The novel weaves together stories of people navigating some of the darkest and most violent episodes of modern Indian history , from land reform that dispossessed poor farmers to the 2002 Godhra train burning and Kashmir insurgency . Roy 's characters run the gamut of Indian society and include an intersex woman ( '' hijra '' ) , a rebellious architect , and her landlord who is a supervisor in the intelligence service . The narrative spans across decades and locations , but primarily takes place in Delhi and Kashmir
Godhra train burning
Godhra train burning
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness