Arundhati Roy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arundhati Roy
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Roy in 2013
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| Born | Suzanna Arundhati Roy 24 November 1961 Shillong, Assam (present-day Meghalaya), India |
| Occupation | Writer, essayist, activist |
| Education | Lawrence School, Lovedale |
| Alma mater | School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi |
| Period | 1997–present |
| Genre | Fiction, non-fiction |
| Notable works | The God of Small Things |
| Notable awards |
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| Spouse |
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| Parents | Mary Roy (mother) |
| Relatives | Prannoy Roy (cousin) |
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Suzanna Arundhati Roy (born 24 November 1961) is a famous Indian writer. She is best known for her novel The God of Small Things, which won the important Booker Prize in 1997. This book became a huge bestseller. Arundhati Roy is also a strong voice for human rights and protecting the environment. In 2024, she won the PEN Pinter Prize and chose to share it with an imprisoned writer, Alaa Abd El-Fattah.
Contents
About Arundhati Roy
Her Early Life
Arundhati Roy was born in Shillong, Meghalaya, India. Her mother, Mary Roy, was a women's rights activist from Kerala. Her father, Rajib Roy, managed a tea plantation. When Arundhati was two, her parents divorced. She moved to Kerala with her mother and brother. For a while, they lived with her grandfather in Ooty. Later, they moved back to Kerala, where her mother started a school.
Arundhati went to school at Corpus Christi in Kottayam. She also attended the Lawrence School, Lovedale. She then studied architecture in Delhi. There, she met and married architect Gerard da Cunha in 1978. They lived in Delhi and Goa before divorcing in 1982.
Her Personal Life
After her divorce, Roy returned to Delhi. In 1984, she met filmmaker Pradip Krishen. He gave her a small role in his movie Massey Sahib. They got married that same year. They worked together on a TV series and two films. These films were In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones (1989) and Electric Moon (1992).
Arundhati Roy became financially secure after her novel The God of Small Things became a big success in 1997. She is a cousin of Prannoy Roy, a well-known media person. Today, Arundhati Roy lives in Delhi.
Her Writing Career
Starting with Screenplays
Early in her career, Arundhati Roy worked in movies and television. She acted in Massey Sahib in 1985. She also wrote screenplays for films. These included In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones (1989) and Electric Moon (1992). Both films were directed by her husband, Pradip Krishen. Roy won the National Film Award for Best Screenplay in 1988 for In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones.
The God of Small Things
Roy started writing her first novel, The God of Small Things, in 1992. She finished it in 1996. The book tells a story that is partly based on her own childhood. It captures her experiences growing up in Aymanam.
When The God of Small Things was published, it made Roy famous worldwide. It won the prestigious 1997 Booker Prize. The New York Times also listed it as one of their Notable Books of the Year. The book quickly became a huge seller. Roy received a large advance payment for it. By the end of June, the book had been sold in 18 countries.
Many major newspapers praised The God of Small Things. The New York Times called it "extraordinary." Los Angeles Times described it as "a novel of poignancy." Time magazine even named it one of the five best books of 1997.
Later Writings
After her first novel, Roy wrote a TV series called The Banyan Tree. She also made a documentary film, DAM/AGE: A Film with Arundhati Roy (2002).
In 2007, Roy announced she was working on a second novel. This book, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, was published in June 2017. It was also longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2017.
Roy has written many essays about current events and society. These essays were collected into several books. Her non-fiction works were gathered into a single book called My Seditious Heart in 2019. She also contributed to We Are One: A Celebration of Tribal Peoples in 2009. This book explores different cultures around the world.
Her Activism
Since her first novel, Roy has spent much of her time on political activism. She writes essays about important social issues. She speaks out against unfair global practices and powerful countries' actions. She has also criticized India's policies on nuclear weapons. Roy also speaks against too much industrial growth. She believes it can harm people and the environment. She has also questioned how the Indian police handle certain cases.
Awards and Recognition
Arundhati Roy has received many awards for her writing and activism.
- In 1997, she won the Booker Prize for The God of Small Things. She donated the prize money to human rights causes.
- Before the Booker, she won the National Film Award for Best Screenplay in 1989. This was for her film In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones.
- In 2015, she returned her national award. She did this to protest against religious intolerance in India.
- In 2002, she received the Lannan Foundation's Cultural Freedom Award. This was for her work on how powerful governments affect societies.
- She was recognized as a Woman of Peace in 2003 by Global Exchange.
- In 2004, she won the Sydney Peace Prize for her social campaigns and belief in non-violence. She also received the Orwell Award that year.
- In 2006, she was offered the Sahitya Akademi Award. This is a national award from India's Academy of Letters. However, she refused it. She did this to protest against the Indian government's policies.
- She won the Norman Mailer Prize for Distinguished Writing in 2011.
- Time magazine included her in their 2014 list of the 100 most influential people.
- In 2022, St. Louis University gave her the St. Louis Literary Award. This award celebrates important writers.
- She received a lifetime achievement award in 2023 for the French translation of her book Azadi.
- In June 2024, she won the PEN Pinter Prize. This award is given to writers who bravely speak the truth. She chose to share this award with Alaa Abd El-Fattah, an imprisoned activist.
- In August 2024, she shared the Disturbing the Peace Award. This award recognizes brave writers who are at risk.
See Also
In Spanish: Arundhati Roy para niños
- List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for English
- List of Indian writers
- List of peace activists
- Indian English literature
- Naxalite–Maoist insurgency
- Iraq War
