Ministry of utmost happiness by Arundhati Roy

"Ministry of utmost happiness" by Arundhati Roy - A lyrical prose. 

This book is published by Penguin Random house India in 2017 and has 464 pages. This book was recently at number 6 in the best sellers list at Kinokuniya, Dubai mall.

This book tells us two stories. Story of Anjum, a hermaphrodite, who was born as Aftab. Her internal struggles of a female trapped in a male body. Her beauty and fame. Her wish to become a mother. Her accumulation of characters to Jannat guest house. Story of Tilottama, a character eternally drifting from one thing to another. Her love for a Kashmiri. What she observes and imbibes in Kashmir. Both stories span several years. 

Is Anjum happy? Is Tilo happy? Do they meet? What is the common thread? What is ministry of utmost happiness?

Anjum's story is narrated on  the backdrop of India's changing political landscape ranging from emergency, unstable governments, Gujarat riots, meek Prime Minister's government, Lokpal satyagraha and emergence of the man from Gujarat.

Tilo's story begins half way down the book narrated by the character in first person. It's the story of S. Tilottama, a Malyali, beedi smoking girl who is loved by a Kashmiri, a Bengali/Oriya and a half south Indian half north Indian boy, since they were in college. It takes us through the life of Tilo on the backdrop of Kashmir issue. She tells us numerous stories of sufferings and atrocities on Kashmiri Muslim population.

Start of the book is lilting and poetic. In fact entire book has a lyrical quality. Feels good to read this kind of narration. Sounds special. You have to read it to know it. Author soaks readers in sights and sounds of the city and seeps the readers in the atmosphere of Kashmir. She sees what many fail to notice.

  

Author's views on some things are very different from common folks like us e.g.: TV anchors had a longer mourning period than the victims. Kashmiri's are businessmen by nature and businessmen want status quo, that's why Kashmir has not deteriorated like Pakistan. Sleep came to them as readily as money comes to the millionaire. The boy squatted like a comma. Etc.

This novel has two stories. Both of them are powerful stories. One addressing issues of eunuch and other addressing Kashmir issue. The two could have made independent novels, but author has preferred to combine them. Although it doesn't look like a forced convergence, it does not sound imperative either. 

It's a big book. Author veers off the main story to tell us numerous small tales. Although it appears like a dilution or digression, it's not. This book is not about the main story and it's conclusion, it's about the journey. The experience. That's what you enjoy. 

Author's left leaning tendencies are evident. She does not miss a chance to take a dig at right wingers. Is it acceptable to let your political views interfere in an otherwise good story? Author tells about sufferings of Kashmiri people at the hands of army but fails to tell the other side of story, atrocities on Kashmiri Hindus and exodus of Kashmiri pundits, world's largest religious displacement. That's why the account sounds one sided and biased.

Why did I read this book? Good feedback. 

What I didn't like?  Interference of author's political views. One sided story. 

What did I like? Lyrical delivery.

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