Narratives of marginality and resistance in Arundhati roy's The ministry of Utmost happiness

Abstract

This thesis examines the subversive roles of oppressed characters in Arundhati Roy’s The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. It focuses on Anjum and how she resists systemic oppression. The study shows how Roy weaves stories of marginalized communities fighting against injustice within a socio-political framework. Using New Historicism, it explores how the novel connects personal stories, like the Kashmir conflict and injustices against minorities, to broader historical and cultural contexts. Anjum, a transgender woman, establishes a sanctuary for outcasts, symbolizing the voiceless reclaiming agency and appealing for justice and equality amid societal and political suppression. It also highlights how marginalized individuals are often controlled by political forces, while expressing dissatisfaction and frustration with the unstable Indian government due to power hegemony, the greed of politicians, and the exploitation of downtrodden people. Through the lens of Stephen Greenblatt's new historicist perspective, the narrative emerges as a discourse that intertwines individual personal journeys with a larger metaphor of societal subversion. Key Words: Discrimination, power, politics, resistance, existence