By Saket Suman
A novel that takes its readers into the abyss of poverty and patriarchy, thereby narrating the sordid uses of power and the agony it unleashes; a dystopian satire that draws a telling portrait of our times; and finally an international bestseller from India weaves together a writer's experiences as a social and environmental activist -- all of this in fiction.
Two years ago, there was a spontaneous protest by leading Indian writers who returned their Sahitya Akademi awards in the wake of what they called a growing climate of intolerance and a threat to free speech in the country. Later, these writers were dubbed as those with "vested interests", seeking "cheap publicity" at a time when their books had "stopped selling". Those opposed to them pointed out that, as writers, the ideal way to put their perspectives before the public was through their writings -- and few could disagree with this fundamental point.
Cut to the present: The year 2017 witnessed the release of at least three powerful novels, along with two short story anthologies, all of which use the medium of art and fiction to reflect the burden of society.
Leading the charge with huge publicity and global media attention was the return of writer-activist Arundhati Roy with her novel The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. The novel came after a hiatus of two long decades, during which Roy was actively involved in a number of social and environmental campaigns -- a lot of which is reflected in the offering. From Kashmir to Maoists and transgender persons’ lives to crony capitalism, it is an inward contemplation of a master storyteller on the times and surroundings she is living in.
"I speak as a reader and a publisher when I say that I turn to fiction, as much as to non-fiction, when I seek to make sense of our times, or any time that has gone past us. The Ministry of Utmost Happiness is a stellar example of the sheer humanity of the art of the novel. What such a book does is stand up for integrity: It shows us both searing beauty and the fearsome ugliness. Arundhati Roy's book is an empathetic, hopeful and fiercely idealistic response to the epic tale of Independent India. What more can one ask of a great Indian novel," Meru Gokhale, Editor-in-Chief, Literary Publishing, of Penguin Random House India, asked while speaking to IANS.
Soon after Roy's novel came When the Moon Shines By Day by Nayantara Sahgal, a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family and a noted writer who spearheaded the ‘award wapsi’ campaign in 2015. The moon obviously does not shine by day nor does the sun shine by night. "Something is wrong if one is forced to agree with such propositions, or be punished for refusing to agree," Sahgal said, pointing to the larger narrative that she presents in her novel.
Thus, a character finds her father's books on medieval history disappearing from bookstores and libraries. Her young domestic help, Abdul, discovers that it is safer to be called Morari Lal on the street, but there is no such protection from vigilante fury for his Dalit friend Suraj. Kamlesh, a diplomat and writer, comes up against official wrath for his anti-war views.
A7eaT, an ibcl Thos disagrion cf Inessed the rKiistay