Intelligence Squared Arundhati Roy on Storytelling, Memory and The Human Condition (Part Two)
Sep 14, 2025
Arundhati Roy, an esteemed author and political essayist, joins novelist Elif Shafak for a profound discussion. They explore the vital relationship between literature and activism in sparking societal change. Roy shares insights on the healing power of humor as a coping mechanism in times of despair. The dialogue also dives into how architecture influences writing and identity, alongside the intricacies of language in India, highlighting its political relevance. Together, they reflect on the beauty and complexity of storytelling amidst social challenges.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Comic Cruelty In Everyday India
- Arundhati Roy recounts comic but cruel vignettes from India that reveal resilience and absurdity in daily life.
- She uses characters like her uncle Isaac to show humane eccentricity and teach unexpected lessons about failure and charm.
Writing As Architectural Design
- Roy links her architectural and cinematic training to a visual, structural approach to writing.
- She treats narrative like designing a building, circling themes rather than following linear entrances and exits.
Silencing Is Structural And Political
- Roy argues that silencing in India is structural, driven by caste and concentrated elites who monopolize public space.
- She warns that recent majoritarian violence and institutional attacks normalize brutality and demand writers resist being forced into patriotic cheerleading.
