Arundhati Roy's mother Mary Roy passes away

Social activist Mary Roy, mother of writer and Man Booker Prize Winner Arundhati Roy, passed away on Thursday, reported news agency PTI quoting family sources. She was 89.

She was a noted educator and social worker whose legal fight ensured equal rights for Syrian Christian women in their ancestral property.

Roy challenged the Travancore Succession Act, 1916 and Cochin Succession Act, 1921 - which the Syrian Christian community in Kerala used to follow at that time. Under these laws, if the father died intestate, women in the were eligible for one-quarter of the son’s share or Rs 5,000, whichever was less.


She challenged this discrimination and moved against her brother in court on the basis that members of the community elsewhere in the country were governed by provisions of the Indian Succession Act, 1925.

She was also the founder of the famous Pallikoodam school near Kottayam. She was the Principal of the school from its inception till 2011 when she retired.

The school was also in controversy for its 1990 play 'Jesus Christ Superstar' which was ready to be staged in school but was banned. In December 2015 the play was finally performed in the school auditorium after twenty-five years of a legal battle.

In 1997, Mary Roy’s daughter, Arundhati Roy won the Booker Prize for her book, 'The God of Small Things'.

In the year 1999, the name of the school was changed from Corpus Christi to Pallikoodam. Malayalam was adopted as a medium of instruction up to Class II.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly V D Satheesan condoled the demise of Roy.

Condoling her death, Vijayan said Mary made significant contributions in education and activities to ensure women's welfare in the society.

Kerala Pradesh Mahila Congress expressed condolence and tweeted, "We are deeply saddened by the news of academician and women's rights activist Mary Roy passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family."