New Delhi: International Booker Prize-winning author Geetanjali Shree has criticised the use of police force against students and young protesters, saying ministers, bureaucrats and police officials are public servants and should not be treated as unquestionable authorities.
Speaking to The Wire, the celebrated Hindi author, who won the International Booker Prize in 2022, was responding to the reported use of force against students and youth who gathered at Delhi's Jantar Mantar from July 20 following a call by the Cockroach Janata Party to march towards Parliament.
The protests, which began over alleged NEET paper leaks and included demands for the removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, have since gained support across the country and developed into a broader expression of anger among young people.
"The youth are speaking out. They are Indians and are in their homeland. Yeh unka ghar hai [this is their home]," Shree said.
She compared the protesters' concerns to those of people worried about problems in their own homes, saying young people were raising their voices over what they saw as cracks and failures in the country and were seeking corrective action, reassurance and protection for their future.
Shree said those in positions of authority, including ministers, bureaucrats and police officials, represent the people and serve the public, adding that they should not be viewed as infallible or beyond accountability.
Her remarks came amid reports alleging that protesters had suffered injuries during police action, including injuries described as pellet-like, as well as injuries caused by lathi charges and allegations of sexual harassment by police personnel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have reportedly not publicly commented on the allegations concerning the treatment of protesters by Delhi Police and other security forces.
The author also thanked young people for reminding the country of the importance of democracy and urged those in power to carry out their responsibilities wisely.
Shree has previously spoken out on social and political injustices. Her International Booker Prize win in 2022 was historic as it marked the first time the award was given to a work originally written in Hindi and translated into English.
The author has also faced controversy over her literary work. In 2022, a resident of Uttar Pradesh filed a complaint alleging that her novel Ret Samadhi had hurt Hindu religious sentiments. An event in Agra organised to honour Shree was subsequently cancelled, prompting widespread condemnation from sections of the literary community.