This September, acclaimed author and activist Arundhati Roy is set to release Mother Mary Comes to Me, her first memoir. The book, written after the passing of her mother, Mary—an educator and activist—promises to be a personal yet politically aware exploration of love, grief, and freedom.
For readers curious about her writing or longtime fans eager to revisit her legacy, here’s a fresh look at Roy’s literary and political contributions.
Beginning with a Landmark Novel: The God of Small Things (1997)
Arundhati Roy’s entry into literature was nothing short of extraordinary. Her debut novel, The God of Small Things, won the Booker Prize and sold millions of copies worldwide.
Set in Kerala, the novel follows twins Rahel and Estha, whose lives unravel due to deeply entrenched social “Love Laws.” Known for its poetic structure and emotional depth, the book is still regarded as a defining achievement in Indian literature.
Expanding Horizons: The Ministry of Utmost Happiness (2017)
Two decades later, Roy published her second novel, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. Unlike the intimate storytelling of her debut, this novel is expansive and layered.
It introduces readers to Anjum, a transgender woman living in a graveyard in Delhi, before moving into larger political terrains such as Kashmir’s unrest and the lives of the marginalized. The novel, longlisted for the Booker Prize, emphasizes Roy’s refusal to draw lines between politics and art.
Essays that Speak Truth to Power
While her novels gained global acclaim, Roy’s nonfiction has been equally influential. She has consistently written against the excesses of state power and global capitalism.
- My Seditious Heart (2019): A massive collection spanning two decades of essays on nuclear policy, neoliberalism, communal violence, and ecological crises.
- Azadi (2020): A sharp and concise work reflecting on freedom, nationalism, and authoritarianism, published during the pandemic. It remains banned in Jammu & Kashmir, reflecting the discomfort her words provoke in power structures.
Dialogues and Political Conversations
Roy’s voice also comes alive in her collaborative works:
- Things That Can and Cannot Be Said (2016): Co-written with John Cusack, this book features conversations with Edward Snowden and Daniel Ellsberg about secrecy, surveillance, and global empires.
- The Architecture of Modern Empire (2023): A dialogue with journalist David Barsamian that spans 20 years of discussions on war, nationalism, and resistance.
These works highlight Roy’s ability to challenge dominant narratives through both fiction and conversation.
The Personal Turn: Mother Mary Comes to Me
Her forthcoming memoir marks a new stage in her career. By revisiting her relationship with her late mother, Roy is expected to weave together personal memory with broader reflections on activism, education, and justice.
Given her history of blending the political with the intimate, the memoir will likely echo her larger body of work: exploring how individual lives intersect with global struggles.
Why Readers Should Return to Roy Now
Arundhati Roy’s influence lies in her ability to connect art with activism. Her fiction transforms ordinary lives into universal stories, while her nonfiction confronts uncomfortable truths about democracy, war, and empire.
As Mother Mary Comes to Me approaches release, it offers the perfect opportunity to revisit her earlier works and recognize why her writing remains vital in today’s world.
