Marginalization and Social Exclusion: A Critical Analysis of Arundhati Roy’s Works

Abstract

This research article critically examines Arundhati Roy’s non-fiction writings, particularly The Broken Republic (2011), The Algebra of Infinite Justice (2002), and Listening to Grasshoppers (2009), in order to analyze her engagement with marginalization and social exclusion in contemporary India. Roy exposes the contradictions of India’s neoliberal development model, interrogating the displacement of Dalits, Adivasis, women, and other vulnerable groups. Her works critique caste-based discrimination, the exploitation of tribal communities by multinational corporations, the state’s militarized responses to Maoist resistance, and the silencing of subaltern voices. Drawing on postcolonial theory and subaltern studies (Spivak; Said), as well as Dalit and Ambedkarite discourse, this study situates Roy within a larger intellectual tradition that foregrounds questions of justice, democracy, and resistance. By blending reportage, polemics, and literary craft, Roy crafts a counter-narrative that challenges dominant state and media discourses. This article argues that while Roy’s writings are sometimes criticized for rhetorical excess, they remain vital for understanding the ongoing struggles of marginalized communities in India and for rethinking the possibilities of inclusive democracy.