Women's writing, like a Dalit's, can never be gentle, says Hindi writer Rajendra Yadav. "Whenever a woman or a Dalit writes, it's an act of revolt," says Yadav, referring to Omprakash Valmiki's memoir Joothan that won the new non-fiction New India Foundation's book prize. Besides Joothan, Valmiki's authored a short story collection and is presently working on his first novel. The foundation also announced the five winners of its fellowships: journalists Rajdeep Sardesai and Harish Damodaran, activist Shashank Kela, academic Deepak K. Singh and historian Chitra Sinha.
It was a piquant moment for many at the foundation's first public event in Delhi. Its chief Ram Guha had invited Belgian-born economist Jean Dreze to deliver an hour-long lecture. The audience, mostly from Delhi's social science professorial circles, didn't exactly like Dreze lecturing them on India's starving millions. Said one don who walked out in disgust: "Is this the same Ram who attacked William Dalrymple for the same reasons?"
