Renowned author and activist Arundhati Roy has been honored with the prestigious Mathrubhumi Book of the Year Award 2026 for her latest novel, Mother Mary Comes to Me. The announcement was made by Mathrubhumi Group Managing Director M V Shreyamskumar, who presented the award to Roy ahead of the seventh Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL), scheduled from January 29 to February 1, 2026.
Award Details and Significance
The Mathrubhumi Book of the Year Award, now in its seventh edition, recognizes an English-language book published in India that has made a lasting contribution to contemporary literature, whether originally written in English or translated from an Indian language. The award carries a cash prize of ₹200,000 and a sculpture, highlighting its importance in the literary community.
About 'Mother Mary Comes to Me'
Mother Mary Comes to Me is described as a deeply personal and political work by Roy. It explores her complex and often strained relationship with her mother, Mary Roy, while delving into themes of memory, family, and power. The book blends memoir with social and political reflection, situating intimate experiences within broader struggles for justice.
Mary Roy, a prominent educationist and social activist, is known for her landmark legal battle that secured equal inheritance rights for Syrian Christian women in India, reshaping gender justice within the community. Her life and legacy form a central emotional and historical axis of the novel, adding depth to Roy's narrative.
Arundhati Roy's Literary Legacy
Arundhati Roy is one of the most influential figures in Indian English literature, internationally renowned for winning the Booker Prize in 1997 for her debut novel, The God of Small Things. Beyond her fiction, she is widely recognized for her essays and activism on politics, human rights, and social inequality, making her a powerful voice in contemporary discourse.
Praise from Mathrubhumi
In announcing the award, M V Shreyamskumar praised Roy's ability to distill profound emotional complexity into spare, powerful prose. He noted that her writing combines clarity with intensity and commended her for remaining fearless and uncompromising in speaking truth to power, especially in an era marked by polarization and the politics of hatred.
Roy's Reflections on the Book
Accepting the honor, Roy described Mother Mary Comes to Me as the most difficult book she has ever written. She revealed that much of it was written at night and revisited the next morning as she grappled with deep fears and emotions. Roy referred to her mother as "the wildest woman" she has ever known and described the book as an act of love that embraces both her mother's brilliance and contradictions.
Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters
The award announcement coincides with the upcoming seventh Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL), set to take place from January 29 to February 1, 2026. This year's festival is themed "Paradox of Space," celebrating the liberating scope of human imagination and creative expression.
Founded in 1923, Mathrubhumi has been a central force in Kerala's social and political life for over a century. The literature festival, launched in 2018, extends this legacy into the realms of culture and ideas, bringing together writers, artists, and thinkers from around the world. Previous editions have featured leading global voices, including Nobel laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah, Booker Prize winners Shehan Karunatilaka and Jokha Alharthi, and Jnanpith Award winner Amitav Ghosh.
This recognition of Arundhati Roy underscores the ongoing impact of her work in literature and activism, reinforcing her status as a key figure in Indian and global cultural landscapes.
