I am having a hard time feeling sorry for her myself, maybe it is just my own Gonzaga-denied sour grapes.

I am forty, and with 500 thousand dollars I could actually pay off mommy's house and get out of debt . . .,

and start a resource center for the drunken-drugged homeless.

I am sure this young lady will be quite alright.

peace

The 'I-didn't-know-I-had-internalized-the-book-so-well' excuse is such grand tosh that I can choke on it laughing.

What crap coming from a (now proven) two penny wannabe!

No one can internalize stuff that can later constitute 40 passages. And even if you do - by mindless cramming because you don't know jack about writing yet want to pursue it - you are conscious of the source all the time. So Kaavya Viswanathan is just a dimwit talking on national television. Writer my you-know-what!

When Milli-Vanilli were found out, they stacked all their CDs and got a roadroller travelling over it in France. Something similar would serve this idiot nice.

Good topical post, Kavita!!

This gal, Kaavya is funny.. and her reasons dont really "rhyme" as her name suggests (which means Poetry!)!

Obviously he has had Anu Malik or Bhappi Lahiri as Gurus.. but not the same legal protections!!

Cheers,
Desh

As amazingly unwise and unethical as the situation that kaavya has put herself in, this is really just kid stuff. Sure there are a lot of dollars involved here, but this is exactly why we don't let 19 year olds have full rights. As intelligent as they are, they are still sort of stupid.

What do we expect when there are multi-million dollar movies made based on old TV shows? Or re-makes of "Psycho" or other classic films that really don't need to be re-made? The message that is unconsciously sent to aspiring, young writers is that being original just isn't important.

In the long run, this kind of publicity is good. It will encourage writers to dig down into their souls and come up with something original. The art form can only benefit from more original ideas and when it does, we all benefit.

Peace,
Scott.

The real situation might be even more surreal- Kaavya's novel was reportedly 'massaged' and packaged for the mass-market. The offending passages may or may not be her own words, as the following link shows that some publishing houses have special background writers who churn out stuff to go under someone's byline.

http://harvardindependent.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleID=9906

Dear Kavita,

What if she is really telling the truth? Somebody would have to be really foolish to plagiarize so blatantly and hope to escape discovery. Both authors write the same genres and this is age of the 'net. Her future publications (if any) will prove her innocence or otherwise.

Just being the contrarian.

Regards,

Ravi Kulkarni

Prolly she was educated in India.Indian education encourages cramming , and even as she was reading the novels , she was unconsciously cramming them.And she vommitted it back in her new novel.Without even realising it.She obviously can't form a sentence on her own.

Thats the reason IIT's arent even in the top 500 universities if we take research as the criteria.Its only on the other parameters they come out on top.

Hi Ravi,
in the Today show they produced passages from both books, and they were pretty near identical, word for word..40 passages that were identical or near identical and the fact that the central theme is pretty close as well?

Her telling the truth doesn't quite cut it especially when initially the similarities were pointed to her in another interview some time back and she said she didnt know what the reporter was talking about, and that she wasnt inspired by any one when she wrote the book.

Harish, Kaavya moved to Scotland when she was three and to New Jersey at 12-her education was not in India.

Scott, excellent point about these things hopefully making all writers delve deep into themselves and come up with original work, to the extent possible-I think in another blog, someone had made a valid point that there is no such thing as an original word.
But perhaps we can learn to make it our own in our own langauge.

Thank you Craig and Desh and Sumant.

Anon, interesting comment. I'll check out that link, though from what I hear this girl is a super achiever and a good writer. Now I guess Harvard will scrutinze all her papers and her writing.

Kavita - do you have a link to the Maya Mirchandani article?

Divvya,
I think its the following or you can go to ndtv.com http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?category=National&slug=Mcafferty+rejects+Kaavya's+apology&id=87268

I don't think it can be an 'honest mistake' to copy so closely. The passages are wayyy too similar to even be an inspiration (some are word to word). And even the central theme is the same.
I agree that sometimes you do remember lines from your favorite novels, but then you also remember where you read them, especially if you're in the writing business.

Hi Kavita,

I suppose I would agree to a certain extent that there are "no original words" (except maybe "encephalogamation" which I just made up and now that I think of it, I will copyright :). At least there are no original words from the standpoint that we all gain our inspiration from other stories and as wordsmiths, we are usually avid readers. But we do have an obligation to at the very least, put those words together in a manner that comes from inside, adding our individual perspectives and thoughts as we do. And yes for the Spiritual purest, I realize that we are all One and so in a way each of us is expressing the One in an individual way. However, from the standpoint of the law, we have to look at people as individuals.

Ravi,

I suspect that this young lady IS foolish...after all, if you look in the dictionary under foolish it says something like "persons between the age of 16 to 25". Odds are she's telling a "stretcher".

Peace,
Scott.

WHat's odd to me is not so much that a 19 year old kid would lift material from another book, but that the publishing house would not pick up on it. It's not like this was a little "mom and pop" publishing house. They paid her $500,000 up front...that's fairly unprecidented for a first time author, let alone one that was only 19. They had to know that this would drum up quite a lot of press (which I'm sure had something to do with why they gave her so much money)and that the book would be picked over by critics and press. These people are in the business of selling books and know books...it seems odd to me that they would let this happen. UNLESS they took the position that ANY PR is good PR.

Curiouser and curiouser...

Peace,
Scott.

I read an article on google yesterday which gave a lot of passages for comparison, can't find that one right now, but this article has one of the passages(and there were others that were more similar than this one)...

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?leftnm=lmnu4&leftindx=4&lselect=6&chklogin=N&autono=223782

Once a writer slightly older than Kaavya had told me that older writers were lucky since really good writing only comes out of life experiences and only a prodigy can write really well at a young age. All the characters of Indian Cinema’s biggest blockbuster(also awarded the prize of best film in 50 years) came from real life encounters. Even "Don Quixote" was written towards the end after a lifetime of suffering.

Some interesting insights on originality:-

The art of originality is to conceal your source.
Books serve to show a man than his original ideas where not original after all.
Originality is undetected and unconscious plagiarism.
The most original writers borrow from one another.

One journalist told me a variation of the last one- “We write on each other’s shoulders”

I don’t know whether Kaavya took all this too literally but it is sad that a young person should begin her writing career like this. Now even if she comes up with something original, it will be subject to scrutiny. Hope she is forgiven.

Another strange coincidence. “Kavita” and “Kaavya” both mean poetry in Hindi. Kavita is right; there seems to be something seriously amiss. Kavita writing against Kaavya seems poetic justice “Loha lohe ko kaata hai” (Iron piercing Iron) . This is said in a lighter vein in accordance to a great intellectual who exhorted to explore the interconnection between things.

Dear Scott,
to be fair to the publishing House, Kaavya netted the deal at 17, it was a 2 book deal where she gave the outline of the story "in a chatty email" to quote another report I read, and the publishing house signed her on. She wrote the book afterwards and submitted it a year or two later-am not sure about the time line. I guess the Frey controversy hadnt hit the ceiling then and the book was perhaps already printed, by the time Harvard Crimson acted on a tip and checked out the passages.
She denied any similarities or any inspiration from any where I think a week or 10 days ago and then suddenly remembered, that she had perhaps swallowed Mcaffery's books and just spit them out in what was an honest mistake throgh 40 near identical passages.

thanks Nimita

The tragic part of this is a 19 year old girl plagarizes, gets the deal, gets caught, gets to the TODAY show among others, and will stay in Harvard, pick up a few endorsement deals, and sign off a Bollywood/Hollywood movie. Ethics, morality, honesty have all been replaced with the need for 15 seconds of Reality fame. I'll look for her on VH1's reality programming, where she'll likely become the poster child for bi-culturalism breaking barriers.

NOTE to producers: I want my 10% for this when you sign her. ;)

Yes, she is guilty and her excuse is disingenuous.

But she is just 19. I've done far stupider things at 19, just not in public gaze. As much as she deserved to be unmasked, one can't but help feel empathy for she is only a kid.

I agree with Scott 100%: "this is exactly why we don't let 19 year olds have full rights". Business rights and full exposure to the sordid world of contracts, obviously.

I read a statement that Harvard will not suspend her if she was guilty of plagiarism. I am glad to read that. I cannot help contrast it with the recent incident of a top business school (Wharton was it?) rejecting applicants who checked on their application status on an insecure not-for-public website. That was obviously overkill: if at all the web site administrator needed to be suspended.

Hiren you are right.
I think the writings that have touched me most deeply, the interviews that have affected me most are those which as you say come from life's experiences.

I also have to say while none of us are holier than thou or perfect, I was ready to look at this girl with compassion, till I saw her interview. It was so fake and glib that it really bothered me..My friend said now people will look at all south asian writings with suspicion.

There was an interesting line in a movie that has stayed with me to this day.It said something to the effect that truth has a unique ring to it, and some how this girl unlike Frey came across as unrepentant and even her "I'm so sorry it was an honest mistake" didn't ring true.
I have always said that the only people we end up fooling when we lie or cheat are ourselves..every one else sees through it.
In my personal experience when ever I've done something wrong, its come back to slap me in my face..but these are life's lessons that come with hands on experience.
However it has also taught me forgiveness and that every one deserves a second chance. Just that in her case unfortunately it seems like she is telling more lies to cover the first ones and that takes any one to a ery unhealthy place.

The tradedy would be if Harvard did NOT suspend her if she is found "guilty" of plagerism!!

IF she is not punished for her crime; she only sets a high acceptance of crime-tempo for more student-plagerized writings, dealings and intent.

In my view; this would greatly disadvantage honest, heard-working students, worthy of Harvard status!

How many girls, were turned away from Harvard, with honest intention..to give this girl-cheat a seat, to cheat?

Regardless of her age; being in Harvard alone, states she is cognitively aware of the difference's between plagerism, and self-thought. She had to have, under her status at Harvard as such a young student, been aware of her deceptive manifest.

She should NOT be allowed to return to Harvard; and she should be sued by appropriate victims of her deceptions, made to return all of the money, shameless give her seat, to an honest student; willing to evoke their own thoughts, and not ride on the coats of others words!

North
http://spiritsinmotion.blogspot.com/

Dear Vedant, I agree; she is only a kid; however, we must not allow her age to become her crime-escape advantage, because if this becomes the way; it will only set the stage for more future plagerized words from students, authors; and the lack of credible-research ON the works, by the publishing houses!!

IN the "old" days, this sort of plagerism in Harvard, would have been quickly, appropriately, and legally solved.

What we see happening, is criminal students, getting away with the crime.. what has happened to the once-high standards of Harvard? It's a Law School, for "bleep bleep" sake!

North

"Chatty e-mail"?????

WOW...I have been going about this all the wrong way (LOL)! I should be sending more "chatty e-mails" around.

Peace,
Scott.

As Scott said, this girl is just foolish and dumb. It got to be a good lesson for other writers and publishers. The publishers got to be doubly careful when dealing with the teens.

More stuff from the Harvard Independent- they are really digging to the bottom of this mess

http://www.harvardindependent.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleID=9921

Little off topic. If you want to check if any site has plagiarised your work without even changing the words, use http://copyscape.com/. However, keep in mind that it will also list the sites you have linked in your blog.

Anon,
the comments below the link were so funny, I just have to post some of them here.

" Terrific article. I teach college students and am hoping that none of them get any bright ideas about internalizing each other's work on the final exam.

Posted 04/26/06 10:24 AM by Montana Miller

Posted 04/26/06 9:32 AM by
They should make the movie by cutting together a bunch of teen movies together, like Dead men don't wear plaid.

Posted 04/26/06 8:56 AM by John Q
At least Kaavya Viswanathan can always get a job as a speech writer for Senator Joe Biden.

Posted 04/26/06 7:45 AM by PJ-Comix
Great article. I must say i LOVE that word "internalize." Ken Lay internalized $1 billion in pensioners money, too."
"

Net Gain?

Whether you agree with it or not, like it or not, Kavaaya Vishwanathan has now achieved international recognition and notoriety. This controversy will naturally result in the arousal of curiosity in her present and future writings. This curiosity will result in huge sale of her 'work' which, in turn, will result in a fatter bank account.

This young woman will gratuitously benefit from all this controversy and publicity, in a big way. But is it up to you or me to render judgement on her regarding allegations of plagiarism? If she becomes filthy rich from all this, so be it. The world will not be worse off if the allegations turn out to true. Ethical violations, unfortunately, are a fact of life.

I am not, implicitly or explicitly, condoning such conduct, just telling it like it is!

Historians and commentators will, inevitably, place an asterisk beside her name, but do you think this will bother Kaavya one iota when she is relaxing with a Margarita (or tea) under a palm tree in Barbados?

Regards.

An "honest mistake" is not a legal defense to a copyright infringement claim. In order to prove a copyright infringement, the publisher only needs to show that she copied the words of the text and that she had access to the text - which she did. The only legitimate defenses for copyright infringement - fair use or that she sought the other author's permission and then gave the author credit for the other author's words are not applicable.

Additionally, the author, Kaavya, not the publisher is liable for the copyright infringement bc when an author signs a book deal with the publisher the author warrants that there is no copyright infringements and agrees to be legally responsible for any copyright infringment claims.

Interestingly enough, to echo what Mallika Chopra said, concepts and ideas are not "copyrightable", but the expression of those ideas and concepts are copyrightable. Thats why there is no copyright infringement when an author like Deepak incorporates Ayurveda ideas throughout his books . . . It is not copyright infringement because he is expressing those ideas in his own unique way.

Ron,

It probably will not be a net gain for for Kaavya bc she, not the publisher, will be responsible to pay penalties for the copyright infringement- which could be pretty substantial.

Thanks every one,
Mallika, you have raised a very key point. I think however when we repackage anything, dont we usually put a disclaimer saying inspired by, adapted from, or a modern version of whatever it is we plan to offer.

are Again, like I said earlier, there is no word that is an original(except for the one Scott created:)but I hope because a creative imagination has no boundaries any writer worth his or her salt can come up with a refreshing twist to the oft told tale.

I think that in itself is a bigger challenge. I did spend my morning poring through reports about Kaavya,so thatI could be fair- and no where could I find anything where I could make an excuse for her, except for the posts anon posted raising a question if some of the stuff was ghost written for her, and if yes, does that make it excusable then. Again as in Frey's case, the publishing houses need to take some responsibility. Are they driving authors to do unethical things, or doing it themselves and what should be the penalty-imagine a 17 year old kid offered 500,000 dollar deals that even established authors may not get at timesand I can imagin eher getting starry eyed and overwhelmed but I'm wondering where her two highly educated physician parents were.

Krish thanks for the link. I dont know how many of us will really bother.Its a pain to chase down people. I still havent heard the end of my tussle with this newspaper that copied an article I wrote for another magazine verbatim without giving me credit.

Ron your maragarita and Barbados quip made me laugh. I hope that the young girl has learnt her lesson. North made a very valid point about the repercussions of something like this. But again these things are here to create a thought provoking discussion and teach us lessons

Dear North, you said: "How many girls, were turned away from Harvard, with honest intention..to give this girl-cheat a seat, to cheat?"

At the surface you are absolutely right. But if you ask me, 95% of people who got into Harvard lie. I have always been wondering why no one has done a serious statistical study of what people express in their essays and statements of purpose in college admissions and what they end up doing. Look at MBA admissions - do 25% of admitted candidates expressedly state that they want to become investment bankers and the other 30% managament consultants? Of course ambitions change, but it is naive to believe that only a small minority of people getting into top schools lie about their candidacy in the first place.

One wrong does not condone another, so please don't get me, uhh, wrong. Schools and colleges must be safety nets for learning. Especially for people below 21, they should be very tolerant of mistakes and provide an environment to learn and rectify. In my opinion, Harvard and Kaavya would be best served by making Kaavya graduate a year later with a minor in Ethics as repentence and rectification for her stupidity.

I attended a prestigous university and pilfered a $20 library book in my freshman year. I was 17. If caught, I would have been suspended with no course of appeal. By contrast, getting caught doing drugs would have resulted in a warning, if at all. It is the only thing I have ever stolen in my life, a desperate and immature act I regret. I did it because of financial constraints. While that does not excuse my act, suspending me from the school for this act would have been disproportional to the crime. I think the situation is in some ways similar for Kaavya. Enormous financial rewards and fame being dangled in front of your eyes is not very different from not having money, when it comes to fueling stupidity. Irrespective of how much she may make from now onwards, this is a badge of shame she will take with her to her grave.

(Not to defend Kaavya at all, but this is interesting. From ABC News):

Now let's not be too harsh about this young woman's lucrative pilfering or, rather, "internalization." She's in good academic company.

A study by the highly respected Chronicle of Higher Education finds that plagiarism on college campuses is far more prevalent than you may think — by professors.

"European Crisis Management in the 1980s," by Neil Winn, was taken from a 1992 paper in the International Studies Quarterly by Stephen Livingston.

Livingston, a political science professor at Middle Tennessee State University, saw more than 1,000 words he'd written "internalized" in a book by Winn, a professor at the University of Leeds, in England. Winn was disciplined for his "borrowing."

"I got rather depressed because I knew at the end of the day there's not a heck of a lot you can do," Livingston said.

"While colleges tend to respond very harshly to student plagiarism, when it comes to professors they often look the other way," according to Chronicle reporter Thomas Bartlett.

They did for best-selling historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, who has a new book out about Abraham Lincoln, even though she's never come clean about the passages she internalized from other authors most notably Lynne McTaggart. McTaggart wrote "Kathleen Kennedy: Her Life and Times," which Goodwin "internalized" for her book "The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys."

Is it a coincidence that Goodwin is a former Harvard history professor and a member of its Board of Overseers?

Come to think of it, others accused of internalizing for their books have included famous Harvard law professors, including Lawrence Tribe, whose "God Save This Honorable Court" internalized parts of Henry J. Abraham's "Justices, Presidents and Senators," and Charles Ogletree, whose "All Deliberate Speed" internalized passages from Jack Balkin's "What Brown v. Board of Education Should Have Said."

So let's not be too hard on Viswanathan. In her crimson ivory tower, internalizing isn't exactly original.

well said Matt.

Vedant, you will inspire sympathy for the stolen book from most people who read your post, but Kaavya is a rich kid from an affluent background.. so its like comparing apples and oranges, but your have raised a very key point about how rules apply to different offences. I have never been able to understand the strangeness of it all.

And yes not only to people lie on college applications, they lie on their resumes and whatever else. That is why Ron talked about Kaavya laughing her way to the bank and sunny Barbados!
who said life was fair my friend!
And now I need to get back to work

Krish, great link, thanks for sharing it with us!

Vedant, very much agreeing with you; she will take this shame onward to many lifeftimes!

It is just plain wrong, to condone plagerism, crime and intent to deceive for financial gain.

Too many work very hard by the rules, and never make a million, let alone one hundred thousand!

IT is to thier credit and honour, of their honest labours; which must remain prominently more important; and that this girl deserves to be chastised to the fullest extent of the law, regarding plagerism, especially, in such a prestigious university as Harvard!

But you know.. she is living in a country who's President cheated in two back-to-back elections, so I suppose, she figures she is following the highest authoritative role model possible?(wink)

North

A bit of a digression . . . but I want to correct a legal statement from my previous post. If an author wants to copy another author's words, the author needs to get permission from the other author's publisher (not the author) bc the publisher owns the rights to the book (even though the author is liable for copyright infringement).

One difficulty with copyright law is when an author quotes another author in his or her book (and gives credit to that author), and then makes a good faith effort to get permission to quote that author from the other author's publisher, but the publisher does not respond to the author's request. However this scenario is obviously not applicable to this case.

Hello Kavita and Everyone,

I promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, sOOO help me. Boy, if I ever write a book (haha) you can bet I am not going to lie, with having to face the likes of Oprah and Katie and all of the millions of people watching my face turn bright red, I would just give the money back and say NEVERMIND.ruth

Hi Matt,

How are you? Good to hear from you!

There no implied specificity, in my post above, regarding the two books of Kaavya's involved in the current controversy. I was referring to the long-term net gain to her as a writer by name recognition.

You must agree that Kavaaya has attained the recognition (and notoriety) that most fledgling and aspiring writers can only dream about.

Regards.

Hi Kavita,

I see you have hit another home run! Looks good on you!

Kind regards.

Ruth and Ron,
or should I call you both our treasured cyber rest and relaxation kindly souls. I laughed outright at your comments. Now if only I could get paid 500,000 for hitting cyber home runs!

Hi Ron,

Yeah, I would agree with you that she has attained the recognition/notoriety that most aspiring writers can only dream about, but I am not sure if that will translate into a long-term net gain for her. Maybe, Maybe Not. But if she is found guilty of copyright infringment then she will likely have to pay substantial money damages.

But, who knows . . . maybe she will get another book deal bc of this controversy and write another book about what it is like to go to Harvard, get a 6-figure book deal and then get caught plagerizing, and then to spice up her book she could add some juicy details about a drug addiction and time spent behind bars =).

oh brother! I had just posted, and it has disappeared... here it is again, only now different, just in case the other post assumes it's position(wink.)

I had submitted the following poem I'd written, three times, for poetry contests(not lucritive, english-major contests)wink(each time I submitted, it had won.

The poem, I felt, was only complete, when as I was writing it; an excerpt from Robert Frost came flooding forward to my thoughts. I wrote it in. It was good.

However, knowing his words were NOT mine, I had used the * mark to reference his quote, submitted it like this..and the rest as they say..is future history perhaps?

WHEN HE SLEEPS

He touches me...there,
where mere flesh cannot reach,
and fans the flame
which he planted, deep.

He touches me...there,
where there is only him and I,
somehow dancing, above the sky.

And when he sleeps,
I visit him...there;
Where I fan a flame
I secretly planted there.

* "The tickle on his brow is me
Bending over, to kiss his cheek.
A gentle breeze is blowing by
Whispering my name
And he smiles with recognition
Happy to hear it again."

And when he sleeps
I visit him...there
When darkness turns to light
Then, I turn down the flame
I so carefully tend,
And sleep beside its light.

Donna D. Sonnenburg-1998
* excerpt similarity of-Robert Frost

So, what I did of course, was seek councel! I sought out english teachers, poets in my community, authors, news journalists, etc. in my area; the possible implications if mal-referenced!

The list was long, and condemning.

However, most concluded that by using the * symbol, and foot-noting the reference code at bottom, would ensure full-disclosure of authorship!

Three years ago(almost 3) we were robbed by movers; I lost so much, though material, I think what I'd have missed losing most, would be my poetry, writings over these many years; and my precious pictures of faces old and new, collecting in albums and boxes over time.

So, anyway, after months lately of looking for this poem, and others; I have found "The Treasure Box" of paper!!(sigh, tears flowing)

This blog-post, made me dig so deep; I found it when "needed."

North

In case you are worried about plagiarism in the blogosphere, I have a solution. "Opensource" it. Release it under one of the creative commons license and make money by speaking assignments. I just posted about it in my blog as there are allegations of plagiarism in the blogosphere.

http://krishworld.com/politics/2006/04/26/do-you-wanna-avoid-plagiarism-in-blogging-opensource-it/

To reference what "there" means in the poem.

To me, as I was writing it; came from the four focal points of my beingness.

It came quickly, without effort. Now, I know it's no huge prize-winning poem; but, for me; it was an implication of possibility.

Anyway,, the use of "there" means(to me):

Spirit/Heart/Soul/Center - the Four Sacred Sources

I merely could never find a more appropriate word to describe the invizible(wink.)

As for using RB's excerpt, I could never find a more appropriate replacement..I was glad I had made the effort, to find a way to use it; not abuse it(2 winks!)

OK< I have to fly to the kitchen and BE THE COOK! : )

North

Kavita, my "missing in action" post was deleted by ME over and out, off for kitchen duty, or is that supposed to be kitchen pleasure?(wink.)

North

Well.. what to expect from “Copycat” Indian Society and culture..
I am surprised about Kaavya because unlike most of desi she was born and raised here. May be she learned copying from his family and ‘Indian Culture’.
Anyways, I hope she will learn lesson and be more creative in future.

Jignesh

What I would really like to know is how a 17-year-old girl can get a half million book contract with a publisher without having ever published a thing. That's the story that I want.

The rest is just insignificant and will fall by the wayside when the media gets hold of a fresher yarn.

Schools in India, in general, encourage cramming lessons and throwing out the exact same words/sentences in the exams. This is in the school days when kids are not any wiser. But as they grow up, and learn that learning by rote does not help understand the subject at hand, they learn to get to the concept of the subject matter. I vehemently oppose the generalization that Indians, as a rule, are copycats. I read an article somewhere recently, that teachers here in the US are fighting against plagiarism, caused by the easy access to information on the internet. So what would you say to that? That these schools have only Indians as students?

I have been a terrible intentblogger in that I have not yet read one of Deepak's books (one of the least of my crimes let me assure you).

But, iffin I copy one of his books, will somebody give me a 500 thousand book deal, and at least 400 thousand will be used to start my job, resource, and sobriety center for the downtrodden and homeless, make sure they all get ID cards, and voter cards, and . . .

there I go daydreaming again . . .

Man all of these job applications are now going ten years back on the background check, and I cannot even kill for oil and Israel in the U.S. Army . . .

O, woe is me!

The Lord is my shepherd man . . .

peace all

my heart goes out to this young girl and what she must be going through with her family and classmates right now.

only she knows what her intentions were, and for all we know it could have very well been an honest mistake. all of the money and fame aside, i think perhaps this happened to her as a way for her to learn a valuable spiritual lesson.

my wish for her is that she uses this experience to learn, grow, and get stronger, and does not let it negatively impact the rest of her personal and professional life, as i am sure she is a very talented, intelligent young woman.

whether or not someone is right or wrong, it is not my place to judge them, but rather to love and forgive. im sure the publishing companies involved will sort out the legal details in a way that is fair to both authors.

Courageous Kavita, always having the guts to take on hard topics quite directly!

Thank you for writing this. I agree that she is disingenuous.

There's a thing called eidetic (photographic) memory, which lets people do visual snapshots of what they see or read, then recall it later, as long as several years later, in a very accurate way. She could have this gift -- but I think, if so, that it's no excuse -- because a person with this kind of memory is aware of the very big difference between an eidetic memory, and normal memories or things that have been integrated into one's mind.

The recall of an eidetic memory is very much like having a snapshot of the seen or read thing projected over one's retinas -- one can see it floating in front of the real scene in front of one's eyes. So if she has a gift for eidetic memory, she'd be even more aware than most people that she was remembering something created by someone else.

Cheers to the plagiarized author for rejecting the "apology".

I think it's perfectly consistent that she's US-born yet a probable cheat, as the US has plenty of cheaters, in all strata of society.

love, Heather

Kavita has given a very interesting insight:-

"In my personal experience when ever I've done something wrong, its come back to slap me in my face..but these are life's lessons that come with hands on experience."

The law of Karma says the same thing in fancy language over several lifetimes. All the major religions of the East swear by it, If true, if only it were made transparent by whoever is running this world,most crime and other undesrirable actions would never take place.

On a realistic note, there are many well established "professionals" who can go to any lengths to protect status quo- their jobs and careers. "Self Preservation" as Craig pointed out in some other post.Kaavya is just a kid. Two wrongs do not make a right but in light of her age, she should be given a punishment in accordance to Vedant's recommendation because what North said is also right- it should not be allowed to set a wrong precedent. One has to look at both perspectives.

What Mallika said reminded me of an interesting insight-Somebody inquired why should there be ss new books on the original Hindu scriputure Bhagvad Gita? The originality is in the presentation. The What(Basic content) remains the same but the how(presentation and application) changes from generation to genrration according to conditions and circumstances. Knowledge is objective, understanding and application is subjective.

lilinou - Kaavya managed to get the publishing contract at 17 when she signed up with a $20,000 service that helps people with their applications for Ivy League colleges. The person who was helping her with the application process was a writer of self help books so she had an in on the publishing world. When she saw KV's writing sample she was impressed and introduced her to the publisher (little brown) and they signed her up. But KV's original story was apparently too dark for mainstream fare so they turned her over to a packaging company and I have a feeling the book was basically hashed out by the packagers. Packaging companies are outfits that basically ghost write books for the young adult and childrens markets. I guess KV was at the right place at the right time, with India being in the news and all and she fit the sterotype of an overachieving Indian with professional parents and what not, and had this story to tell about getting into Harvard which was close to her own life story.

Vedant - I'm surprised you can condone KV to such an extent. Your example of the $20 book in no way compares with what KV did. She got a $500,000 contract for chrissakes. Don't you think she ought to have the integrity to live up to it? I know we all do foolish things at 19 but there are different kinds of foolishness - like being over idealistic or hotheaded. This is so calculated somehow. I am very disappointed in her.

Kavita: Thank you for bringing forth this topic to this discussion forum. Since I read about this news, I have been wondering.

For some reason I can't buy Kaavya's story. However, I am sure at 19 she has learnt her lesson and will be able to put in good work from now onwards. She must have doen something right to be signed on by the publishing house at the age of 17.

-jasleen

JUST FOUND!

Kaavya Viswanathan's closet bedroom poster:

CREATIVITY IS GREAT BUT PLAGIARISM IS FASTER.

Yes Jasleen, she did do something right; and this is pull the wool over their eyes! Forty pages of plagerised work, is hardly an oversight; for someone as intelligent as she is reported to be, and that includes her smart, influential rich family, not to let off the hook the right of publishing magnates, to ensure plagerism is not present in ANY work, prior to print, and pre-payment at least of such a large sum, for a young person's first work. Obviously, the publishing house thought her writing to be original, to make such a huge pre-payment?

North

Oops.

Just realised that the above is a quote I have internalised from an author I have temporarily forgotten all about but will remember in a flash when the name springs out of those who jump in to spoil things.

Anybody, however, willing to pay me half a million dollars as advance for my novel about a girl who is turned back from a college to do something interesting and comes back after learning poetry recited in a lost language by psychologically damaged orangutans, can contact me immediately.

Let's call this what it is. Pure and simple. It's paraphrasing. A novel is not some college essay for pete's sake. Kaaya you were writing to be published and to make money. This was not for a grade and even then professors check to make sure it is not plagiarized. It's not even copying another writer's style... It's someone else's ideas in... count them...29-40 instances. Coincidence? I think not. I hope you get what you deserve.

its a pity that now these plagrism charges will infact boost the sales of the book

Sumant,
you are too funny. Thanks every one-you've looked at this issue in so many different ways-I think what comes through though is that Kaavya needs to stand up, take responsibility for her actions and pay her dues. She said very matter of factly to Couric that her life will go on and she doesnt see any thing change. Of course she has taken leave of absence from Harvard..obviously because of the cloud. So things ahve changed in so many ways.

while she may make money now and megan mcafferty's books too have been revived thanks to this controversy-(I was joking with a friend of mine if the first edition would become the Plagiarists collectors' item)-our past does have a way to catch up and haunt us..
I think retribution comes in many ways, the universe has a way of dishing out justice.
It will be interesting to see how this girl evolves over the next few years.

I read last night Mcafferty's publishing House is considering a lawsuit.

The latest on rediff.com
Kaavya Viswanathan takes a break from Harvard

Arthur J Pais in New York | April 27, 2006 12:20 IST

Harvard University does not know how to deal with its student Kaavya Viswanathan just yet.

Viswanathan, who was born in Chennai and raised in Scotland before her parents migrated to America, is the most scrutinised author and student in the US following her admission that she had 'internalized' some passages for her novel from two-bestselling novels she read when she was in high school.

The teenager has taken a few days off from Harvard after making a brief appearance on the NBC television channel's popular Today show, telling its hosts: 'When I was writing, I genuinely believed each word was my own.'

Her novel How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life has been accused of lifting passages and scenes from Megan McCafferty's first two books, Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings.

The 19-year-old writer was confident that she would not be punished by Harvard, telling the Today show: 'I don't see why they would (take action). It's a genuine, genuine mistake.'

But at Harvard there is confusion about the case, amidst speculation that Viswanathan will not return to the elite university.

In the first statement regarding Viswanathan, who is majoring in English, Robert Mitchell, director of communications for Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, told The New York Times on Tuesday: 'Our policies apply to work submitted to courses. Nevertheless, we expect Harvard students to conduct themselves with integrity and honesty at all times.'

The next day, in an e-mail note he told rediff.com: "Harvard College takes any accusation of plagiarism very seriously. And we certainly investigate accusations of plagiarism when brought to our attention. However, our policy does not permit us to discuss individual situations. We expect Harvard students to conduct themselves with integrity and honesty at all times."

While speculation mounted that Viswanathan could be encouraged to leave Harvard, Mitchell told The Harvard Crimson newspaper and other publications that he has not used the word 'investigation' in his statements.

His comment came soon after the news service Bloomberg reported that Harvard would investigate Viswanathan.

"The term 'investigation' has been used in the press," Mitchell said in a telephone interview on Wednesday. "It is not a term that we have used, so it is not entirely accurate."

"We would need to gather much more information on this situation before we could make any kind of judgment," Mitchell said. "Bloomberg decided to call 'gathering information' an 'investigation.' This is not a term that we have used."

Meanwhile, Little, Brown, the publisher of Opal Mehta is not making Viswanathan available for interviews, except in the case of the Today show. Messages left by this correspondent, who interviewed her before the controversy broke, on her answering machine have not been returned.

There is speculation that Little, Brown may not publish her second Opal Mehta novel. She was paid $500,000 advance for two Opal Mehta books

Crown, a division of the publishing giant Random House, that publishes Megan McCafferty's novels, has slammed Viswanathan's apology.

'Based on the scope and character of the similarities, it is inconceivable that this was a display of youthful innocence or an unconscious or unintentional act,' a statement from Random House said.

The Boston Globe newspaper reported that Steve Ross, senior vice-president and publisher, Crown while not saying if Random House has asked Little Brown to pull out Viswanathan's novel, told the newspaper: 'Our lawyers are reviewing all options.'

The news is apparently helping sales of the book, the Globe discovered. On Monday it was ranked 178 on Amazon.com; on Wednesday it was 68. It has reportedly sold about 5,000 copies across the country. Ross said the plagiarism has devastated McCafferty, adding she is 'not sleeping, not eating.'

'She feels like something fundamental was taken,' he told the Globe. 'We all felt it was important that we come to her defense and make clear that we support our author. The notion that this was accidental stretches credibility to the breaking point.'

Viswanathan had told rediff.com just about a week ago that though literature was her passion, she wanted to "dabble in the financial world."

Getting an MBA degree would be a natural goal for her, she said.

Would she be interested in studying at the famed Harvard Business School?

"If they can have me, surely," she said with a chuckle.

She isn't around to tell us if she is still hoping for a Harvard admission.

Pages of green in hard cover, a happy 20-year-old, a happier Mccafferty, another big budget film, another starved audience, and Opal Mehta gets her happily ever after life.

Literature, ethics? Try the long road with short bucks.

I was nineteen once; and regardless of mistakes I'd made at that age; I knew the difference between right and wrong!

IF this girl is allowed to be passed off as innocent teen-eagerness; then she sets a high precedent for repititious acts by other students and as Frey demonstrated, from other adults as well.

IF we cannot trust the truth of authorship, and the process of maintaining a high integrity for truth; then we once again, lower our human standards.

IN any other area of law; common criminals would be treated in lieu of their crime, NOT their age, NOT thier intelligence rank, and certainly not based on parental income status.

It is another sad example, of how human law and people, continue to lower it's standards to a most shameful degree; which aspires other teens and adults to commit fraud!

She committed fraud! At age nineteen, we all understand the concepts of fraud.

Sadly..criminals of the world seem to reap profits intended for honest people; why do we continue to allow this to happen?

She de-frauded the publishing house; she raped the original author; she duped the biggest, reknowned University of supposed high work ethics; she pilfered half a million dollars in her wake of criminal intent.

Hmm, I just may lower my moral standard, to substantially fit in with the NEW Accepted status level quo! No wonder the world is fucked up; we let the fuck-ups run it, rape it, and reap it's benefits!

What's wrong with us, as a law and just society, to continue lowering our human standards in adjustments now so low; we must ask ourselve's... as a lawful society... where is she, this supposed innocent young girl, leading us?

North

The question arises as to how much control Kaavya had over the 'production' process for her book. The more one reads about the dark underbelly of the publishing world (especially book packaging/producing), the more one wonders about how much of the book's words are original to the author. Kaavya might not be the sole culprit, more likely complicit in goings-on orchestrated by her overly competitive rich parents and the publishing house out to make a quick buck hyping up K's age and ethnicity.

More about book packaging from today's NYT.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/27/books/27pack.html

Here's where I think it may be appropriate to wonder about conspiracy theories. Not that any have cropped up yet though many are beginning to wonder about what role others may have played in this (with or without KV's knowledge). But I still hold Kaavya responsible to the extent that she chose to bask in the glory of her $500,000 fame as if it was solely her achievement. Now that the bubble's burst I guess she needs to take the heat, whether she did or did not lift those lines herself.

North: I see what you are saying after having read dozens of other reports and opinions about the matter.

Having been through an English program myself, I know the pains the our teachers and professors take to educate us about what constitutes as plagerism and what are the ramifications. Kaavya, student at an elite university, I am sure knew all about it.

My concern that more than likely her writing career has died an untimely death. Let the current consequences be her punishment and let her be an example to others. At 19, let her move on with life.

-jasleen

Thanks every one. I guess this dark side of packaging of products isn't a surprise. Ghost writing is a common feature in the literary world- just as dubbing the voice of an actor by someone else is common practice too. Now I know of atleast two prominent musicians who have passed off the music of some junior artists as their own.
It is disappointing but in a cut throat material world, for this to happen doesnt surprise me.
Jasleen, I think Divvya and North and many others have made a valid point that Kaavya has to take responsibility for her actions.
I remember being taught that even at 5..we all know when we do something wrong-we can create as many fake defences but it doesnt really work in the end- Kaavya was old enough to know what she was doing.
I knew that even at 5 when I sat there cutting my mom's table cloth with a blade and she said when we come to your house we will do the same. I said promptly-I will lock my house mommy and only let you in when I can watch you! so you see its all inside us.

I am just surprised she thought she could get away with it.
I read another article where the company has denied writing anything for her, saying its all her work.
So here we go again..pass the buck..
The only question is how much punishment is justified. Will her career be destroyed ..I doubt it..people reinvent themselves all the time in this country and people forgive and forget.
Only time will tell.

We must stop turning our heads at crime, and appropriate a just punishment for those that do NOT abide by laws set for us ALL?

IF we continue to stroke the ego's of criminals in our society; then those of us whom work diligently to follow the rules, will be doing so in great vain.

IF this girl, could defraud a presitgious school, bilk almost half a million dollars doing it; then we are a doomed society, to endorse her criminal intent; by further giving her the key to the city...

Seems to me, this is what we law-abiding citizens do; we change and break the rules for those that break them...??

I could see, if she lifted ONE page, or paragraph of another's writings.. but forty? how can we justify her forgiveness of her crime because of her age; yet, for the same exact crime, we were willing to hang Frey?

WE are so screwed up in our world; we don't even begin to touch the base of truth on any front.

North

Miss JM, I agree; she must be allowed to get on with her life, AFTER, she has paid her price to society for her crime, as all criminals have to.

It angers me, to continue seeing things like this slide, and watch the insubordinates of this world make millions while duping and seducing the world.

It angers me, because I just know too many honest people in my life, abiding by the rules, who got to the top of their careers, without cheating!

She is guilty-wet; and should be hung to dry.

North

hmmm i was really going to refrain from adding anything else to all the angry sentiments already expressed, but i do have something to say to you North. You seem like a very chronically angry, emotionally volatile person. I seem to remember many previous posts by you outraged and rallying against this person and that person as morally reprehensible, an evil-doer, etc. "how could she, how dare they, god will condemn them to hell forever!!!"

listen, your wild emotional reactions have nothing to do with kaavya or anybody else. i agree with everyone else that she should suffer some consequences, etc. but what really concerns me on a larger scale is your constant indignation and the emotional uproar you seem to always be in.

like i said, i usually try to stay out of emotional entanglements, especially on a website =), but something about your vibe made me want to reach out to you...

one of my favorite quotes from Rumi is:

"Beyond this field of right and wrong there is a place. Will you meet me there?"

Are you ever in that place my dear?

Its a novel for heaven sake.Who cares whether some phrases were copied from some other book.Did she copy the story?
We are making a big deal about this whole thing.
Do you think that your thinking is your own?Are not all the contents of your thinking borrowed from someone else? Are not all the talents that you have just an imitation?

Prabhakar,

I work for a creative industry.

Your question regarding originality is correct. Ultimately, nothing is invented out of nowhere by an individual. But that's because all art leaps from life. And no one has invented a terribly original, different way of leading a life - our emotions, thinking patterns, behaviour and everything else is just the same.

But that can not come to mean that all art must be same. Art thrives on the language of expression. And a novel expression of those same sentiments is what makes a piece different from another.

Will Durant put it famously, "Nothing is new except arrangement."

'Arrangement' - what you make out of those same threads. This is the definiton of originality in all creative endeavours. And let me tell you, the inside view is absolutely ruthless in this regard. Every piece of work is judged by peers only in terms of originality in this industry. It comes before everything else. And if you fail in that, no one is going to call you a writer - even with a gun on his head.

So creative people sweat, struggle and go mad trying to take their work away and away from all that has been done, any piece that can be put up as a precedent.

Sadly, Kaavya Viswanathan didn't do that. She didn't accept the responsibilty of a writer.

Therefore, she isn't one.

And by the way Kavya means poetry ? Your sanskrit is really rusty my dear ! Kavya means composition or epic , like in Maha Kavya which is expected to haev all 9 rasaas.Even the tamil equivalent Kaappiyam has the sense of epic or treatise only.

Of course an epic can be a poetic composition.It can be in verse form.

But Kaavy is definitely not Kavita !

This morning's NYTimes.com is reporting that Little, Brown is withdrawing Ms. Viswanathan's book from the market. This appears to be a complete withdrawal - not pulling the book so it can be revised, but pulling it altogether. McCafferty's publishers are said to be happy with the decision, and McCafferty says she won't sue. No comment from KV.

Hello Everyone,

Noticed someone above was pointing out to another that their comments were "always" chronically angry, emotionally volatile, and then stated this vibe made them want to reach out to them.

When you reach out to someone you usually do so with an open hand, a welcoming hand. Extending your hand with a big fact criticism to offer is not very welcoming to anyone.

I was very uncomfortable reading this comment, I did not take it well, I felt it was a direct hit on another's sense of self and that is not what is intended for this blog.

We all have a right to voice our comments without threat, in any way.ruth

Magenta, I talk on topical issues that are posted;

if they are discerning, my reaction is bound to be as well;

If they are sweet, and funny; my reaction will be as well...

see how it works?

let us not make this a personal-North issue, we are talking about a fraudulant student here, not me?

IF we were talking about Tom Cruise's new baby, the reaction I'd post would be appropriately related..

I see far more angry posts about this here, and on many other blogs than mine Magenta..did you miss those?

I hope you'll have a better day today Magenta, thankyou for your negative thoughts...about me...because to me, your letter to me was just as angry, negative and volatile, and totally uncalled for.. WE talk about a social issue here, and you turn it into a personal one,,,

Honey,,,the problem is obviously not mine?

so search deep within yourself Magenta..something is bugging you; and you "think" it is me? lol

North

Thankyou Ruth, I could hug you for that! I thought Magenta's "personal" anger/volatility comments rather uncalled for too...thanks.

North

Thanks every one.
Magenta, I think if we go beyond, whatever it is that you are seeing in North's posts, her core message is that as we sow so must we reap.
She just has a more passionate way of saying it:)

Having read your posts before I also know you have said it with good intentions. Boy how I wish I could be in that space beyond right and wrong ALL the time.
It is such a struggle sometimes when I see people being unfair and justifying it with some glib explanation, and other situations, but you are right-its a great place to be in. I feel so much better about myself as a human being.

Harish Kaavya does mean Poem. Go to Iloveindia.com and see under baby names for girls and their meanings. Mahakavya may mean epic or the great poem? Someone who is an expert in sanskrit please enlighten us. I'll ask my mom.

Sumant-how I miss your beautiful alias name..well said..
Ruth, and Heather thanks.
Iam going to be mostly away this weekend with covering events.So every one have a great weekend.
Love

Dear Magenta

Your Rumi quote is outstanding -- thank you so much for sharing that here!

I'd like get it stamped on my forehead ;) !

love, Heather

Dear Magenta

May I post that quote on my blog, and thank you for it there?

love, Heather

WE must conclude, that it takes all kinds of personalities in the world, to make it turn.

We all strive to shine positively; yet, does it not often take the grind, to make the stone into dust? Therefore; the negative is the stone; and, have you ever heard the sound, a ground stone makes?(wink)

I would suggest, we respect each other's personalities as IS..for they are all, relative...and equally as crucial to the flame or grind of life?

I must agree Magenta; I am a negative person..so why point out the obvious?

This resolution of your "need & choice" of pointing can only be resolved by self-recognition of what is truly irking you Magenta; it is certainly not me, inherently. There are far too many other far more negative people that post here, than me< I know you meant well though...so thanks for that...

and yes, I am in that place my Dear, more oft than not;

but to repeat, I resonate to topics, that resonate with me..

if they are negative topics, so shall I respond, if they are happy-go-lively comments; there-how, I would respond as well...if they resonate of a past experience, there again, the appropriated response would be given.

It is all, relevant...

Kavita, have a great weekend; work hard, and have just as equal fun(wink.) My continued Blessings to Sudha.

Off I go for the day, to become seduced by a shining sun outside; deceptive though, in her cloak; as it is icy cold outside; from 3 days of snow a few days ago..... brrrrrr...Mother Nature, where are you with our Spring here in North Country?

North

prabhakar,
You're right that we can't claim all of our creative thinking to be our own.

But plagarism is different and it IS a major offence in universities and in the writing business. A friend of mine was almost about to fail a term because he did not REFERENCE an essay properly (mainly because it was his elective course, and he didnt care too much about it and not that his essay was gonna be published anywhere). But even then it became a big deal.

This is copying passages from another writer and using it as your own to make millions, it is a big deal and thats why its in the news. And yes the story line is also similar.

heather- of course, feel free to pass it along! i love the quote too. i think deepak uses it in one of his books, as he often quotes rumi.

north- i understand where youre coming from. i think my words were harsh =). i will say that i find that the more peacefully positive and at an emotional equilibrium i remain, the more the universe rewards me. it IS certainly hard to be that way all the time though...sometimes life gets in the way! cheers,

HK

My gratitude Magenta, for reflecting inward; and seeing the harshness.

WE find out on Monday, if my son made the honour roll, 3rd semester in a row!! : ) He be givin' it all he's got; and I am the wind beneath his wings...

When I come to INtent; it is with the intention to express views and opinions on topical issue's of which douse or spark within me, the option to respond.

Once again, thankyou Magenta, for being aware..

North

Honestly, this is daunting. If you look at yourself being in her shoes, you will definitely weep.

But then, she is absolutely spoiling business for young authors like us.

Now, I don't need to send my work to a publisher, because looking at my age (18), they may say, 'Another plagiarist'.

Kaavya, you got to be well, ok?

The more tragic aspect of her action(if they were to decieve); will be that, all the wealth and fame she reaps, will not prepare her for that inevitable price - as it's re-action or karma comes back to haunt her later.

Yes, she is more to be pitied, than scorned;

and I reflect, and shamefully regret the judgements I've made toward her rather judgementally,

as I am too far from innocent and pure, to have that Holy authority.

But, we must not continue to break and change the laws and rules set forth, to which we must all lawfully abide; to accomodate those that break them.

North

Thanks everyone.
Oneyeka, I think the positive spin to this is that this will be a warning to every one to be more scruplous and honest in what they submit for publication.
I do however wonder how large a role these publishing houses play in manipulating authors to be dishonest, just to sell.

An interesting take-by someone who's been there and done that..
This is from the Gawker.

"We’ve all spent a fair deal of time analyzing, pondering, lamenting and/or scoffing at the situation of Kaavya Viswanathan, the Harvard sophomore who, after receiving $500K for a two-book deal, has been accused of plagiarizing passages in her debut novel How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life. But someday, the current controversy will be a thing of the past, and what then of young Kaavya? There is, of course, a very young woman at the center of all this.

Gawker Intern Neel Shah thinks he understands. Hailing from picturesque Port Jefferson, Long Island, Neel is a first generation Indian-American who took the SATs in 7th grade, went to the same dorky summer program at Johns Hopkins as Viswanathan, and recently graduated from Dartmouth. His father is a doctor, his family drives a Range Rover, and he played tennis in high school. In some small way, Neel knows where Kaavya’s coming from. His culturally specific analysis of her hell and humiliation follows."
and this is what Neel Sha had to say

"Whatever dubious subcontinental wunderkind Kaavya Viswanathan did write, didn’t write, had ghost-written, cribbed, subconsciously borrowed, telepathically stole, or else was brainwashed into doing by a bunch of Pakistanis hell-bent on subverting India’s credibility in the burgeoning Southeast Asian chick-lit genre, at least one thing is clear: shit like this is the reason brown kids should stick to quantitative math and organic chemistry. Ms. Viswanathan, after all, had all the hallmarks of future i-banker or doctor. Namely:

1. She was Indian (duh).
2. She had typical suburban “Indian” parents — that is, they were highly educated (both doctors), hyper-concerned with micromanaging every aspect of their progeny’s education (they spent half a year’s tuition to essentially buy their daughter admission to a school deemed “socially acceptable” by the other parent doctors and engineers of the Indian community at large), and owners of a large, drastically overpriced S.U.V. (the rear windshield of which provides optimal placement for a “socially acceptable” college decal used to ramp up envy in the aforementioned parent doctors and engineers of the Indian community at large).
3. She knew what she wanted at a ridiculously early age (a career in finance).

Had she stayed the course that was essentially her birthright, Ms. Viswanathan would’ve been crunching numbers for a top-bulge bracket bank in no time. Perhaps not by way of Harvard, but at least via Brown or Penn…certainly not — gasp! — state school.

But Brown and Penn aren’t Harvard, and for some kids with an innate masochistic streak, Opal Mehta-esque parents who’ve spent the GDP of a small African nation on SAT prep classes, or have some combination of the both, it’s Harvard or bust. And then you have absurdly compensated college counselors (who have to answer to some pretty pissed-off parents if they don’t deliver the goods) saying, “You know, having a book deal will look grrreat on the ‘extracurricular activities’ portion of your Harvard app;” and you have bottom-line-driven book publishers saying, “You know, signing a 17-year old kid to a half a million dollar deal will provide grrreat buzz in a overcrowded but highly lucrative genre; let’s worry about whether or not she can actually write later;” and you have overbearing parents saying, “You know, you’ve had every competitive advantage in life; we won’t be mad if you don’t get into Harvard, but you should really try your hardest — this book thing looks like a really good opportunity.” And now, somewhere in this tangled mess of nerd-camp entitlement (see also: fellow Crimson alum Sylvester, Nick) and shady book packagers, you have a Harvard sophomore who looks to be proper fucked.

But hey, Kaavya: if nothing else, this will totally make killer fodder for a story on redemption and life lessons learned for your med school application essays."

I hope after her sloppy first , Kaavya's second helpings will be much better.:-)

Slate wrote a piece on this issue at: www.slate.com

I frequent there as topic interests for me arise, as he's often up to par on topical issues.

North

Dear Kavita,
"Redemption and life lessons learned" is an intriquing way of thinking about how this experience will shape and determine the future for Kaavya.

Destiny. Can anyone truly avoid what One has 'set in motion' without bearing the consequences.

Yet, I believe, anyone/everyone can be redeemed.

For myself, I have by grace, and by awareness, received this gift, more than once.

With love,
~ Kate

Thank you for the sweet post as always Kate.
Your compassion and kindness are boubdless and seamless. That is why you are so loved on this blog.
Have just come back after a long day, but wanted to acknowledge this.
Thanks Harish. I'm sure there is a lesson for everyone here,and not just Kaavya. Truth has a way of coming out ..but after that what? Forgiveness and a second chance, I hope for her and frey and all of us who have made mistakes

There was even a lesson for me... I judge well, with law by my side... but, how well can I also, forgive, as an individual choice?

Thankyou Kavita, for this topic.. for the opportunity to explore, that which I "thought"(pun intended) I knew...and that was the right, to be her prosecutor.

Reluctanly not, I hereby relinquish negative thoughts of her "action" and resolve to find too... a more alternative, positive motion,

as forgiveness is... so, forgiveness "gets."

North

I remember checking footnotes a billion times to see if I matched them up right in middle and high school reports,so as not to get into trouble. And now here when its your name on the line, you don't check?? I wrote a song a year ago and I asked everyone I knew if it sounded similar to anything out there because I was scared- what if I swiped the whole darn thing and don't even know it. I know ok that me, that's how I am but still I just don't buy this "internalized" crap. You internalize the essense of passages, maybe even whole sentences that are memorable, but not sentences like these. They look exactly like elementary school reports where we used to change around the words from the encyclopedia, because we didn't know about footnoting yet. Still we did a much better job than she did. What is particularly digusting is that it looks like she copied some lines and then almost tried to one-up the original author by trying to be funnier, replacing the last couple of words. Even if it was a big sinister publishing CO plot, at that age, you should have your sense of dignity. Especially if you really want to be a writer and take the craft seriously. She just piece-mealed a book together for the sake of writing a book. And being so young when she did it. But then again the question- Why the risk if it was done consciously? Maybe the thinking get a foot in the door, and then make the stuff you really want to.
Or ego -publish a book and get into Harvard. With American Idol the issue is Success without paying dues. Crabby bitter people being sore, and the reality that the journey makes you better. But now this with Fry and Viswanathan Money and sucess with plagarism..its too much.And I hate to say it ( cause it could be a genuine mistake, I don't know what kind of memory that gal has)it should not be tolerated. People hve been destroyed for less.

I don't agree, but what the hell.

Here's the other side:

http://www.sulekha.com/blogs/blogdisplay.aspx?cid=48893

Thanks Camille and Sumant. Sumant if you read the comments posted in response to that blog, they pretty much disagree with most of what the guy wrote.
and ofcourse Kaavya will get her life back-but may be the course will have changed some what and she has only herself, her ambitious parents and an irresponsible, and perhaps greedy publishing house to blame.

Dear all,

I want to make something clear to you. I was in India last month, and guess what, we Africans are seen as pests...baboons as seen in the entire world...

When I sat down and thought about Kaavya's plight, I knew she was racially abused through literature. If you don't believe, I can tell you why.

If it was an American that was caught in this plagiarism, there would be no CNN, NBC, New York Times or all whatnot, covering the incidents. But she is Indian, so the entire media must 'expose' India...

I am saying this, because Indians call Africans 'bandar' and 'kaala', just becuase of our colour, and maybe, this is a way God wants to let them understand that Africans can only be Internet scammers...drug-peddlers...but we can never be trapped with plagiarism...

Kaavya was actually trapped...believe it or not...or a ghost writer wrote that book...

Yes Kavita, as I mentioned I found it difficult agreeing to the points made. I, at a personal level, think that whatever Kavvya has done is beyond pardon in the name of anything. And I think it will be difficult for most to cast a soft eye at the wannabe writer. I posted the link just to highlight the tail-side of the argument, and this guy sounded quite methodical and passionate about defending Kavvya - and thus, plagiarism.

I think a huge pie of the blame for such crap should go to the various media / publishing firms who, in their mad rush to put their own one in this huge, high-stake celebrity circus, never think once before glorifying worthless talents.

Onyeka,
Katie Couric was in fact rather kind to Kaavya in her interview.
Racism, bigotry exists in every walk of life, but to say Kaavya was trapped because of her race doesnt hold water. look at the number of south asian writers who have done extremely well for themselves. James Frey an American was caught and his career is pretty much destroyed by now and he got far more press than Kaavya did, across the board.
Thanks Sumant, right on as usual.

For a notice to Indians, Nigerians are more or less plagiarists and scammers...You can check Nigerian writers who have made out there without plagiarism...

Helen Oyeyemi was 19 last year when her novel was released by Bloomsbury...Uzodinma Iweala was 20 when he wrote his exception book, Beasts of No Nation...

Why then did Kaavya copy, since she knew she was intelligent to have entered Harvard...

Um God

This just in -

"Opal Mehta' Gone for Good; Contract Cancelled
Publisher says that sophomore's novel will never return to shelves
Published On Tuesday, May 02, 2006 5:59 PM
By THE CRIMSON STAFF

Kaavya Viswanathan’s publisher said that the Harvard sophomore’s recently-released novel—which has been dogged by plagiarism allegations—will not be re-released, and that Viswanathan’s two-book contract has been cancelled.

In a statement released today, the publisher of Little, Brown, and Company, Michael Pietsch ’78, said: "Little, Brown and Company will not be publishing a revised edition of `How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life' by Kaavya Viswanathan, nor will we publish the second book under contract.”

The Crimson reported late last month that Viswanathan’s novel contained striking similarities to two earlier books by Megan F. McCafferty. The New York Times has highlighted further similarities between “Opal Mehta” and books by Salman Rushdie and Sophie Kinsella. And yesterday, The Crimson revealed further parallels between Viswanathan’s work and Meg Cabot’s 2000 novel “The Princess Diaries.”

Pietsch had previously said that “Opal Mehta” would be withdrawn from bookstores. In a statement released through Little, Brown last Monday, Viswanathan said that the book would be reprinted after it had been revised “to eliminate any inappropriate similarities.”

Pietsch told the New York Times Wednesday that the publishing house would not sue Viswanathan for breach of contract.

Kinsella’s and McCafferty’s publisher, Random House, declined to respond to Little, Brown’s announcement. “With Little, Brown having voluntarily withdrawn their book from the marketplace last week, the Random House authors and publishers of the books involved will not be commenting further on this matter,” Random House spokesman Stuart Applebaum said today.

J U S T O U T !
According to NYT, Ms Viswanathan lifted from another book as well. I tell you people, this dimwit's got some talent alright.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/02/books/02auth.html?ex=1146801600&en=39d02597ab0cd35d&ei=5087%0A