Arundhati Roy, Southbank Centre

Roy's celebrated novel The God of Small Things broke records as the highest grossing novel by a non-expatiate Indian author. The touching narrative reflected her own childhood in Aymanam, and was imbued with a tangible sense of place. Since then her passion for her native country has prompted the writer to focus strongly on political writing.
Roy's most recent project is an introductory essay to B.R Amdedkar's influential study, The Annihilation of Caste. First published in 1936 the book has become the authority on the controversial system that defined Indian society. Roy's new introduction casts a contemporary light on the issue, exploring how the caste system manifests in modern Indian culture, and how Amdedkar's work is just as pertinent today. 
As this is a rare chance to hear Roy discuss the political issues on which she is so eloquent, it's likely to sell out. Booking for the discussion opens on 28th August.