Dynamics of Identity Politics in Roy’s The Ministry of Utmost Happiness

Abstract

The current study explores and investigates the dynamics of identity politics in Arundhati Roy’s celebrated novel, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness (2017), by utilizing the lens of New Historicism. The study provides a multifarious understanding of the mainstream historization of political and social conditions with the help of an exhaustive study of the novel. The study investigates historical and social realities in the novel centering around the resurrection of identity politics and its spillover effects in the form of resilience and resistance by marginalized communities. This research establishes the fact that the suppressive regime led by Hindutva ideology excruciates the political, economic, and geographical freedom of people, spearheads suppression of marginalization, implements ubiquitous surveillance of the populace, attempts to debilitate the identity these tactics of identity politics, instead, give voice and agency to the targeted/marginalized community as shown through the character of Anjum in the novel. It also contends that the exploitation of marginalized communities is not solely done based on religion, caste hierarchies, or political differences but also based on identity. This study provides a viable understanding of the rise of identity politics in the Indian political system, where minorities, especially Muslims, have to face severe forms of ostracism in recent times. This research also helps in understanding the relationship between power and gender, as well as personal and political. The study is relevant to the contemporary predicament of Kashmir in particular and the Indian system in general, which makes this research efficacious and significant.