Booker prize anti-national, Arundhati worst writer-Kohli

Jamshedpur, Nov 7 (UNI) Terming the Booker Prize 'anti-national', noted Hindi litterateur Narendra Kohli today said that winner of this prestigious British literary award Arundhati Roy and other Indian English writers were ''worse than even third grade Hindi and other language writers.'' Talking to UNI here on the sidelines of 'Akshar Kumbh', a Hindi literary convention, Dr Kohli claimed that Ms Roy and other Indian English writers were getting the Booker and other western awards for their 'anti-nationalist utterings' rather than literary skills.

''If you read the 'God of Small Things' in an impartial manner you will feel that it is not worth winning an award. Actually such awards are being given to the likes of Arundhati for their anti-India writing and utterings. It is an international conspiracy to damage the Indian national culture.'' ''If we go by literary standards Arundhati and other Indian English writers are even worse than the third grade Hindi and other language writers,'' he opined.

Dr Kohli said a national literary agitation should be started against the Booker and other such 'anti-national' awards.

''Indian literary awards like Jnanpeeth and Saraswati samman are much more superior to Booker and other such western awards. They are inferior to Booker only in respect to the prize money,'' he added.

UNI RAJ PL AKJ KN1623