The Politics of Conscience: Arundhati Roy and the Struggle for Social Justice

Abstract

This paper critically explores the role of Arundhati Roy as a political thinker and social critic, emphasizing her unwavering commitment to justice, equity, and resistance against state and corporate power. Renowned not only for her literary acclaim through The God of Small Things but also for her incisive political essays and speeches, Roy emerges as a powerful voice of dissent in the global South. Her advocacy challenges systemic inequalities rooted in caste, class, religion, and globalization, positioning her as a leading figure in contemporary political discourse. The study examines her interventions in issues such as anti-dam movements, the militarization of tribal areas, communal violence, and the erosion of democratic institutions. Through a close analysis of her essays including The Algebra of Infinite Justice and Field Notes on Democracy, this paper highlights how Roy's narrative strategy fuses personal testimony with radical critique to amplify marginalized voices. It argues that her intellectual activism represents a politics of conscience—an ethical stance that transcends rhetorical protest to embody lived solidarity with the oppressed. By situating her work within postcolonial and human rights frameworks, the paper seeks to evaluate the impact of her critique on public discourse and the evolving landscape of resistance literature. Ultimately, Roy’s contributions underline the significance of morally anchored activism in confronting authoritarian structures and reimagining social justice.