This Blog is a response to the task assigned by Dr Dilip Barad. In this blog, I will write about Arundhati Roy's novel The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. This blog will contain the list of the major characters, a brief summary of the novel, a list of Facts v/s Fiction, and a response generated by CHAT GPT AI.
Short Stories in the novel.
The Reader’s Digest Book of English Grammar and Comprehension
for Very Young Children
By
S. Tilottama
THE NOBEL PRIZE WINNER
Manohar Mattoo was a Kashmiri Pandit who stayed on in the Valley even after all the other Hindus had gone. He was secretly tired of and deeply hurt by the barbs from his Muslim friends who said that all Hindus in Kashmir were actually, in one way or another, agents of the Indian Occupation Forces. Manohar had participated in all the anti-India protests, and had shouted Azadi! louder than everybody else. But nothing seemed to help. At one point he had even contemplated taking up arms and joining the Hizb, but eventually, he decided against it. One day an old school friend of his, Aziz Mohammed, an intelligence officer, visited him at home to tell him that he was worried for him. He said that he had seen his (Mattoo’s) surveillance file. It suggested that he be put under watch because he displayed ‘anti-national tendencies’.
When he heard the news Mattoo beamed and felt his chest swell with pride.
‘You have given me the Nobel Prize!’ he told his friend.
He took Aziz Mohammed out to Café Arabica and bought him coffee and pastries worth Rs 500.
A year later he (Mattoo) was shot by an unknown gunman for being a kafir.
Q 1: Why was Mattoo shot?
(a) Because he was a Hindu
(b) Because he wanted Azadi
(c) Because he won the Nobel Prize
(d) None of the above
(e) All of the above.
ANS:
D) None of the above.
There is no mention in the story of why Motto was shot. He was shot by an unknown gunman for being a 'kafir'. It is not that he was anti-national or he shouted 'Azadi'. But it is his religious identity as a Hindu.
Q 2: Who could the unknown gunman have been?
(a) An Islamist militant who thought all kafirs should be killed
(b) An agent of the Occupation who wanted people to think that all Islamist militants thought that all kafirs should be killed
(c) Neither of the above
(d) Someone who wanted everyone to go crazy trying to figure it out.
ANS: It is safe to say that (C) Neither of the above, as the story is not providing enough information. However, based on the context provided, it is likely that the unknown gunman was (A) an Islamist militant who believed that all kafirs should be killed. The story mentions that Manohar Mattoo was targeted because of his religious identity as a Hindu as well as his protest and it is not specified any political or intelligence agency involvement.
THE CAREERIST
The boy had always wanted to make something of himself. He invited four militants for dinner and slipped sleeping pills into their food. Once they had fallen asleep he called the army. They killed the militants and burned down the house. The army had promised the boy two canals of land and one hundred and fifty thousand rupees. They gave him only fifty thousand and accommodated him in quarters just outside an army camp. They told him that if he wanted a permanent job with them instead of being just a daily wage worker he would have to get them two foreign militants. He managed to get them one ‘live’ Pakistani but was having trouble finding another. ‘Unfortunately these days business is bad,’ he told PI.
‘Things have become such that you cannot any longer just kill someone and pretend he’s a foreign militant. So my job cannot be made permanent.’
PI asked him, if there was a referendum whom he would vote for, India or Pakistan?
‘Pakistan of course.’
‘Why?’
‘Because it is our Mulk (country). But Pakistan militants can’t help us in this way. If I can kill them and get a good job it helps me.’
He told PI that when Kashmir became a part of Pakistan, he (PI) would not be able to survive in it. But he (the boy) would. But that, he said, was just a theoretical matter. Because he would be killed shortly.
Q 1: Who did the boy expect to be killed by?
(a) The army
(b) Militants
(c) Pakistanis
(d) Owners of the house that was burned
ANS:
It is difficult to assume anything without understanding the story. If we are to decide who might kill the boy? then the first answer will be (a) The army-- because he is aware that he is working with the army and that they have only given him a temporary job and not the permanent one, they may see him as disposable and kill him.
Now we have a great amount of literature written around mystery and crime fiction so, we can assume that the army would soon want to get rid of him as he, as a Pakistani citizen, killing Pakistani militants. We can say that those who play both sides cannot be trusted by either.
THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’
Begum Dil Afroze was a well-known opportunist who believed, quite literally, in changing with the times. When the Movement seemed to be on the up and up, she would set the time on her wristwatch half an hour ahead of Pakistan Standard Time. When the Occupation regained its grip she would reset it to Indian Standard Time. In the Valley, the saying went, ‘Begum Dil Afroze’s watch isn’t really a watch, it’s a newspaper.’
Q 1: What is the moral of this story?
The moral of this story is that Begum Dil Afroze is an opportunist who is not consistent in her beliefs and actions and is willing to change her position depending on the circumstances in order to benefit herself. She changes her watch time to align with the political situation in the valley, which suggests that she does not have any real convictions and is only interested in being on the winning side. The saying "Begum Dil Afroze's watch isn't really a watch, it's a newspaper" is a metaphor, which implies that her actions are based on current events and not on any real principles.
A response from Chat GPT :
Below this picture, you will find the detailed response.
Prompt:
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, written by Indian author Arundhati Roy, explores the theme of social status in contemporary India through its various characters and their experiences.
The novel depicts India as a country deeply divided along lines of class, religion, and gender. Characters from marginalized communities, such as hijras, Dalits, and Muslims, face discrimination and exclusion from mainstream society. Anjum, for example, is a hijra who is rejected by her family and society and must create her own community in order to find acceptance and support.
The novel also explores how the government and capitalist development projects in India have displaced and marginalized poor and indigenous communities for the benefit of the wealthy and powerful. Characters such as Tilo, a political activist, and Musa, a Kashmiri freedom fighter, are depicted as fighting against these injustices.
The novel also highlights the impact of these social divisions and injustices on individuals and communities, and the resilience and resistance of marginalized communities. The theme of social status in the novel is portrayed as the root cause of many of the social, political, and economic problems faced by India and its people today, and suggests that a more just and equitable society is possible.
Overall, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness illustrates the theme of social status in contemporary India through its portrayal of the discrimination, marginalization, and injustice faced by marginalized communities, and the resilience and resistance of these communities in the face of these challenges.
Prompt:
Write in detail about the theme of How and Why Stories are Told in the novel The Ministry of Utmost Happiness.
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, written by Indian author Arundhati Roy, explores the theme of how and why stories are told through its various characters and their experiences.
One of the main characters, Anjum, is a hijra (a person who identifies as a third gender) who has been rejected by society and has created her own community, called "the graveyard of lost animals," where she and other outcasts can find acceptance and support. Anjum's story is one of survival and resilience, and her experiences highlight the importance of creating and sharing stories that offer a different perspective on marginalized communities.
Another character, Tilo, is a political activist who is arrested and tortured for her beliefs. Tilo's story is one of sacrifice and resistance, and it serves as a reminder of the power of storytelling to inspire change and mobilize people to take action against injustice.
The novel also explores the theme of how stories can be used to manipulate and control people. The government in the novel is depicted as using propaganda and censorship to maintain power, and the novel suggests that it is important to question the stories that are being told and to seek out alternative perspectives.
Overall, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness illustrates the importance of telling stories that give voice to the marginalized and oppressed, and the power of storytelling to inspire change and resist injustice.
NOTE: This information is generated by Artificial Intelligent and it can be misleading.
Characters Alphabetically:
| Abhaychand | Khadijah |
| Acp Pinky Sodhi | Lavleen Singh (Amrik’s wife) |
| Aijaz | Man who knew English |
| Anjum / Aftab | Manmohan Singh (Trapped rabbit) |
| Arifa | Mary |
| Baby - Jebeen | Maryam Ipe (Tillo’s mother) |
| Balbir Sodhi (Pinky's brother) | Malakat Ali |
| Barte Khatum | Musa Yeswi (terrorist) |
| Biplav Das Gupta | Mr. Agarwal (Kejriwal) |
| Changez Khan | Nimmo Gorakhpuri |
| Chtrarupa (Biplav’s wife) | Rabia and Ania (Biplav’s daughters) |
| Comrade Maase (Revathy) | Razia |
| Dayachand / Sadam Hussain | Sadam Hussain / Dayachand |
| Dr. Azad Bharati | Sakim (Anjum's brother) |
| Gudiya and Bulbul (Hindu) | Sangeeta Madam |
| Gujarat ka Lalla (Narendra Modi) | Saeeda |
| Hariharan Nagarjun (journalist) | Shehrawat |
| Jalil Qadri (Human right activist) | S. Tillotama (Tillo) - Ustaniji |
| Jahanara Begum | Tubby old Gandhian (Anna Hazare) |
| Jebeen the first | Ustad |
| Jebeen (Musa and Arifa’s Daughter) | Zainab |
| King Aurangzeb | Ziauddin (Blind Imam) |
"The Ministry of Utmost Happiness," a novel by Arundhati Roy, chronicles the narrative of a group of people in India on a journey for love, self-identity, and acknowledgment. The novel takes place in modern India and spans several historical periods, delving into a variety of political, social, and personal themes. The story begins with Anjum, a hijra who lives in an Old Delhi graveyard and feels like an outsider in her family and society. She finds solace in the cemetery, though, and soon develops a home for herself and other hijras.
Anjum's story is linked with the lives of other characters, including Tilo, a young lady who flees her planned marriage, and Musa, a Kashmiri militant who falls in love with Tilo. The story follows these people as they traverse the complexity of Indian culture and politics, touching on subjects such as caste discrimination, political corruption, religious intolerance, and the continuing strife in Kashmir, as well as love, identity, and belonging."
One of the major characters is Jahanara Begum, who is Anjum's mother and is a central character in the novel. She is a powerful and independent woman who runs a brothel and is a mother figure to many of the other characters in the story. Another character, Dashrath, is a Dalit who is beaten and humiliated by upper-caste men in Gujarat. He finds solace in Anjum's graveyard home and eventually becomes one of her closest friends.
As the novel progresses, the characters' lives intersect in unexpected ways. Tilo, who is searching for meaning in her life, finds solace in the company of Anjum and Dashrath. Anjum, who is searching for acceptance and a sense of belonging, finds it in the company of the other hijras and the people she meets in the graveyard.
The novel also explores the political situation in India through the story of the Tubby old Gandhian, a character who is inspired by the real-life anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare, and through the story of Gujarat ka Lalla, a character who is inspired by the current Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Overall, "The Ministry of Utmost Happiness" is a powerful, moving, and deeply affecting novel that explores the complexities of life in contemporary India through the lives of its characters. The novel tells an epic story of love, identity, and belonging, set against a backdrop of political and social upheaval. The characters are richly drawn, and their stories are interwoven in unexpected ways. Through the novel, Arundhati Roy explores themes of caste discrimination, political corruption, religious intolerance, and the ongoing conflict in Kashmir, as well as the universal themes of identity, and belonging.
As the novel comes to a close, the characters' stories reach a resolution, but the themes of the novel continue to resonate. The novel ends with a powerful message of hope, as the characters, despite all their struggles and hardships, find a sense of belonging and acceptance in the world.
"The Ministry of Utmost Happiness" is a novel that will stay with the reader long after the last page has been turned. It is a novel that explores the complexities of life in contemporary India through the lives of its characters, and it is a novel that will resonate with readers everywhere.
| Fact | Fiction |
| Godhra Riots | Anjum's Visit to Gujarat |
| Una flogging incident 2016 | Dayachand's Father's death for skinning the animal |
| Jantar Mantar protests | Jantar Mantar guest house/ gathering |
| Naxalite movements | Maoists/ Dandakaranyak |
| Emergency | Zainab chanting Gaytri Mantra |
| Execution of Saddam Hussein | Dayachand adopted the name |
| Arvind Kejriwal | MR. Aggarwal |
| Anna Hazare | Tubby Old Gandhian |
| Manmohan Singh | Trapped Rabbit |
| Narendra Modi | Gujarat ka Lalla |
[Words-2336]
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