Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Faculty Publications Article Faculty Publications -Articles Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource S Kumar, Sarath; Kadiyakkol, Sreejith Title A name given to the resource Systemless authoritarianism, counter-archives, and literary witnessing: a New Historicist and cultural-political reading of Arundhati Roys The Ministry of Utmost Happiness Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 01-01-2026 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Cogent Arts and Humanities;Volume;13;Issue;1;Article No.;2652710; Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2026.2652710" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2026.2652710</a> <br /><br /><a href="https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105036124954?origin=resultslist" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105036124954?origin=resultslist</a> Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant S Kumar S., Department of English and Cultural Studies, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India; Kadiyakkol S., Department of English and Cultural Studies, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India Description An account of the resource Arundhati Roys The Ministry of Utmost Happiness offers a significant literary response to the evolving forms of authoritarianism in postcolonial India. This article uses a New Historicist and cultural-political framework to analyse the idea of systemless authoritarianism. Instead of using overt state force, the idea refers to a diffused and socially acceptable type of authority that functions through common institutions, cultural norms, and unofficial practices. Roys multi-voiced narrative focuses on marginalised characters such as Anjum, Tilo, and Musa, whose interwoven stories show how repression is intertwined with caste, gender, bureaucracy, and territorial warfare. Using theoretical concepts from Antonio Gramsci, Marlies Glasius, Michel Foucault, and Stephen Greenblatt, the study looks at Roys creation of a counter-archive that challenges official narratives and offers a voice to those who have been silenced. By examining spaces such as the militarised Kashmir Valley and the Jannat Guest House, the study demonstrates how authoritarian authority operates through internalised discipline and cultural consensus inside democratic communities. Ultimately, the novels fractured narrative structure, documentary style, and intertextual elements function as literary witnessing acts that resist authoritarian erasure and recreate various forms of belonging. 2026 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor &amp; Francis Group. Subject The topic of the resource Arundhati Roy; cultural resistance; New Historicism; postcolonial literature; systemless authoritarianism Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Cogent OA Relation A related resource ISSN: 23311983; Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Article Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource online