Kathmandu [Nepal], December 7 (ANI): Acclaimed Indian writer Arundhati Roy signed copies of her memoir “Mother Mary Comes to Me” for Nepali readers in Kathmandu on Sunday as part of her book-signing tour. The event, held at EKTA Books in the capital, featured the Booker Prize–winning author.
Dozens of Nepali readers interacted with Roy, posed for photos, and had their copies of the recently released book signed. The memoir has also been named one of the best books of the year by The New York Times Book Review.
“Arundhati Roy is the winner of the Booker Prize. She wrote ‘The God of Small Things,’ and that is how I was introduced to her writing. What I love about her is that she writes soulfully, instinctively, and captures emotions that linger in the air and the unsaid,” said Pushpa Bhandari, a graduate student in English literature.
Roy’s debut novel has sold over six million copies since its publication in 1997, the same year she won the Booker Prize.
“My graduate thesis was on her book. ‘The God of Small Things’ can’t be translated into a movie, and she said herself that attempting to translate it would be very cruel because some words can’t be transformed into a visual form. I love her audacity and how she claims her writing. It’s never replicable,” Bhandari added.
“Mother Mary Comes to Me,” Roy’s latest work, tells the story of her mother, Mary Roy, whom she describes as “my shelter and my storm.” The memoir is Roy’s second novel-length publication, coming after a 20-year gap during which she wrote numerous essays that earned both admiration and criticism.
“Arundhati Roy is the greatest writer of our time. She questions authority, connects with people’s roots, and writes so simply that her work becomes an example for students of how writing can be,” said Sushil Paudel, an English literature academician in Kathmandu.
Roy’s new book has faced legal challenges in India due to its cover image, but those hurdles eased on Friday when the Supreme Court dismissed a plea seeking a ban. The petition claimed the cover—showing the author smoking a cigarette or beedi—violated central legislation.
A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi held that the cover image does not promote smoking and noted that a disclaimer on the back of the book makes this clear.
“The book, the photograph, the publisher, or the author—none of them have anything to do with promoting cigarettes. She is a renowned author, and the publisher is renowned. It is not an advertisement for cigarettes,” the Court observed while rejecting the appeal and upholding the Kerala High Court’s ruling.
The High Court had earlier held that the image does not violate Section 5 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003. The petitioner then moved the Supreme Court, arguing that the disclaimer on the back cover was insufficient.
However, the Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s reasoning, noting that the image is not being used for commercial advertising such as hoardings or banners, and is only part of a book purchased by readers.
After hearing arguments, the Court dismissed the appeal and affirmed the High Court’s decision. (ANI)
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