She started with that long essay, The Greater Common Good, published in two leading news magazines (Outline and Frontline) and a British newspaper, now about to be turned into a book. Till this point, it was a replay of her anti-nuke stance. However, she is now a full-timer with the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), spearheaded by Medha Patkar.

If you thought this is activism-as-a-sort-of-fashion, think again. She has donated the Booker prize amount for the cause. Cynics, though, won't be content with anything less than the royalty amount as proof of hercommitment. This act decidedly puts her apart from the usual suspects who sign every other citizen's charter. The NBA activists speak of her commitment and involvement with great respect.

However, when asked for a few clarifications, she refuses saying that she has written all that she knew about the issue. True, and twice over. May be that was simply a media-shy writer's stock answer to refuse an interview.The essay was based on her research in the field and threatens to become a prescribed text in journalism courses. Even the ol' rival, Salman Rushdie has reportedly praised it. The NBA leaders are very happy with the celebrity endorsement, as she pulled the crowds at places ranging from IIC to JNU.

BACKGROUND: As a result of an interim judgement of the Supreme Court in February, the Sardar Sarovar work restarted after a gap of four years. Now, the NBA claims that the lands and homes of 12,000 tribal people from 60 villages will be submerged with the onset of the monsoon. Hence, the agitation. Royinvited all to come and join the satyagraha that has started in the valley on June 20. She was to join the masses of the project affected people by June 29.

If we take a long term look, what has happened so far is that the forgotten debate about the Narmada project has been given a new life. The very name spelled a stale story till recently, now the river is hogging headlines again. And this in times of Kargil. However, critics point out the difference between fact and fiction, abuses of poetic licence.

For example, what is `emotive power of thirst' for her may be the very question of survival for people in drought-prone areas, who number many times over the affected. For them, this might just be the discovery of emotive power of habitat. She chooses to ignore everything that does not fit in what looks like a landmark literary work. The government's counter claims must be doubted, but now some lone intellectual voice is heard in opposition: Veteran columnist B G Verghese has criticised the essay. Nevermind the fact that he won't pull crowds.

The Narmada issue is full of sociological, political and technical complexities. Arguably, it is the most studied project of its kind in India. The surveys, reports and studies piled at the court door during hearings are any infomaniac's nightmare. One can argue and argue endlessly. But there's a way to resolve such contentious issues in a democratic manner, which is judiciary, an element altogether missing in current one-sided talk-shows.

It is well-worth noting that it was the NBA which went to the court in 1994 with a writ petition. The court, duly concerned about the human rights angle of the resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R), ordered to stop the construction work immediately. The dam was frozen for nearly four years, while the government incurred losses of Rs 56 crore per day in interest payments alone, not to talk of the increase in cost, cancellation of the World Bank loan and delay in benefits. All these for human rights. Because everybody has a rightto be heard.

After they all went through fine arguments and counter-arguments about R&R, the court was still wary of the government claims and asked for a review by an independent authority and allowed only limited construction for the time being. This one act of the bench has overnight affected the NBA's faith in judiciary. The activists talk of the anti-people stance of the organs of justice. Roy quotes the court proceedings completely out of context so that a query showing genuine concern may seem ridiculous. As she was absent then, she should better cross-check.

She was, though, present when the the impartial body's report was given to the petitioners. Is that the reason for sudden re-launch of agitation while the case is still sub-judice? The court takes up the hearing on July 22. Why the agitation, then? Mansinh, managing director with of SSNL, says in a statement, ``The matter has been taken with demonstrations and dharnas to the streets. They had assured the court that such things will not berepeated.'' Now they are back at it again. The Gujarat minister in charge of the project, Jay Narayan Vyas adds, ``It was NBA who approached the apex court to delay the implementation of the project, but now is rejecting the verdict when it did not support its unjust stand.''

The idea of a modern nation-state, with democracy and judiciary and all that, is in question. The ownership of a river is not of the state that can be apportioned for larger good. Forget the food security provided by the dams, forget that urbanisation is due to reasons other than dams. Forget that the author has come to the city from a village.

Excesses are, reportedly, committed by both the sides. It's rhetoric vs government press note. Jumping to conclusions was never this easy. The stage is set for another showdown in the Narmada valley this monsoon.