Someone once asked me what my mother's greatest legacy to me was, Arundhati Roy said at a private gathering in Delhi, I said an overactive middle finger. This playful jab serves as a fitting entry point into the Booker Prize-winning author and activist's compelling new memoir, Mother Mary Comes to Me.
The book tells the story of Mary Roy, Arundhati's formidable mother—an educational pioneer and feminist icon known for her fierce wisdom and eccentricity. In a narrative that blends humor and pain, Roy reflects on this complicated mother-daughter relationship, one that she describes as my shelter and my storm.
Arundhati Roy's trajectory as a writer began with her highly acclaimed debut novel, The God of Small Things, which won the Booker Prize in 1997. For the past two decades, she has been known for her poignant essays and activism, earning her both praise and criticism. Now, she returns to fiction with this memoir, unveiling the deep emotional currents that shaped her as a writer.
Rather than idealize her mother, Roy presents an honest portrayal of the tumultuous relationship they shared. Living with my mother was a survival act, she divulges, reflecting on how her experiences shaped her identity and her writing. Mary Roy was not just a mother; she was a force of nature, navigating her own challenges while profoundly influencing her children's lives.
Notably, Mary Roy's life was marked by her battle for women's rights; she won a landmark Supreme Court case that granted inheritance rights for Christian women, further underscoring her role as a revolutionary figure within their community.
Through a series of poignant anecdotes, Roy brings her mother's world to life—from her asthmatic struggles to her impactful work founding a school in Kerala. The memoir also touches on the quirky personalities that populated Roy's youth, painting a vivid picture of a lively and unconventional upbringing.
This is the music that put the smile on my lips and the steel in my spine, Roy shares, highlighting the rock and roll influences that shaped her experiences. As she delves into her mother's legacy and her own journey, Roy proves that the rhythm of their lives played a powerful role in defining who she is today.
In a book launch that overflowed with attendees, Arundhati Roy honored her mother with a celebration of music and memory, reinforcing the indelible impact Mary Roy made on her life. The memoir promises to be not just a story of a daughter’s mourning but a testament to the extraordinary bond between a mother and daughter.
