I know the Prashad family well. Self-promotion is in their DNA.

Sonal’s commitment to humanitarian work speaks for itself. These accusations are a ridiculous attempt to smear her reputation. The Obama team has made a great choice, and again, Sonal’s commitment to humanitarian work speaks for itself.

I sincerely hope she keeps her distance in getting involved with these conversations.

Your zero sum reasoning makes no sense. Every time somebody points out the horrific ideology of what certain extremist organisations do, actively and continually, in demonising and fomenting hatred which leads directly to violence right now, the reaction should be to talk about what can be done to oppose the hate mongering and extremism that they foment. Not to throw up your arms and say, well, XYZ have also done bad things, so what are you going to do about that? May as well let murderous fascists carry on their way unopposed forever then. It’s a recipe for submission to a fascist, hate-mongering boot on the face, organised, in cadres, highly motivated, with a clear purpose to not only demonise and marginalise certain groups, but to see them persecuted and hounded as untermenschen, and only submissives to that creed should grin at the logic of it all, at the identification and confrontation of it all.

I am glad that Sonal Shah has distanced herself from the ideology and politics of hatred and division. No doubt she will soon be on the list of saffron traitors and scum that the khakhi jackbooters compile and use as their revolutionary ‘internal enemy’ nuclear fission for constant derangement and motivation. Good for you, Sonal.

Usually your fan, but you really seem to have read another piece. Prashad only says she worked for google, nowhere does he specify .org or .com. Nor does that or the phrase “shined her corporate shoes” seem like part of a smear campaign. And how else can he introduce the confluence of VHP, modi and gujarat but by way of the anti-muslim pogrom? Also, his past correspondence with her family is a good reason for him to quote himself.

Prashad’s point is this: why did she not deny her connection to the hindu right when questioned in 2004? Any secularist would, with pleasure. Her ability to deny it now is compromised; she has too much to lose currently by such an association.

Not related to this particular post, but as an academic, than you should be most aware that ad hominem attacks are a central part of the academic game. You must still be grad student.

he..he.. Did she really say that?.

The terms of Vijay’s piece is that of an academic argument trying to relate a certain broader context. At times in this attempt, the “microhistory” of actual individuals gets lost. Was Dr. Prashad possibly willing to steamroll Sonal Shah for his broader argument? Possibly…

Amardeep was right to stand up for Shah, but as you stated, Amardeep also misrepresented and reduced Prasad’s piece to nothing more than a “hit” and thus completely loses out on the broader argument Dr. Prashad is trying to make. Interesting enough, Amardeep is also an academic, so one would assume he would be more astute to the nature of these articles. Oh well, usually a fan of Amardeep, but not on this post.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Nov112008/scroll20081111100142.asp?section=updatenews