Arundhati Roy’s Unapologetically Bold Memoir: Mother Mary Comes to Me
DELHI — In a recent intimate gathering in Delhi, Arundhati Roy shared a glimpse into her new memoir, Mother Mary Comes to Me, with a sharp wit and irreverent humor that sets the tone for the book. This memoir delves into the complex relationship between Roy and her mother, Mary Roy, a feminist icon, educator, and eccentric figure who left an indelible mark on her daughter.
Arundhati Roy’s journey to literary fame began with her debut novel, The God of Small Things, which catapulted her to stardom after winning the Booker Prize in 1997. Despite her success, Roy took a detour into essays and activism before returning to fiction with a second novel and now, her first memoir.
Mother Mary Comes to Me is not a sugar-coated tribute but a raw and honest portrayal of the tumultuous mother-daughter relationship that shaped Roy’s upbringing. The memoir captures the push and pull dynamics between the two strong-willed women, resulting in a narrative that is both bruising and life-affirming.
Mary Roy’s own story is equally captivating, from her fight for inheritance rights for Christian women to her role as an educator and asthmatic matriarch. Her larger-than-life presence looms large in Roy’s recollections, painting a vivid picture of a woman who was both a shelter and a storm in her daughter’s life.
As Roy navigates her childhood in Ayemenem and her journey to adulthood, the memoir is peppered with anecdotes that showcase her wit and humor. From encounters with quirky characters to reflections on her unconventional upbringing, Mother Mary Comes to Me is a tapestry of eccentricities and absurdities that shaped Roy’s worldview.
Through it all, music serves as a backdrop to Roy’s narrative, from rock ‘n’ roll classics to personal anthems that accompanied her through life’s highs and lows. The memoir is a testament to resilience, humor, and the enduring bond between a mother and daughter that transcends the ordinary.
Arundhati Roy’s memoir is a celebration of the messy, imperfect, and ultimately beautiful relationship between a mother and her daughter, a tribute to the legacy of a woman who defied norms and left an indelible mark on those around her.
A Butterfly Lands on Her Wrist: The Story of Arundhati Roy
Arundhati Roy, the iconic writer, sat down with me on a humid morning in her homeland of Kerala, rain still lingering in the air. She spoke passionately about the music that shaped her, saying, “This is the music that put the smile on my lips and the steel in my spine.”
Her latest memoir, she explains, is not a typical biography. It delves into her complex relationship with her mother, exploring how her mother’s influence molded her into the writer she is today – a relationship fraught with both love and resentment.
Roy’s writing process is messy and physical, she describes. “I scribble and sketch, but quickly transition to the computer. I thought I could write the whole manuscript by hand, but by the third paragraph, I gave up.” Despite taking two years to complete her memoir, Roy emphasizes that writing is what keeps her alive. “Can you imagine how exhausted I would be if I wasn’t writing? That would be the death of me.”
Having faced legal battles and accusations of being “anti-national” and “anti-human” for her outspoken views on issues like big dams, Kashmir, nuclear weapons, caste, and Maoist rebels, I asked Roy if the lack of tangible change ever feels discouraging. She replied defiantly, “I am someone who lives with defeat. It’s not about me, it’s about the causes I write about – they have faced defeat many times. Should we stay silent because nothing is changing? No. We must continue to do what we do.”
As she launched her latest book to a packed audience at a women’s college auditorium in Kochi, named aptly the Mother Mary Hall, the atmosphere resembled that of an old cinema. The event kicked off uniquely, with Roy’s brother serenading the crowd with musical tributes to iconic songs like The Beatles’ Let It Be and Pink Floyd’s Mother.
Mary Roy, fierce and unapologetic both in life and on the page, bid farewell to her audience in a powerful and moving manner. – BBC
