“Sometimes, a single person's clarity can unnerve a muddled crowd.”

The Ministry of Utmost Happiness
by Arundhati Roy

Genre: Fiction |Publisher: Knopf |2017

Review thread
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There are books that cast a light on deep-seated and serious issues in our society, focusing on telling the story and leavinga lasting effect on you.

The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy is one of those.

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It was a brilliant rendition of different individuals in India who are faced with tragedy yet are defiant to it holding all the power and influence in their lives.

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In reflections, conversations, celebrations, travel, writing and affiliations, they resist the effect of cultural views and political decisions that have dire consequences on their existence.

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The strength and charm of Anjum and Tilo, the book’s protagonists and other women come in many forms, the expression of which is sometimes unconventional.

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The men like Musa, Saddam and Biplab are shed of all stoicism and denial of emotion coming out tender, open and true to their authentic selves.

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And the children? Roy does a fine job of centering Zainab and the two Miss Jebeens, giving them solid thoughts, dialogue and much influence even where they are only a memory.

Thus, all the characters play unique roles in their shared destiny.

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The enormous force of love, hope and a high sense of self esteem in the face of discrimination, political and economic subjugation, occupation, ostracism and adversity is a strong rope binding all the characters together.

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The Hijrah (transgender) and Kashmiri experiences which are poorly understood by a lot of people are expounded on in detail.

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The focus in this story is of those born with male and female genitalia, having to choose one gender and being loved by family at a distance.

They bond together living a life outside and yet within their society.

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The people of Kashmir have been living under the Indian occupation for decades. Dealing with treachery, injustice, killings and economic hardship is highly traumatic for them and their allies.

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Both groups are not portrayed as only victims but people with a life, who hold on strongly to their faith and cultural practices.

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They eschew the caste and religious divisions that affect them as they build strong relationships and structures while finding fulfillment in spite of the cruel hands they are dealt with.

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How Roy takes all this heavy sadness and makes humour and joy shine through is an impressive delivery of excellent storytelling.

It is vivid in its description, provoking and comforting in consecutive heartbeats. I enjoyed reading and learning so much at the same time.

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The range of health topics woven into the tale covers chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, alcoholism, dementia, post traumatic stress disorder, the effect of abandonment on mental health, rape, sun damage to the eyes, gender reconstruction surgery, pet therapy etc

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What did you think about this book?

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