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Field Notes on Democracy

Field Notes on Democracy

EssaysPolitics & Society
Pages
253
Published
2009
Language
English

Synopsis

Arundhati Roy offers a powerful collection of essays that scrutinize the darker aspects of democracy in modern India. She explores how religious majoritarianism and economic reforms are transforming the country into a police state. Roy details the marginalization of minorities, the rise of terrorism, and the displacement of the poor, alongside analyses of the Kashmir uprising and the Mumbai attacks.

Prose complexity
10/10

Vibe

InformativeComplexIntellectual

Genres

Essays Politics & Society Politics Political Thriller

About the author

A
Arundhati Roy

Arundhati Roy is an Indian author and political activist, born in Shillong, India. She won the 1997 Booker Prize for her debut novel, The God of Small Things, and later published the novel The Ministry of Utmost Happiness (2017) and the memoir Mother Mary Comes to Me (2025). Alongside her fiction, she has written extensively on human rights, environmental and political issues — including The Cost of Living, Field Notes on Democracy and Azadi: Freedom. Fascism. Fiction. — and is a prominent activ...

Frequently asked questions

  • How does this book relate to Arundhati Roy's other non-fiction work?

    This collection of essays continues Arundhati Roy's critical examination of power structures and social justice in India, building on themes of globalization, corporate influence, and state violence that she has explored in earlier non-fiction writings.

  • What is the structure of the essays in this collection?

    The book is a compilation of essays written over several years, each focusing on specific events or policies in India. While distinct, they collectively build a cohesive argument about the state of democracy.

  • Is this book considered controversial in India?

    Arundhati Roy's critiques of Indian politics and society in this collection have indeed generated significant debate and controversy within India, reflecting the contentious nature of the issues she addresses.