Arundhati Roy

Arundhati Roy, born November 24, 1961, is an acclaimed Indian author and prominent activist recognized for her work on human rights and environmental issues. She gained international renown with her 1997 novel, The God of Small Things, which earned her the Booker Prize for Fiction and became a bestseller. Roy's writing often draws from her personal experiences and critiques contemporary political and social landscapes. Beyond her literary achievements, she is a vocal advocate for various causes, including indigenous rights and opposition to large-scale development projects. Her activism has sometimes led to controversy and legal challenges in India. Roy was awarded the 2024 PEN Pinter Prize, sharing it with Alaa Abd El-Fattah.

Arundhati Roy's early career included work in film and television, where she wrote screenplays such as 'In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones,' earning her a National Film Award. She also gained attention for her critical review of the film 'Bandit Queen.' Her literary debut, 'The God of Small Things,' published in 1997, was a semi-autobiographical novel exploring childhood experiences. The book achieved immediate international success, securing the Booker Prize for Fiction and becoming a significant commercial hit. Despite critical acclaim, the novel also faced controversy and criticism in India for its content. Since the novel's publication, Roy has increasingly dedicated her time to political activism and writing essays on social and political matters.

Roy is a notable activist, deeply involved in human rights and environmental causes, often aligning with anti-globalization movements. She is a strong critic of neo-imperialism and aspects of Indian government policy, including its stance on nuclear weapons and industrial development. Roy has also raised concerns about police and administrative conduct in specific legal cases within India. Her advocacy has extended to supporting the independence of Kashmir, a position that drew criticism from various Indian political parties. She has also campaigned against large development projects, such as the Sardar Sarovar dam, arguing against their social and environmental impacts and donating her Booker Prize money to related causes.

Following her debut novel, Roy continued her writing career with works like the television serial 'The Banyan Tree' and the documentary 'DAM/AGE: A Film with Arundhati Roy.' Her second novel, 'The Ministry of Utmost Happiness,' was published in 2017, after years of work, and was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. Roy has also published extensively through essays, which have been collected into volumes such as 'My Seditious Heart.' Her memoir, 'Mother Mary Comes to Me,' focusing on her early life, was published in 2025. In 2024, she was honored with the PEN Pinter Prize, an award she chose to share with activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah.

“The Great Indian Rape Trick”

“restage the rape of a living woman without her permission”

“dazzling first novel”

“extraordinary”

“at once so morally strenuous and so imaginatively supple”