Arundhati Roy has been awarded the PEN Pinter prize, mere weeks after Indian authorities sanctioned her prosecution for comments she made about Kashmir 14 years ago, per theguardian.com. This decision has sparked significant backlash, with over 200 Indian academics, activists, and journalists signing an open letter urging the government to retract the prosecution. Roy, a prominent critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, has faced increasing scrutiny. Salil Tripathi, a PEN International board member, highlighted the symbolism of prosecuting a high-profile figure like Roy, suggesting it serves as a warning to other critics. Roy will receive the PEN Pinter prize at a ceremony in October at the British Library.

Source: The Guardian June 27, 2024 11:01 UTC