Arundhati Roy: Critique of ‘Big’ Things (Literature)

 Roy is recognized for the authorship of the novel ‘The God of Small Things’ which gained her  a global fame after securing the Man Booker Prize for Fiction in 1997. She has been subjected  to various criticisms for her political activism and views on Human Rights and  Environmental Safety. She has openly criticized the U.S. government for their ‘bombing-  wars’ against different nations. Her support to Kashmir separatism and consideration of  Maoists as ‘Gandhians’, gave birth to the controversies surrounding her. She was also a  supporter of the protest of ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’. She has indeed shown the courage by  freely speaking her views and opinions on various important subjects inspite of facing  intimidation and criticism from different people belonging to dominant sectors of Indian  society.      Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw: Bio(i)con Entrepreneur (Business) Mazumdar-Shaw is featured as 92nd most powerful women of 2014 in Forbes. She is the chairman and managing director of the biotechnological company Biocon Ltd. She is also the receiver of Othmer Gold Medal for her contribution in the field of science and chemistry. She is a self-learned entrepreneur who with her belief in ‘affordable innovation’ helped Biocon to evolve from an enzyme-manufacturing company to a biopharmaceutical firm. She also opened corporate social responsibility wing ‘The Biocon Foundation’ and has supported the development of ‘Arogya Raksha Yojana’. Her support towards the sectors of health, education and improved infrastructure add up to other compassionate activities for the betterment of society. She is also the current chairperson of IIM- Bengaluru. Her personality is no doubt influential because this lady owns a major company of India worth billions which started in an empty garage with mere Rs. 10,000.