The God Of Small Things is the story of seven-year-old fraternal twins, Estha and Rahel, and the destruction that besets their lives after a series of traumatic events. The plot, mainly set in Aymanam in Kerala, does not progress in chronological order. It shifts back and forth in time, focusing on events that span several years of the twins lives. Estha and Rahel live with their mother Ammu, maternal grandmother Mammachi, and great aunt Baby Kochamma. Their lives begin to descend into a downward spiral when Estha is sexually abused by a stranger. Their attempt to run away from home, following a spate of painful incidents, turns disastrous when their cousin Sophie Mol ends up dead in a drowning accident. The turbulent and grief-ridden events of their childhood mark their lives for ever. Estha becomes perpetually mute while Rahel turns into an empty shell of a person. Their reunion at the age of 31 manages to heal their lives to some extent. The love affair between the twins mother Ammu and a carpenter named Velutha is another storyline that merges with the main plot. Velutha is considered untouchable as he is a member of the lowest caste. His affair with Ammu is vehemently opposed by many people and ends in tragedy. This theme explores the widespread religious and social bigotry entrenched in the Indian society for several centuries. The God Of Small Things was published in 1997. It received mainly positive reviews, but it was also subject to criticism for its exploration of a controversial subject matter. It went on to win the prestigious Booker Prize in the year of its release. This particular edition is a 2012 reprint by Penguin Books India.
