Arundhati Roy is a renowned Indian author and activist, best known for her Booker Prize-winning novel “The God of Small Things.” Born on November 24, 1961, she is also a vocal advocate for social and environmental justice.
Biography
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Suzanna Arundhati Roy |
| Date of Birth | 24 November 1961 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Profession | Author, Political Activist |
| Notable Work | The God of Small Things (1997) |
| Awards | Booker Prize for Fiction (1997), PEN Pinter Prize (2024) |
| Activism | Human Rights, Environmental Causes |
Early Life
Arundhati Roy, an acclaimed Indian author and activist, was born on November 24, 1961, in Shillong, Meghalaya, India. She was raised in Aymanam in the state of Kerala. Her mother, Mary Roy, was a women’s rights activist, and her father, Rajib Roy, was a Bengali tea planter. Arundhati’s early life was marked by the cultural diversity and socio-political landscape of India, which greatly influenced her writing and activism. At a young age, she moved to Delhi to pursue her education and later attended the School of Planning and Architecture. This move was pivotal as it set the stage for her illustrious career in literature and advocacy.
Family
| Relation | Name | Information |
|---|---|---|
| Father | Rajib Roy | Rajib Roy was a Bengali Hindu tea plantation manager from Calcutta. |
| Mother | Mary Roy | Mary Roy was a renowned social activist and educator, best known for winning a landmark legal battle for equal inheritance rights for Syrian Christian women in Kerala. |
| Sibling | Lalit Roy | Lalit Roy is Arundhati Roy’s brother. He maintains a relatively low profile compared to his sister. |
Height, Weight, And Other Body Measurements
| Attribute | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Height | Not Publicly Available |
| Weight | Not Publicly Available |
| Body Measurements | Not Publicly Available |
| Eye Color | Not Publicly Available |
| Hair Color | Not Publicly Available |
Note: Arundhati Roy, known for her privacy, has not publicly disclosed detailed body measurements.
Wife/husband / Girlfriend/boyfriend
Arundhati Roy is currently married to Pradip Krishen. They have been together since 1984. Pradip Krishen is an Indian filmmaker and environmentalist known for his work on movies like “Massey Sahib” and “In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones”. The couple shares a strong bond and often collaborate on various projects.
Arundhati Roy was previously married to Gerard Da Cunha, an architect. Their marriage ended in divorce.
Table Of Previous Relationships
| Name | Relationship Type | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| Gerard Da Cunha | Ex-Husband | Architect, marriage ended in divorce |
Career, Achievements And Controversies
Arundhati Roy became internationally famous with the publication of her debut novel, The God of Small Things, in 1997. The novel, which is a semi-autobiographical story set in Kerala, India, received widespread acclaim for its rich narrative and innovative language. It won the Booker Prize, one of the most prestigious literary awards, catapulting her to global literary stardom.
Roy’s career began in the realm of screenwriting and acting. She wrote the screenplay for the films In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones (1989) and Electric Moon (1992), both of which gained a cult following in India. However, it was her transition to writing novels that made her a household name.
Some of her popular works include:
- The God of Small Things (1997)
- The Ministry of Utmost Happiness (2017)
Aside from her novels, Roy is also known for her non-fiction works and essays, which include:
- The Algebra of Infinite Justice (2002)
- Listening to Grasshoppers: Field Notes on Democracy (2009)
- Broken Republic (2011)
Arundhati Roy has received numerous awards and accolades throughout her career, including:
- Booker Prize for The God of Small Things (1997)
- Norman Mailer Prize for Distinguished Writing (2011)
- Stanisław Vincenz Prize (2018)
Roy has been involved in several controversies over the years, largely due to her outspoken views on various political and social issues. Some of the notable controversies include:
- Her criticism of the Indian government’s policies in Kashmir, which led to charges of sedition being filed against her in 2010.
- Her vocal opposition to the Narmada Dam project, which brought her into conflict with various political and industrial entities.
- Her critical stance on U.S. foreign policy, particularly in the context of the Iraq War, which garnered both support and backlash.
- Her comments on the Maoist insurgency in India, which were perceived by some as supportive of the rebels, leading to significant public and political debate.
Despite the controversies, Arundhati Roy remains a significant and influential voice in contemporary literature and activism.
