Arundhati Roy
Author, Activist & Essayist
Booker Prize-winning novelist and fearless political commentator. Author of 'The God of Small Things' and 'The Ministry of Utmost Happiness'. Known for her advocacy on environmental and human rights issues.
About
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.
Published Books
The God of Small Things
Literature & Fiction
Winner of the Man Booker Prize, this semi-autobiographical novel explores love, loss, and the societal boundaries in India. Set in Kerala, it interweaves personal and political tragedies with poetic prose.
The Algebra of Infinite Justice
Political Essays
A searing critique of the global ‘war on terror’ post‑9/11, this powerful collection illuminates how power, violence, and empire operate under the guise of 'justice'.
The Checkbook and the Cruise Missile
Political Essays
An incisive examination of America’s military and economic interventions in the early 2000s, deconstructing justifications for war and empire building.
War Talk
Political Essays
Roy outlines the use of war rhetoric and explores its consequences in shaping public opinion, policy, and global politics.
An Ordinary Person's Guide to Empire
Political Essays
An accessible collection aiming to demystify imperialism and globalization for everyday readers, encouraging critical engagement with empire’s reach.
Public Power in the Age of Empire
Political Essays
Exploring the diminishing role of public institutions under global capitalism and empire, Roy critiques corporate dominance and public disempowerment.
The Shape of the Beast
Political Essays
A collection that dissects contemporary forms of power—from globalization to state violence—through Roy’s incisive and moral lens.
Listening to Grasshoppers
Field Notes on Democracy
Political Essays
Essays addressing India’s Maoist conflict, Manmohan Singh’s leadership, Kashmir, and the ethics of dissent, showcasing Roy’s fierce engagement with Indian politics.
Broken Republic
Political Essays
Roy explores India’s central Indian conflict zones, examining state violence, poverty, and the rise of resistance movements.
The Hanging of Afzal Guru and the Strange Case of the Attack on the Indian Parliament
Political Essays
Roy critiques India's justice system, media trials, and politics surrounding the hanging of Afzal Guru after the 2001 Parliament attack.
The End of Imagination
History
Short essays critiquing the Indian state, nationalism, and violence, written during a time when imagination itself is under attack.
Things that Can and Cannot Be Said
Politics
A hallmark lecture and essay collection dealing with free speech, dissent, violence, and the ethics of public expression in India today.
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness
Contemporary Fiction
A sprawling novel that journeys across the Indian subcontinent, from Delhi's graveyards to Kashmir’s valleys. Roy tells a tale of resilience, identity, and protest against injustice.
The Doctor and the Saint
Literature & Fiction
Roy examines the contrasting legacies of BR Ambedkar and Gandhi, and explores their influence on India’s continuing caste struggle.
My Seditious Heart
Collected Non-fiction
Anthologies
A collection of essays and speeches on nationalism, dissent, and democracy—further showcasing Roy’s fearless commentary amid global turbulence.
Azadi
Freedom. Fascism. Fiction
History
Roy contributes to this anthology reflecting on the farmers’ protests in India—examining freedom, resistance, and solidarity in modern democracy.
Mother Mary Comes to Me
History & Criticism
A raw and deeply moving memoir from the legendary author of The God of Small Things and The Ministry of Utmost Happiness that traces the complex relationship with her mother, Mary Roy, a fierce and formidable force who shaped Arundhati’s life both as a woman and a writer.
Recommended Reading
Midnight's Children
Salman Rushdie
A landmark novel in postcolonial literature, exploring India's transition from British rule to independence.
The White Tiger
Aravind Adiga
A gripping tale of class struggle and corruption in modern India, told through the eyes of a village boy turned entrepreneur.
Awards & Recognition
National Film Award for Best Screenplay
1989Awarded for the screenplay of the film *In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones*, recognizing excellence in Indian cinema.
Booker Prize
1997Received for her debut novel *The God of Small Things*, marking her as a major literary voice.
Sydney Peace Prize
2002Honored for her advocacy of non-violence, social justice, and her outspoken critiques of imperialism.
Norman Mailer Prize for Distinguished Writing
2011Recognized for her powerful political essays and commitment to truth in journalism and literature.
Famous Quotes
"That's what careless words do. They make people love you a little less."
"If you're happy in a dream, does that count?"
"Change is one thing. Acceptance is another."
"Things can change in a day."
"Some things come with their own punishments."
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