SRINAGAR: In a significant literary announcement, Booker Prize-winning author Arundhati Roy will publish her first memoir, Mother Mary Comes to Me, in September 2025. The book promises to offer insights into Roy’s life and her complex relationship with her late mother, spanning from her childhood in Kerala to her current residence in Delhi.
The upcoming memoir will capture this fearless honesty. According to Simon Prosser, publishing director at Hamish Hamilton, Mother Mary Comes to Me is a “triumph of a memoir,” blending Roy’s personal history with her wider reflections on life, society, and politics. Prosser noted that the book is “riveting, radiant, and radically honest,” echoing the very qualities that have made Roy a household name, even as she faces persecution for her views.
Roy, known for her outspoken views on various social and political issues, including Kashmir, has been a prominent voice in Indian literature and activism. Her memoir comes when she continues to face scrutiny for her past statements on Kashmir.
According to The Guardian, Roy was awarded the prestigious PEN Pinter prize in June for her “unflinching, unswerving” gaze on the world. However, this recognition was overshadowed by a concerning development. Just two weeks prior, Indian authorities granted permission to prosecute Roy under stringent anti-terror laws for comments she made about Kashmir 14 years ago.
The Guardian reports that Delhi’s most senior official sanctioned the prosecution based on Roy’s statement at a 2010 event, where she reportedly said that the disputed region of Kashmir had never been an “integral” part of India. This move has raised concerns about freedom of expression in India, with hundreds of academics, activists, and journalists signing an open letter urging the government to withdraw the decision.
According to The Guardian, the book is expected to be a deeply personal narrative, shedding light on her emotional landscape, including the grief following her mother’s passing in 2022.
Despite these challenges, Roy remains committed to her craft and her principles. “I have been writing this book all my life,” she said about her upcoming memoir, demonstrating her unwavering dedication to storytelling and truth-telling.
The controversy surrounding Roy’s views on Kashmir highlights the ongoing sensitivity of the issue in Indian politics. It also underscores the risks faced by writers and intellectuals who express opinions on contentious topics in the region.
As Roy prepares to share her personal story with the world, her situation serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between literature, politics, and freedom of expression in contemporary India, particularly when it comes to discussions about Kashmir.
The memoir, described by her publisher as “riveting, radiant and revelatory,” is eagerly anticipated by readers and critics alike, who hope it will provide further insight into the mind of on.
