The God of Small Things is the debut novel of Arundhati Roy, first published in 1997. The novel brought Roy international recognition and won the prestigious Booker Prize in the same year.
Set in the lush landscape of Kerala, the story revolves around fraternal twins Estha and Rahel and explores how small, seemingly insignificant events shape lives in irreversible ways. Through a non-linear narrative, the novel moves between past and present, gradually revealing a tragic family history rooted in love, loss, and social oppression.
One of the central themes of the novel is the rigid caste system and the cruelty of “Love Laws” — unwritten rules that dictate who should be loved, and how. The forbidden relationship between Ammu, a divorced woman, and Velutha, a lower-caste carpenter, forms the emotional core of the story and exposes deep-rooted social injustice.
Roy’s writing style is poetic, fragmented, and deeply symbolic. She uses rich imagery, wordplay, and repetition to mirror memory and trauma. Small objects, gestures, and moments are given profound emotional weight, reinforcing the idea that “small things” often hold the greatest power.
Beyond being a family tragedy, The God of Small Things is a powerful critique of patriarchy, caste discrimination, and moral hypocrisy in Indian society. It remains a landmark work in Indian English literature, admired for its bold themes, innovative structure, and emotional depth.
