About The Ministry Of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy

Reading can be an enjoyable pastime for many people, but what you choose to read can vary widely, from fiction and mysteries to biographies and fairy tales. Some like to have a way to escape into a fantastical place while others like non-fiction and want to learn. Why you seek out the reading experience is entirely up to you, but research has shown that reading any type of book can have numerous health benefits, and it may even add years to your life.

‘The Ministry of Utmost Happiness’: A book about happiness and life

Whether you’re looking for a love story or a book about happiness and meaning in life, you may have heard of Arundhati Roy's new novel The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. Below, we’ll discuss this novel and then explore ways to increase your own happiness and well-being.

About the novel

What is The Ministry of Utmost Happiness About? Some say it is a love story about all our imperfections. This is Roy’s second novel, and The New York Times describes it as “an ambitious look at turmoil in India.”

Setting of ‘The Ministry of Utmost Happiness’

Like a series of short stories, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness is a shattered story that takes place in various locations around the world, but mostly in the city of Delhi and in Kashmir, India. There are many different characters in this novel, but the two main characters are Anjum and Tilo. Anjum is a transgender woman who undergoes a transformation as a result of tragedy. Tilo is an architect who travels to the Kashmir region to re-initiate an affair with Musa, a freedom fighter. Each character in the novel has their own struggles, shortcomings, and tragic experiences.

Publication history and literary significance

From The God of Small Things to her second novel

Arundhati Roy’s second novel The Ministry of Utmost Happiness was published in 2017 by Hamish Hamilton, a division of Penguin Random House (Penguin Books). It came a full two decades after her first novel The God of Small Things was released. During this span of 20 years, Roy authored five volumes of non-fiction work, but no other novels. Her nonfiction work encompasses titles such as: 

• The Algebra of Infinite Justice
• War Talk
• The End of Imagination
• Capitalism: A Ghost Story

Awards, recognition, and expectations

The novel was much-anticipated and enjoyed widespread success among those who know good literature. NPR and The Washington Post named it a “best book” of 2017. It was also long-listed for the Man Booker prize.

Historical and political context of the novel

Some place The Ministry of Utmost Happiness among some of the best protest novels in recent years. In the novel, Arundhati Roy heavily criticizes the Indian government and Hindu nationalism while illustrating decades of state violence, which she describes as “too much blood.” The novel itself serves as a platform for Roy to call for a genuine democracy and to speak out against atrocities like the Indo-Pak wars as well as other examples of violence and destruction carried out across the Kashmir Valley. 

Are you looking for happiness?

Many of us are seeking our version of happiness and just aren't sure where to find it. We wonder if we're doing things right or if we're going about finding happiness in the wrong way. Sometimes, it may seem like the more we reach for it, the further away it can seem. Topics like these are often discussed in online therapy. 

Pause your search and assess

If you're experiencing difficulty finding happiness or are looking for a way to renew your sense of joy after a period of difficulty, you might benefit from pausing your search temporarily and assessing what you’re looking for. Mindfulness meditation may be helpful with this process, and it tends to involve remaining in the present moment without judging your thoughts or feelings. One study found that mindfulness meditation can also reduce anxiety and stress as effectively as medication.

What is happiness for you?

So many of us are seeking our version of happiness and just aren't sure where to find it. We wonder if we're doing things right or if we're going about our skills in the correct way. Finding the things that bring joy and meaning to your life doesn't have to be so complicated. Additionally, enjoying those things that make you happy doesn't mean you need to make sacrifices in other areas.

Finding happiness is possible

If you're struggling to find your happiness or are looking for a way to continue doing the things that bring you joy without sacrificing time with your family or money to support them, you might want to consider finding a new way of doing life. You can start by exploring other options, such as: 

• Getting advice from friends
• Speaking with a life coach
• Shifting your mindset so that you can be content with your current path

Finding your utmost happiness is possible; sometimes, it just requires thinking outside of the box and looking at life differently.

Positive psychology

Positive psychology is a branch of psychology that tends to focus on an individual’s unique talents, skills, and interests. Therapy interventions that incorporate positive psychology often seek to help people understand what makes them happy and equip them with the tools to find contentment. Other key components of positive psychology may include: 

• Optimism
• Resilience
• Gratitude

Finding happiness with online therapy

What makes you happy may look strikingly different from what makes someone else happy. If you’re experiencing difficulty with emotional processing or finding fulfillment in life, speaking with a licensed therapist or other mental health care professional could help you discover more about yourself, your interests, and your passions. If you feel hesitant to try traditional in-office therapy, you might benefit from online therapy. 

Whether you’re in need of guidance in your relationships, career, or day-to-day life, you may benefit from self-reflection as well as talk therapy with a licensed online therapist. With online therapy at BetterHelp, you can meet with a therapist through video chats, phone calls, or live chat. You can also message your therapist at any time in between sessions through in-app messaging, and they’ll respond as soon as they can.

 The efficacy of online therapy

Researchers have found that the outcomes of online therapy are similar to those of in-person treatment. In one study, researchers assessed the efficacy of an online positive psychology intervention for improving the psychological well-being of undergraduate students. They discovered that the intervention successfully increased happiness and psychological well-being and reduced symptoms of depression.