The God of Small Things by

Arundhati Roy

aforbes16 — 2024-02-12 22:16:59 UTC

-Born Suzanna, Arundhati Roy, in 1961 in Shillong Meghalaya, India

-Best known for her novel (GOST), which won the Booker prize in 1997

-An activist for environmental and human rights

-Writes mostly non-fiction

-Father was a tea planter, and mother a christian school teacher.

-Mother was also an activist- Arundhati went to school where she taught and did not recieve a very formal education- but rather was able to research, learn and persue ideas that she was interested in.

-Left home at 16, and tried to make a living selling empty beer bottles.

-She eventually went to the Dheli school of Architecture

Influences in her work

aforbes16 — 2024-02-12 22:51:27 UTC

Roy has been influenced in architecture and film

-She has travelled as a lifestyle, selling small items to tourists and living very frugally.

-She is devoted to environmental and political causes

-She writes political commentary on current affairs, calling for action for various humanitarian causes

-She has also written screenplays with her husband Pradeep Krishen, a film director

1969 British Influence in India

2024-02-13 16:39:36 UTC

22 years after the end of British colonial occupation, the British still had a large presence in India.

Tensions between muslims and hindus had increased without the British government to maintain the peace.
India was still dealing with the effects of colonial occupation. Many cities still had anglicized names.
Without a system of government enforced by the British, radical politics like Communism and Nationalism became more popular.

Gender roles in india

2024-02-13 16:40:25 UTC

Traits expected of them

Male:

Assertive
Competitive
Independent
Breadwinners of the family
Families place higher importance on boys
Sons support their families

Female:

Nurturing
Submissive
Accommodating
Obedient
Women take care of the home and the family
Girls are usually sent to live with their in laws and fulfill duties for the husband's family
Strict boundaries around woman placed by their families

Syrian Christians in India

2024-02-13 17:12:33 UTC

Syrian Christians, also known as Saint Thomas Christians or Syriac Christians, are a religious group found in the Indian state of Kerala, located on the western coast of the peninsula. The group's origins come from Thomas the Apostle, who travelled to what is now in the Kerala province in 52 CE. Being surrounded by the much larger Hindu population, Syrian Christians have taken inspiration from various Hindu practices and tenets to build their own belief system. They subscribe to the caste system, and are considered to be an upper caste community. Though there has been historical tension between the Christians and other members of the upper caste, modern relations are much stronger and Syrian Christians occupy many important roles in communities like bankers and merchants.

Kerala (Communism)

2024-02-14 14:56:57 UTC

Communism in Kerala began in 1939 when resisting against the British rule and the opposition of the caste rule. The communists competed in elections, sometimes winning.

Today, the communist party in Kerala does not represent the Marxist ideology for many young followers but equal opportunity. This creates conflict within the group due to the uncertainty of their communist parties ideas and direction for the future