Exploring Gender, Identity, and Socio-political Realities in Arundhati Roy's the Ministry of Utmost Happiness

Abstract

Gender issue has always been constructing its stance in the social political domain. This paper explores the Gender perspective from a socio-political angle, the ways non-heterosexual young people are negotiating their identities and socio-sexual relations. In the novel The Ministry of Utmost Happiness (2017), Arundhati Roy has suggested various socio-political issues and Gender roleplay. The novel has been written in the backdrop of riots in India and Pakistan. This novel revolves around a character named Anjum who is hermaphrodite. Through Anjum, Roy seeks to portray the situation of the third gender in Indian society. This novel helps in portraying love that comes in all forms and does not discriminate among individuals based on political, social or sexual identity. Thus, the novel seeks the way ultimate utmost happiness can be achieved through love and acceptance as it has the capability of bringing unity which is acknowledging even the socially outcast people and offering them equal opportunities.