Arundhati Roy's Body of Work a Scathing Critique of Power and Politics
For over three decades, Arundhati Roy has been a polarizing figure in Indian literature and beyond. Her works – spanning fiction, nonfiction, and essays – have garnered both critical acclaim and controversy. A former Booker Prize winner for her 1997 debut novel The God of Small Things, Roy's writing often delves into the realms of politics, social justice, and personal narrative.
If one were to pinpoint a single entry point into Roy's oeuvre, it would be through The God of Small Things. This sweeping family saga explores themes of love, intimacy, caste, and colonial violence in Kerala, India. Through its intricate structure, Roy masterfully teases emotions to evoke both pain and outrage. Her portrayal of the "Love Laws" – social taboos that govern relationships – is particularly striking.
Beyond fiction, Roy's works often intersect with her personal experiences. Her 2025 memoir Mother Mary Comes To Me, a sweeping account of her relationship with her mother, explores the complexities of maternal love and identity. The book was shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year and named Foyles Book of the Year.
Roy has also written extensively on politics and social justice, including the essay "The Doctor and the Saint," which reexamines the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar. In just over 100 pages, Roy delivers a searing critique of the caste system in India. This piece is worth reading for its unflinching examination of power dynamics.
Roy's most recent work, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, is a sprawling exploration of love, self-expression, and liberation in the face of political suppression. While it requires patience to navigate its structure, this novel remains Roy's most urgent and urgent work to date.
For those short on time, 2011's Walking With the Comrades offers a quintessential but quick taste of Roy's reportage and activism. The essay collection Azadi: Fascism, Fiction, and Freedom in the Time of the Virus is also worth reading, offering insight into Roy's thoughts on fiction as resistance against authoritarianism.
Ultimately, if one were to recommend just one work by Arundhati Roy, it would be her 2008 essay "Intimations of an Ending: The Rise and Rise of the Hindu Nation." This piece is a masterclass in tracing the origins and growth of the Hindutva movement. In it, Roy builds upon the image of the kabristan to argue that fiction alone can accurately depict the lives of those who are silenced and oppressed.
Throughout her body of work, Arundhati Roy remains unapologetic in her critique of power and politics. Her writing serves as a searing reminder of the importance of stories told from the margins – and the power of fiction to shape our understanding of the world.
For over three decades, Arundhati Roy has been a polarizing figure in Indian literature and beyond. Her works – spanning fiction, nonfiction, and essays – have garnered both critical acclaim and controversy. A former Booker Prize winner for her 1997 debut novel The God of Small Things, Roy's writing often delves into the realms of politics, social justice, and personal narrative.
If one were to pinpoint a single entry point into Roy's oeuvre, it would be through The God of Small Things. This sweeping family saga explores themes of love, intimacy, caste, and colonial violence in Kerala, India. Through its intricate structure, Roy masterfully teases emotions to evoke both pain and outrage. Her portrayal of the "Love Laws" – social taboos that govern relationships – is particularly striking.
Beyond fiction, Roy's works often intersect with her personal experiences. Her 2025 memoir Mother Mary Comes To Me, a sweeping account of her relationship with her mother, explores the complexities of maternal love and identity. The book was shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year and named Foyles Book of the Year.
Roy has also written extensively on politics and social justice, including the essay "The Doctor and the Saint," which reexamines the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar. In just over 100 pages, Roy delivers a searing critique of the caste system in India. This piece is worth reading for its unflinching examination of power dynamics.
Roy's most recent work, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, is a sprawling exploration of love, self-expression, and liberation in the face of political suppression. While it requires patience to navigate its structure, this novel remains Roy's most urgent and urgent work to date.
For those short on time, 2011's Walking With the Comrades offers a quintessential but quick taste of Roy's reportage and activism. The essay collection Azadi: Fascism, Fiction, and Freedom in the Time of the Virus is also worth reading, offering insight into Roy's thoughts on fiction as resistance against authoritarianism.
Ultimately, if one were to recommend just one work by Arundhati Roy, it would be her 2008 essay "Intimations of an Ending: The Rise and Rise of the Hindu Nation." This piece is a masterclass in tracing the origins and growth of the Hindutva movement. In it, Roy builds upon the image of the kabristan to argue that fiction alone can accurately depict the lives of those who are silenced and oppressed.
Throughout her body of work, Arundhati Roy remains unapologetic in her critique of power and politics. Her writing serves as a searing reminder of the importance of stories told from the margins – and the power of fiction to shape our understanding of the world.
I think its awesome that Arundhati Roy's work is still sparking conversations about power, politics & social justice after all these years 
Her writing has this way of cutting through the noise & making you feel seen & heard 
I love how she tackles tough topics with such nuance & sensitivity 
- they still spin good tunes, even if some of the lyrics might make you uncomfortable 
. But that's what makes them so great, right? They're not afraid to tackle tough subjects and speak truth to power, just like how I wish more people would listen to my auntie's stories about when she was a teenager in the '60s 
. And then there's her essays - they're like my grandma's wise advice condensed into just a few pages 
.
. She's like that one aunt at the family reunion who always speaks truth to power (and sometimes gets into arguments with our cousin 
). But seriously, her writing has a way of making you think about things differently, just like how my uncle's old VHS tapes used to make me watch documentaries for hours on end 
.
)
. Like, I get that she's trying to expose the dark side of politics and society, but doesn't she think about the consequences of her words? She can be pretty scathing in her critiques, which is part of what makes her writing so impactful, I guess... but at times it feels like she's not really offering solutions or alternatives. Still, you have to admit that her passion and conviction are infectious 
. She never holds back when it comes to tearing apart the systems of power and politics, leaving you feeling both enraged and inspired at the same time 
. Roy's writing may be unapologetic, but it's also a reminder of the importance of storytelling and giving voice to those who've been silenced 
. If you haven't checked out "Mother Mary Comes To Me" yet, what are you even doing with your life?