Arundhati Roy's The Ministry of Utmost Happiness is praised for its lyrical prose and vivid storytelling, capturing India's socio-political landscape. Critics commend its intricate characters and interwoven narratives but note occasional disjointedness and dense passages. Overall, it’s a poignant, ambitious work that may challenge readers with its complexity.

A reader who would enjoy The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy is likely captivated by intricate narratives that intertwine personal and political struggles. Fans of Roy's The God of Small Things or Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children would appreciate its rich prose, complex characters, and exploration of India's socio-political landscape.

The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy is a novel spanning the 1950s to the 2010s that follows the interconnected lives of Anjum, a Muslim Hijra living in a graveyard, and Tilo, a woman involved in the Kashmir conflict, as they navigate personal and political turmoil in contemporary India. Themes of intersex identity, rape, and violence are central to the narrative.

Mysterious / Melancholic / Contemplative / Emotional / Bittersweet

- The Ministry of Utmost Happiness was longlisted for the 2017 Man Booker Prize, a prestigious literary award in the English-speaking world.
- Arundhati Roy took two decades to complete The Ministry of Utmost Happiness following the success of her debut novel, The God of Small Things.
- The novel is noted for its elaborate narrative style and addresses various juxtaposed themes, reflecting Roy's skill in intertwining political, social, and personal issues.

**Anjum (Aftab)**
Anjum is an intersex Muslim woman who finds a unique home and sense of belonging among the Hijra community and later in a cemetery where she embraces her identity and becomes a caregiver to others.

**S. Tilottama (Tilo)**
Tilo is a woman marked by her aloofness and complex relationships, who experiences deep love and personal transformation through her connection to the abandoned baby Miss Jebeen the Second.

**Biplab Dasgupta**
Dasgupta is an intelligence officer grappling with his love for Tilo, whose life is intertwined with the political turmoil he witnesses, leading to personal despair.

**Musa Yeswi**
Musa is a Kashmiri militant and Tilo's former lover, shaped by personal loss and his commitment to the Kashmiri independence movement.

**Nagaraj Hariharan (Naga)**
Naga is a security analyst and Tilo’s ex-husband, known for his charm and adaptability, whose personal and professional shifts reflect broader themes of loyalty and change.

**Saddam Hussain**
Saddam is a resourceful and optimistic young man who becomes part of Anjum’s community, carrying a complex past with him as he seeks a brighter future.

**Major Amrik Singh**
Singh is an Indian Army officer notorious for his cruelty, whose actions have far-reaching consequences in both Kashmir and the personal lives of the characters.

**Gulrez (Gul-Kak)**
Gulrez is a developmentally disabled man who Musa cares for, whose life and death are emblematic of the innocence caught in the conflict in Kashmir.

**Miss Jebeen the First and Miss Udaya Jebeen**
These baby girls serve as symbols within the novel, representing both tragic loss and hopeful rebirth through the circumstances of their existences.

**Revathy**
Revathy is a Maoist militant and biological mother of Miss Jebeen the Second, whose life embodies the intersecting struggles of her personal and political realities.

**Dr. Azad Bhartiya**
Azad Bhartiya is a perpetual protester with radical views against capitalism and corruption, known for his unique hunger strike and memorable presence at Jantar Mantar.

**Kulsoom Bi**
Kulsoom Bi is the elder matron of the Hijra community Anjum joins, respected for her leadership and commitment to preserving Hijra culture and identity.

**Imam Ziauddin**
Ziauddin is a blind imam who forms a deep friendship with Anjum, aiding her in creating a community at Jannat Guest House.

**Hameed Khan**
Hameed Khan, also known as Ustad Hameed, is Anjum's former music teacher and a supportive presence during her difficult times.

**Nimmo Gorakhpuri**
Nimmo is a Hijra with a flair for fashion who befriends Anjum early in her life, later becoming a frequent visitor at Jannat Guest House.

**Zainab**
Zainab is Anjum's beloved adoptive daughter, whose life evolves alongside Anjum's journey and personal growth.

**Saeeda**
Saeeda is a younger Hijra with Western influences who initially causes tension with Anjum but eventually becomes her friend.

**Jahanara Begum**
Jahanara Begum is Anjum’s mother, who struggles with Anjum’s intersex identity but remains a loving and supportive presence.

**Mulaqat Ali**
Mulaqat Ali is Anjum’s father, a man proud of his heritage, who faces a strained relationship with Anjum due to cultural expectations.

**Mr. D. D. Gupta**
Gupta is a former client of Anjum's who helps her with practical support and friendship after she begins living in the cemetery.

**Ishrat**
Ishrat is a beautifully described Hijra who resides at Jannat Guest House and supports the community's activities.

**Jalib Qadri**
Jalib Qadri is a renowned lawyer and civil rights activist whose murder contributes to Major Amrik Singh's reputation.

**ACP Pinky**
ACP Pinky is a brutal interrogator who targets Tilo during her arrest, driven by personal insecurities.

**Mr. Aggarwal**
Aggarwal is a bureaucrat with political ambitions involved in a protest where an abandoned baby becomes a point of contention.

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