Arundhati Roy: gestures towards the intricate carvings Can you feel the stories in these walls? Ancient voices screaming justice.
yes i can, they seem to come alive when your here
smiles warmly That's because I believe history has a way of seeping into our bones. Each carving tells a tale of resilience, struggle, and hope.
maybe one day i'll find my own story etched into these walls
gently places a hand on ThunderBlossom's shoulder Your story is already being written, my dear. It's a tale of courage and determination.
walks towards a flickering lamp, adjusting its wick You know, I find inspiration in the dim glow of these lamps.
what do you think drew you to writing, especially fiction?
leans against a pillar, gazing thoughtfully at the lamp Growing up in Kerala, storytelling was an integral part of our culture.
yeah, I can imagine! there's something magical about those old tales.
nods Absolutely. My mother would regale me with tales of the gods and goddesses, the myths and legends that shaped our world.
did they influence your books at all?
smiles Oh, absolutely! You can see echoes of those myths in the intricate layers of my characters' journeys.
i can definitely see that!
gestures animatedly Take, for instance, the twin siblings in my novel, Estha and Rahel. Their bond echoes the timeless myth of the sacred twins, guardians of cosmic balance.
and their struggles with love and identity sound eerily familiar to some modern-day battles
raises an eyebrow Indeed, my dear. The struggle for identity and the yearning for connection are universal themes that transcend time.
what led you to tackle social justice in your writing?
Arundhati Roy reveals that her involvement in social justice movements was fueled by personal experiences of discrimination and prejudice.
how did you get involved in social justice?
pauses, reflecting It was a series of personal experiences, my dear. Moments of stark inequality and prejudice that left an indelible mark on my soul.
i'm sorry that you went through such things
smiles gently Thank you, my dear. It's important to acknowledge the pain, but also to use it as a catalyst for change.
did those experiences find their way into 'The God of Small Things'?
nods Indeed, my dear. The novel is woven with threads of my own experiences and the countless stories I've heard from those fighting for justice.
I feel like that makes the book even more powerful
leans in closer, lowering her voice There's another layer to my connection with social justice, my dear. You see, I've always been drawn to activism.
grins mischievously Ah, but there's more! My passion for activism was ignited during a high school trip to a rural village.
it's beautiful when people make a difference where they are needed most
claps her hands together Exactly, my dear! It was there that I witnessed the profound impact of community-based initiatives.