Arundhati Roy

Arundhati Roy is a globally celebrated Indian author, best known for her debut novel The God of Small Things, which won the prestigious Man Booker Prize in 1997. Born in Shillong and raised in Kerala and Delhi, Roy studied architecture before transitioning to writing. Her literary voice is known for its poetic style, political sharpness, and deeply personal narrative threads. The God of Small Things draws heavily from her own childhood and explores themes of caste, forbidden love, and memory. It catapulted her to international acclaim and established her as a major figure in contemporary literature. Roy’s writing resists conventional forms and expectations, often blending fiction with historical and sociopolitical commentary. Her prose is both lyrical and unflinching, creating a deeply immersive and often unsettling experience for readers. In a country of vast contradictions, Roy has consistently used her platform to highlight injustice and amplify marginalized voices.

Beyond fiction, Roy has become one of the most uncompromising political voices in India. She has written numerous essays and non-fiction works addressing a wide range of issues, from nuclear policy and corporate globalization to caste violence and Kashmir. Her essay collections, including Field Notes on Democracy and Capitalism: A Ghost Story, are searing indictments of institutional power and the erosion of civil liberties. Roy is not only an observer but also an activist, often participating in grassroots movements and speaking out against state violence, religious extremism, and environmental destruction. She has faced backlash, legal challenges, and intense scrutiny for her positions—but continues to speak truth to power with clarity and courage. Her political writings are characterized by their moral urgency and eloquence, making her one of the most compelling dissident voices of our time.

In 2017, Roy published her long-awaited second novel, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, which was longlisted for the Booker Prize. The novel weaves together the lives of outcasts and rebels—transgender activists, Kashmiri freedom fighters, and dispossessed Dalits—against the backdrop of India’s political turmoil. While fiction, the book functions as a chronicle of contemporary India, showing how private grief and public trauma are often inseparable. With this work, Roy reaffirmed her position not just as a literary stylist but as a chronicler of resistance and resilience. Today, Arundhati Roy continues to write and speak around the world, challenging dominant narratives and urging readers to confront the uncomfortable truths of modern civilization. Her commitment to justice, both on the page and in public life, marks her as a rare kind of writer: one whose words do not simply describe the world but demand its transformation.