Exclusion and Otherness in Arundhati Roy’s The Ministry of the Utmost Happiness

Abstract

Some persons experience social marginalisation and alienation because they are classified as third-gender, or Hijras. Because they are unable to place themselves neatly into either the masculine or female categories, these individuals face social and familial rejection and a profound crisis of identity. They are always on the outside looking in, ostracised and compelled to wear the label "other." Because of various limitations, people are either unable to access public spaces or choose to live in isolation. The suffering caused by social stratification or the search for one's own identity within the intricate gender and social taxonomy constructed by the ruling class based on a plethora of contentious religious and popular discourses. Religion and social mythology both play a role in the convoluted history of segregation among this lower-class minority. Postcolonial theory, particularly as it pertains to the subaltern class in India and their colonial experience, was used to assess the chosen works. Based on research in subaltern studies, the current ruling class in India is perpetuating the colonial rule that began with the British. Using seminal works in gender studies, the book delves into the challenges faced by India's Hijra population and their plight.