night from the people of Mumbai, Roy excoriates the runaway excesses of post-liberalisation Indias capitalists and complicity of 300 million of us who belong to the new post-IMF ‘reforms middle class. Much of Roys polemic against Indias robber-baron capitalism is warranted and true. It cut your editor, who in his previous avatars as editor of the countrys first two business magazines was among the first champions of private enterprise and opponent of neta-babu licence-permit quota raj, to the quick. Certainly, having experienced the self-centricism and uncaring primitive capital accumulation instincts of India Inc in my current avatar, my admiration for democratic capitalism has diminished considerably. However it has not been extinguished for the simple reason that flawed as it is, the democratic-capitalistic system of governance is preferable to its alternatives. Through the electoral system and rule of law, it permits reform and correction. Communism, Maoism, Naxalism, fascism and other dictatorial systems are self-perpetuating (North Korea, China, Syria) and dont allow dissent and non-violent self-correction. Its curious why the erudite Ms. Roy cant grasp this. In any of the leftist peoples dictatorships with which she seems enamoured, her polemics would have earned her midnight arrest and a bullet in the back of the head, if not worse. True, post-liberalisation Indian capitalism has become brutal and sordid, but it can be controlled by rigorous implementation of the rule of law (including the stalled Lok Pal Bill). And it is to this infirmity that Ms. Roy needs to profitably apply her formidable advocacy skills. Poverty definitions Despite new skeletons popping out of its hundreds of hidden cupboards every day, the lame duck Congress-led UPA-II government seems determined to complete its remaining two years in office, routinely ignoring all calls for the resignation of its tainted ministers who have brought it shame and opprobrium. But one opposition call which the partys high command should heed in its own self interest, is for the exit of Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman and chief executive of the Planning Commission. Last month this worthy presented the nation a new definition of affluence by drawing a poverty line of Rs.28.65 in urban areas and Rs.22.40 in rural India, albeit for the year 2009-10. What this actually means is that anyone earning a paisa more than these pitiful amounts per day to…
