Examining Counter Discursivity in Arundhati Roy’s The Ministry of Utmost Happiness

Abstract

The paper intends to examine the socio-political implications of Arundhati Roy’s discourse in her novel, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. It aims to analyze the linguistic significance of the selected text and its role in countering the established social discourses. Further, it will be seen how the author’s use of particular words challenges and undermines the existing dominant social structures. Roy uses persuasive language to make the downtrodden sections i.e. trans-genders, Dalits, and Kashmiris in Indian society reject marginalization. It is qualitative research that employs Norman Fair clough’s Three-Dimensional Model along with the principles of Critical Discourse Analysis. Persuasive Linguistic Devices are identified and used as tools to analyze the linguistic significance of the selected excerpts from the text. The analysis of the text reveals that Roy’s unapologetic and powerful language allowed her characters to realize their potential and consider themselves a valuable part of Indian society.