Arundhati Roy gained immediate international recognition in 1997 with the publication of her debut novel, The God of Small Things. The work secured the Booker Prize for Fiction and transformed the landscape of Indian literature in English, marking a significant commercial milestone as one of the most successful books ever produced by a non-expatriate author from the country.
Early Life and Education
Born in 1961 in Shillong, Roy was raised in Kerala. Her educational background includes attendance at the Lawrence School, Lovedale, and Pallikoodam, followed by studies at the University of Delhi. After her formal education, she transitioned into professional life in Delhi, holding a position at the National Institute of Urban Affairs.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Screenwriting and Film
Before establishing her reputation as a novelist, Roy pursued a career in television and cinema. She performed in the 1985 film Massey Sahib and later penned screenplays for the productions In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones (1989) and Electric Moon (1992). Her writing for the former earned her a National Film Award for Best Screenplay in 1988.
Literary Success and Non-Fiction
Following the success of The God of Small Things, Roy produced a variety of works, including the documentary DAM/AGE: A Film with Arundhati Roy. Her later literary output features The Ministry of Utmost Happiness and the 2025 memoir Mother Mary Comes to Me. She has also compiled extensive collections of political essays, including My Seditious Heart, reflecting her consistent focus on non-fiction prose.
Activism and Advocacy
Roy is recognized for her involvement in human rights, environmental protection, and anti-globalization movements. Her advocacy work frequently critiques neo-imperialism and domestic policy, earning her the Sydney Peace Prize in 2004 and the Lannan Cultural Freedom Prize in 2002. She was also named in the Time 100 list in 2014 and received the Norman Mailer Prize in 2011.
Fast facts
- Born: 1961, Shillong, India
- Primary Field: Literature and political activism
- Best-Known Work: The God of Small Things (1997)
- Booker Prize: 1997
- Sahitya Akademi Award: 2005
- Orwell Award: 2004
- Language: English and Hindi
- Occupations: novelist, screenwriter, journalist, activist
Questions readers ask
What was the subject of Roy's first film screenplay?
In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones (1989) was based on her own experiences as an architecture student.
Which major international prize did Roy win for her first novel?
She won the Booker Prize for Fiction in 1997 for The God of Small Things.
Achievements
- Norman Mailer Prize — 2011
- Sydney Peace Prize — 2004
- Booker Prize — 1997
- Lannan Cultural Freedom Prize — 2002
- Notable work: The God of Small Things
