How Aarushi Was Belittled, Again

‘Speak for Aarushi’ was an event organised by the Mirror to talk about Aarushi, it did everything but that.

The book cover of Aarushi by Avirook Sen. (Photo: Penguin Books India)

On 27 August 2015, the Mumbai Mirror and Penguin Random House, organized an event called, ‘Speak for Aarushi’. Penguin Random House is the publisher of Aarushi, Avirook Sen’s book on the Aarushi-Hemraj murder investigation. The panel discussion was moderated by Manu Joseph, former editor of Open magazine and the panelists included Tanveer Ahmed Mir, the Talwars’ lawyer, Ellen Barry, the South Asia bureau chief of the New York Times, who wrote a critical review and Avirook Sen.

Packed house at the Multipurpose Hall, India International Centre. (Photo: The Quint)

After the event, Nikita Saxena, the Web Editor for The Caravan wrote a piece titled, Why I Wont Be Reading Avirook Sen’s Book. She also reported how a person at the event told her that Barry was invited at the insistence of Sen.

The event started with a moving opening speech by Aarushi’s best friend, Fiza Jha. This was followed by a panel discussion that began with Mir stating how this case was medical blasphemy. He talked about the case and a packed hall listened in rapture.

Twelve minutes into the panel discussion, Avirook Sen got his turn.

Avirook’s first statement was towards Barry, condescendingly asking her, “Who is Hemant? You killed him in your review.” He goes on to give her editorial advice and then justifies his work and disregards hers. At the end of the sermon, he says, “the whole case was based on a typographical error, Ellen.” The house was silent; some in disbelief and others still wondering what hit them. Sen didn’t stop till Barry retorted, “Is this panel about my review?”

To her credit, she didn’t walk out. I would have.

The issue had been belittled. This was not about Aarushi or injustice or the other side of the case. This had become about an author apparently intolerant to criticism. Sen didn’t stop at Barry, he butted in and asked Mir to think about whether he did a good job with the trial. People now know more about Barry’s  review and how there was a typographical error calling Hemraj, Hemant, than they do about the typographical error in the case that may have resulted in the conviction of the Talwars.

The narrative at the panel discussion, unfortunately and ironically bore stark resemblance to the narrative in the Aarushi case. I went in expecting sane perspective, and came out with the same feeling I get every time I report on the case - what-the-hell!