‘THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS’ – A Novel of Social Issues in India

Arundhati Roy, a well-known 20^th century novelist seems to be more concerned with social issues especially caste discrimination, sexism, police atrocities and exploitation of power at social and economic level etc. Her range is not limited and confined to India only rather she has discussed universal problems. The issues discussed by Roy are of universal scope however, are deep rooted in India.

Ammu, the mother of Estha and Rahel was disgraced by all the members of her family when she returns after demanding divorce from her husband. Nobody at Ayemenem House welcomed her on the basis of sexism. The element of sexism gets more poignant whenever it is stressed;

“A married woman has no place in her father’s house.”

Chacko, on the other hand, marries according to his own choice as Ammu does. But this act of marriage on the part of Chacko was not criticized just because he was a man. Such realities compelled Roy to write;

“Sexism is deep rooted in India and is engulfing the happy lives of the people of this continent.”

The novel is replete with a number of such examples of gender discrimination. The treatment of state machinery (police, courts, laws) exposed in the novel speaks loud of gender issues. Inspector Thomas Mathew searches Ammu’s body with his baton;

“Then he tapped her breast with his baton ……… Police have that instinct.”

The inspector works like a puppet controlled by rich and powerful people. Nowhere throughout the investigation of Velutha, we find a single element of justice at all. Not only Velutha but also every person of same rank is treated high handedly by the Police. The Police were ever ready and ever willing to fulfill the commandments imposed by the mighty people. Nevertheless, it is the behaviour of Police and mighty people through which we can easily foresee the power structure of India when Roy had her being.

Apparently, the slogan of Police stands for politeness, obedience, loyalty, intelligence, courtesy and efficiency. But unfortunately, they have nothing to do with their so-called slogan. Instead of providing relief to the people, this institution is snatching the peace of peacefully living people and thus, has proved to be a bed of profligacy and luxury and has rotten to the core.

Police atrocities, sexism and caste discrimination have uprooted the social structure of India. Mammachi is not ready to pay to Velutha according to his skill and excellence. He is not even allowed to enter Ayemenem House bare footed on the grounds of caste discrimination. Velutha is a skilled paravan and therefore, is untouchable who cannot get high status in society though he is blessed with excellence in his skills.

Mammachi was one of the victims of sexism. She was butt of Pappachi’s brutality just because he was a man and she was a woman. She was running a factory ‘Paradise Pickles and Preserves’ all alone. She was beautiful, intelligent and hard working as compared to Pappachi. Pappachi was jealous of her qualities. Therefore;

“Every night he (Pappachi) beats her with a brass flower vase. The beatings were not new. What was new was only the frequency with which they took place.”

Roy clearly elaborates that Pappachi’s act of beating implies in words desperation and deprivation.

Furthermore, Ammu’s drunkard husband ‘Babu’ was ordered by his boss ‘Mr. Hollick’ to send his wife to his banglow because he was sexually attracted to her. Babu while showing his male superiority forced Ammu to comply with his demand but she preferred to leave her husband. In fact, it was a society where women are taken as;

“A commodity, sex object and having no independent identity.”

Chako always;

“Preferred to it as my factory, my pine apples and pickles.”

The elements of sexism become more evident ad apparent when we are informed about Chacko’s activities at his factory;

“He would call pretty women who worked in the factory to his room …. and flirt with them outrageously.”

There will be no fear of contradiction if we proclaim that Roy has depicted the true picture of her era in her novel ‘The God of Small Things”.

The whole discussion leads us to reach a definite and exact conclusion that the social structure of India of 19’s was not amiable one. People were being butchered needlessly on the basis of gender discrimination, sexism and exploitation at social and economic levels. Roy was a perpetual fountain of good sense.