Small Things

Communism is Velutha. In Arundhati Roy's novel The God of Small Things, Velutha is a carpenter in a pickle factory in the town of Ayemenem in Kerala. He is an Untouchable. In the novel, he first appears fleetingly in the midst of a communist demonstration, waving a red flag. Then he disappears.

His life is one of tragic destiny and conviction: he loves Ammu, a high caste woman who he has known since childhood and who is now divorced with two children. Their relationship is scandalous. When opportunity arises, Velutha is falsely accused of having raped and murdered a woman who actually drowned. He is imprisoned; he never returns.

February 7, 2017

Communism is Velutha. In Arundhati Roy's novel The God of Small Things, Velutha is a carpenter in a pickle factory in the town of Ayemenem in Kerala. He is an Untouchable. In the novel, he first appears fleetingly in the midst of a communist demonstration, waving a red flag. Then he disappears.

His life is one of tragic destiny and conviction: he loves Ammu, a high caste woman who he has known since childhood and who is now divorced with two chil

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