Arundhati Roy, a Booker Prize-winning author and activist, recently discussed her new memoir, Mother Mary Comes to Me, at a private gathering in Delhi. The memoir focuses on her mother, Mary Roy, who was a significant figure in her life—described by Roy as a “feminist icon, educator, crusader, eccentric.” Mary Roy is known for founding a school in Kerala and winning a landmark Supreme Court case that secured inheritance rights for Christian women.
Arundhati Roy first gained fame with her debut novel, The God of Small Things, published in 1997. This novel has sold over six million copies and solidified her place in the literary world. After taking a two-decade hiatus to write essays, she returns to fiction with this memoir, emphasizing the complex relationship she shared with her mother, which she describes as a “respectful relationship between two nuclear powers.”
In her memoir, Roy portrays her mother as a “crumpled, broken, unresolvable character,” reflecting on her childhood while navigating the challenges posed by her mother’s personality. The memoir is not a conventional biography but instead combines humor and personal anecdotes, including eccentric characters and Roy’s life experiences, from her days in architecture school to her writing process.
Roy also addresses her writing in a broad context, stating it keeps her alive amid challenges and societal issues she has engaged with over the years. Despite facing criticism and legal accusations throughout her career, she maintains a commitment to persistence in the face of adversity.
The memoir was launched recently in Kochi, where a large crowd gathered to celebrate Mary Roy’s legacy, featuring a musical tribute performed by Arundhati Roy’s brother. The event reflected the deep influence of Mary Roy on her daughter’s life and work.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gzdnp43l8o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss